Easy Homemade Applesauce

Name: Homemade Applesauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 5
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 pounds of peeled and sliced apple; 1/2 cup of apple juice; 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice; 1 zest of lemon; 1/4 cup of brown sugar; 1 cinnamon stick

The perfect Homemade Applesauce recipe for BBQ parties! You will only need a few ingredients for this sauce recipe, which you can make with or without sugar.

American Cuisine

May 17, 2022

Difficulty Easy

Servings 4-6 people

Preparation 15 mins

Cooking 30 mins

Total 45 mins

Recipe Contents

Ingredients Directions Nutrition Equipments Tips

Ingredients

3 pounds of peeled and sliced apple
1/2 cup of apple juice
2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
1 zest of lemon
1/4 cup of brown sugar
1 cinnamon stick

Directions

Wash the apples and dry them lightly. Then peel off the skins with a knife or fruit peeler. Cut the apples in half and remove the seeds. Then chop it into small pieces.
In a large saucepan, add the apple slices, apple juice, lemon juice, lemon zest, and cinnamon. Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Then close the lid of the pot and cook on low heat for 25–30 minutes until the apples are completely soft and cooked through.
After the apples are cooked, remove the saucepan from the heat. Remove the lemon peels and cinnamon sticks and let the apples cool.
Taste the applesauce. Add some sweetener to your taste or skip this step.
Use a potato masher or blender to puree the cooked apples in the pot. If you want a chunky puree, use a potato masher. If you want a smooth applesauce, use an electric blender or hand blender.
If you haven't peeled the apples, you can separate the applesauce from the skins with a food mill. If you wish, you can strain the sauce through a strainer.
You can serve applesauce hot right out of the pot or chilled from the refrigerator. If you want to serve it cold, let it chill for at least 1 hour.
Serve it with meat dishes or desserts.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 Homemade Applesauce

Serves 4-6

Amount Per Serving

Calories130

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 1.3 g1.7%

Sodium 32 mg1.4%

Protein 0.9 g1.8%

Potassium 187 mg4%

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Tips

You can use any type of apple. You can mix different types of apples if you wish. McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Fuji, or Jonagold apples are perfect for this recipe.
Use fresh and ripe apples. This way, you add less sweetener to the recipe.
Peel the apples thoroughly and remove the seeds.
Cut the apples into pieces of the same size so that they cook evenly.
Do not add sugar until the apples are fully cooked. Otherwise, your sauce may be too sweet.
Instead of white sugar, you can use brown sugar, honey, or keto sweeteners such as maple syrup, agave nectar, stevia, or splenda.
Be careful not to overcook or undercook the apples. Cook the apples until soft.
If the applesauce seems too watery, cook it a little longer. The applesauce will thicken slightly as it cools. But if it seems too watery, put the applesauce back in a saucepan and cook for a few more minutes.
If the applesauce seems too thick, add some apple juice or water.
Instead of using ground spices, use cinnamon sticks in the pot.
Add fresh lemon, lemon zest, or lemon juice. Use lemon to add flavor and shine to apples. If you are using lemon slices, be sure to remove the lemon cores. When the apples are cooked, remove the lemon slices.
You can flavor the recipe with nutmeg, vanilla, or fresh ginger.
Use a blender or electric hand mixer for a smooth applesauce.
Use a potato masher or whisk for a chunky applesauce.

Rate This Recipe

Applesauce is prepared with fresh apples, sweetener, and spices. The perfect sweet snack, applesauce is a Thanksgiving essential. Make so many recipes, from roast pork to banana bread. Even better, this applesauce is easy to make!

Try this recipe for homemade applesauce that will make you forget about the applesauce you bought ready-made. Use fresh apples and add your own seasoning. Make it smooth or chunky. This recipe will enchant you with its fresh apple flavor and smell!

Equipment for this recipe

Measuring Cup

Mixing Bowls

Saucepan

Cutting Board

Potato Masher

Hand Blender

Wooden Spoon

Chef Knife

What is Applesauce?

Applesauce or Apple Sauce is a sauce made by cooking apples in water, apple juice, or cider. The apples are boiled and pureed. Any type of apple can be used for applesauce.

Applesauce can be made with or without sugar. Depending on your taste, the amount of sugar and spice can be increased or decreased. Coconut, vanilla extract add sweetness or cinnamon adds spices to this recipe. Lemon juice adds tartness and citrus flavor.

What Is The Best Kind of Apple for Applesauce?

Unlike Apple Pie, any kind of apple can be used for Homemade Applesauce. Apple varieties such as Honeycrisp, Fuji, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, or Red Delicious are ideal for this recipe.

You can prepare your own homemade applesauce with your favorite apple variety or varieties. You can use different apple varieties or ingredients to make a sweeter or more sour sauce.

For more information about "Types of Apples", check out our article.

Can You Make Applesauce in a Slow Cooker or Instant Pot?

Yes. Instead of cooking applesauce in a pot, you can also cook it in a slow cooker or instant pot.

How to Make Applesauce in a Slow Cooker?

To cook applesauce in the slow cooker, wash and peel the apples. Then cut them into quarters and remove the seeds. Put the apples in the slow cooker after roughly chopping them. Add water or apple juice, cinnamon, lemon juice, and salt. Mix all the ingredients. Cook on high for about 3-4 hours. Remove the cinnamon stick. Next, puree the apples using a blender. Serve it hot or cold.

How to Make Applesauce in an Instant Pot?

To cook applesauce in the Instant Pot, wash and peel the apples. Cut in half and cut into pieces after removing the core. Put the peeled and cored apple slices into the Instant Pot. Add water, lemon juice, and a cinnamon stick. Mix all the ingredients. Secure the pressure cooker lid. Cook at high pressure for about 10 minutes. Open the pressure cooker lid. For a textured applesauce consistency, use a potato masher. For smooth applesauce, use a hand blender to blend the applesauce in the saucepan until smooth, about 1 minute. Taste the applesauce and, while still hot, add sugar if desired. Once cool, transfer the applesauce to an airtight container.

What to Serve with Applesauce?

Applesauce is perfect to serve on its own or with meals. Applesauce is one of the indispensable sauces of Thanksgiving Day. It can also be served with pancakes or muffins for breakfast. It also goes well with oatmeal and smoothies. It also pairs perfectly with moist and delicious carrot cakes and banana cakes. You can also serve it with plain or vanilla yogurt, vanilla ice cream, or caramel sauce. You can also serve applesauce with a roast or cutlet.

Here are our delicious recipes that you can serve with Applesauce:

How to Store Applesauce?

Homemade Applesauce can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer.

How Long Does Applesauce Last in the Refrigerator? You can store fresh applesauce in the refrigerator in a sealed container or jar for up to 2 weeks.

Can Applesauce Be Frozen? Yes. Allow the applesauce to cool at room temperature. Then place it in an airtight container or freezer bag. Freeze it for up to 3 months. Transfer it to the refrigerator the night before to thaw.

Recipe byPetite Gourmets