This easy applesauce recipe comes together in a snap and is a great way to use your apple harvest. Made with just apples, water, sugar, and cinnamon, this is a fun recipe to have kids help with, and it will make your whole house smell amazing.
This easy homemade applesauce recipe is made with just four ingredients on the stovetop and doesn’t need any special equipment. It’s a flexible recipe, so you can adjust the sweetness and consistency depending on what your family likes.
I have been using this applesauce recipe for years (and even adapted it for crockpot applesauce). It is my favorite way to use up all the apples that don’t get eaten when we go apple picking. My kids have been loving homemade applesauce since they were little, and even now as teenagers, they love it as an afternoon snack. And I love that it doubles as a replacement for oil in muffin and quick bread recipes.
Why This Recipe Works
- Balanced sweet and tart flavor from different apple types.
- Simple stovetop cooking method.
- Customizable texture and sweetness.
Best Apples for Applesauce
Pick two types of apples for this recipe, with one being primarily sweet and one being primarily tart. This will give you a good balance of both flavors. My favorite combination of tart and sweet is Granny Smith and Gala apples. Two more great tart options are Pink Lady and Jonathan. Two more great sweet options are Fuji and Honeycrisp.
How to Make Applesauce
- Combine the apples, water, sugar, and cinnamon in a large pot. Simmer over medium heat for about 30 minutes, or until the apples are soft.
- Use a potato masher to mash the apple mixture until it reaches your desired consistency. If you don’t have a potato masher, a sturdy whisk or a wooden spoon will work as well.
- For a smoother applesauce, put the mixture in a food processor or use an immersion blender and blend until smooth. You’ll probably have to do this in batches.
Chunky vs. Smooth Applesauce
The consistency of applesauce is a matter of personal preference. My family really enjoys this after just mashing it with the potato masher (or whisk or wooden spoon). That being said, you can get a smoother consistency by blending some or all of it. This works really well with an immersion blender or by transferring some or all of the applesauce to a blender or food processor.
How to Adjust Sweetness
- Make it less sweet: Cut the amount of sugar in half.
- Use an alternative sweetener: Monk fruit sweetener is a great option here.
- Use honey or maple syrup: Because these are sweeter than sugar, cut back the amount you use to 1/4 cup.
- Cut out the sugar completely: Let the sweetness of the apples shine on their own by cutting out all the sugar or removing the sugar and replacing some of the tart apples with sweeter apples.
Applesauce for Babies
For babies 6 months and older who are just venturing into solids, be sure to go the route of no sugar. Do not replace the sugar with honey. Make sure to allow the applesauce to cool significantly before offering it to them. The cinnamon can stay in the recipe and is a great way to introduce a new flavor.
Storing Homemade Applesauce
Store the applesauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Enjoy it cold, or warm up the portion you plan to eat in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring well.
You can also freeze homemade applesauce. Allow it to cool completely, then transfer to freezer-safe containers, leaving an inch of room at the top for it to expand. Store in the freezer for up to three months. When you’re ready to enjoy it, allow the applesauce to thaw in the refrigerator.
If you make this homemade applesauce recipe or any of my other recipes, I’d love to hear what you think. Leave a comment below telling me how you enjoyed it!
Applesauce
Ingredients
- 8 medium apples peeled, cored, and roughly chopped (see note)
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup sugar see note
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Combine the chopped apples, water, sugar, and cinnamon in a medium saucepan.8 medium apples, 1 cup water, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Place over medium heat. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 30 to 35 minutes or until the apples are very soft.
- Using a potato masher (see note), mash the mixture. For a smooth applesauce, run the mixture through a food processor or use an immersion blender.
- Serve warm and enjoy, or allow to cool completely and store in the refrigerator. Eat within four to five days.
Notes
abockheim says
Gavin is so freakin’ cute! What a fun thing to do together.
Melissa says
You’re really good at this blog thing. Your pictures make me think I can succeed at making applesauce, when I know that I will fail miserably. Good job!