This homemade applesauce recipe brings the perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors in just 35 minutes. With only 118 calories per serving and packed with fiber, it’s a healthier alternative to store-bought versions.
Whether you’re looking to use up extra apples or create a comforting side dish, this simple recipe delivers smooth, naturally sweet results. Plus, it’s loaded with essential nutrients like Vitamin C and potassium, making it a smart choice for the whole family.
Ingredients for Homemade Applesauce
- Fresh Apples: 3 pounds (6-8 apples), Golden Delicious recommended for best results
- Water: 1 cup, plus extra for adjusting consistency
- Sugar: Optional, add to taste for desired sweetness
- Ground Cinnamon: For topping and extra warmth
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prep Work: Peel, core, and slice apples into uniform pieces for even cooking
- Initial Cooking: Combine apple slices and water in a large pot, cook over medium heat until tender, stirring frequently
- Mashing: Transform cooked apples into sauce using a potato masher, or blend for silkier texture
- Consistency Adjustment: Add extra water gradually until reaching desired thickness (aim for runny pudding consistency)
- Sweetening: Taste and add sugar gradually if needed, remembering sauce will sweeten over time
- Finishing Touch: Sprinkle with cinnamon and serve warm or chilled
- Storage: Keep refrigerated for 7-10 days, or follow canning instructions for up to one year shelf life
Cooking Techniques
Making applesauce is so much fun and simpler than you might think! The key to perfect applesauce is getting your apple texture just right. While a potato masher works great for chunky sauce, try using a blender if you love yours silky smooth.
The cooking process is really forgiving – just keep stirring those apples and adding small amounts of water until you reach your perfect consistency. Think of it like making pudding – you’ll know it’s ready when the apples are soft enough to mash easily.
Apple Varieties & Substitutions
While this recipe uses Golden Delicious apples, you can mix and match different types for unique flavors! Sweet apples like Fuji or Honeycrisp make naturally sweet sauce, while Granny Smith adds a lovely tang.
Try mixing sweet and tart apples for a balanced flavor. Can’t find fresh apples? Don’t worry! You can use frozen apple slices too – just skip the peeling step and adjust your cooking time since they’ll soften faster.
Serving Suggestions
Warm applesauce is amazing on its own, but it’s also wonderful paired with so many dishes! Spoon it over vanilla ice cream, swirl it into your morning oatmeal, or serve it alongside pork chops for a classic combo.
For breakfast, try mixing in some granola or a dollop of yogurt. Kids love it as an after-school snack with graham crackers for dipping!
Storage Tips
Fresh applesauce stays good in the fridge for 7-10 days in an airtight container. If you make a big batch, canning is a wonderful option – your homemade applesauce will keep for up to a year! Just remember to store your canned applesauce in a cool, dark spot like a pantry or basement. Once you open a canned jar, pop it in the fridge and use it within a week.
Applesauce
Equipment
- Large pot
- Potato masher
- Blender (optional)
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 3 pounds fresh apples whatever kind you like–I use Golden Delicious (6-8 apples)
- 1 cup water plus more if needed
- granulated sugar optional (to taste)
- ground cinnamon for topping
Instructions
- First peel, core, and cut your apples into slices. (An apple peeler/corer/slicer may come in handy for this part, but you can do it by hand.)
- Place apple slices in a large pot and add 1 cup of water. Cook the apples over medium heat, stirring often, until tender.
- Mash the apples with a potato masher. If you want an even smoother consistency, puree them in a blender.
- At this point you can add a little extra water if you need to, depending on how thick or thin you want your applesauce. I like to reach the consistency of slightly runny pudding. You can also add sugar at this point, depending on how sweet you want your applesauce.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon. Enjoy warm or cold! Store in the fridge for up to 7-10 days.
