Homemade Applesauce Recipe

Homemade applesauce is one of the first things I learned to cook. It's so simple and healthy, but gives me all the fall feels. Have you tried making your own applesauce? I know it's not the most exciting recipe I've ever posted here, but I wanted to remind you how delicious homemade applesauce is and give you nudge to make it this fall. It's so easy, there's really no excuse not to make homemade applesauce. This is one of those good old back to basics recipes everyone should know. I made you a little video so you can see for yourself just how easy it is.
Watch the video on YouTube HERE! I get a little chatty in the intro, so feel free to skip the first minute! 

My kiddos love applesauce, and either the little cups or applesauce pouches almost always end up in our shopping cart. Recently I've noticed that the girls will go through a 4-pack of applesauce pouches in a single day and I haven't been happy about the amount of plastic waste left over from such a small amount of food. It felt so much better to make a big crockpot of fresh applesauce and send it to school with them in reusable containers. They got a lot more applesauce and there was no waste. Both my girls loved this applesauce recipe in reusable jars for snack time at school. I love this applesauce for a healthy sweet dessert.

Store bought applesauce is just kind of "meh" in my opinion. But homemade applesauce? Freaking delicious! Homemade applesauce tastes like the center of an apple pie. Especially when it's still warm. We added pumpkin pie spice this time for those warm and cozy fall flavors and our house truly smelled like we were baking apple pies all day long. Homemade applesauce is versatile - you can add pears, peaches, fresh cranberries... or if you're a purist don't add any extra flavors at all. Apples are all you need to make delicious homemade applesauce. 

Although I have made homemade applesauce in a pot on the stove, the easiest way is in the slow cooker or crockpot. Just peel and chop the apples, toss them in the slow cooker and go about your day while they turn into applesauce.

Some people have very strong feelings about what varieties of apples should be used to make applesauce. I have very strong feelings about using whatever you have growing in your area or sitting in your refrigerator. Like this Marinara with Fresh Tomatoes everyone is loving using any tomatoes they've got growing in the garden! Really, this homemade applesauce is tasty with any variety of apples. If you happen to use very tart apples, you may want to add a splash of maple syrup at the end to sweeten it up. We have never added any sweetener to applesauce though.

Homemade Applesauce

By yummy mummy kitchen
Published 09/21/2016

Easy, healthy homemade applesauce in the slow cooker.

Ingredients

• about 5 pounds apples
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (optional)

Instructions

1. Peel apples and cut into rough 1-inch chunks. Place in a slow cooker. Add lemon juice, water and pumpkin pie spice, if using. Toss to coat. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours, until apples have broken down and are very tender.
2. Use a potato masher to mash applesauce for a chunky consistency, or an immersion blender for a smooth sauce. Let cool and store in the refrigerator.

Yield: Makes about 6 cups
Prep Time: 15 mins.

Cook time: 6 hrs. 00 mins.
Total time: 6 hrs. 15 mins.
Tags: slow cooker, apples