Easy Homemade Apple Sauce
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Simple homemade applesauce made with fresh apples, cinnamon, lemon juice, and just a touch of brown sugar. Blend it smooth or mash it chunky.
Ingredients
Servings: 10 servings
- 3 to 4 pounds crisp sweet apples, rinsed
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice or fresh orange juice or apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ¼ cup water plus more if needed
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract optional
- Extra brown sugar honey, or maple syrup, to taste (optional)
Instructions
- Prep the apples: Peel the apples (optional), remove the cores, and cut into large chunks.
- Add to pot: Put the apples in a large, heavy pot. Add the cinnamon, lemon juice, brown sugar, water, and vanilla (if using). Stir to coat.
- Cook: Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 25 to 35 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are very soft. Add more water if the pot looks dry.
- Taste: Remove the lid and let cool for a few minutes. Taste and add more sweetener if desired, starting with 1 teaspoon.
- Blend or mash: Blend until smooth with an immersion blender or regular blender, or mash with a potato masher for chunky applesauce.
- Thicken if needed: If too watery, simmer uncovered for a few more minutes, stirring often.
Notes
- Best apples: Use apples you love to eat, like Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji. A mix of 2 or 3 varieties gives the most apple flavor.
- More cinnamon: Use ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon or 2 to 3 cinnamon sticks for a stronger cinnamon flavor.
- Peels on: If you leave the peels on, use a food mill or fine mesh strainer to remove them after cooking.
- Storage: Keeps in the fridge for 7 to 10 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
- Canning: This recipe is not tested for canning. Please follow a tested canning guide if you’d like to can it.