Fall wouldn't be Fall without making the maximum number of apple recipes manageable. This easy peasy applesauce recipe is a must-make this season. Hand-picked apples from the farm (or your local grocery store!) blended with cinnamon and brown sugar make this homemade applesauce just perfect for home bakers and even beginners.
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Oh, the many ways you can enjoy applesauce
- naked, plain, outta the jar, with a spoon
- warmed up and drizzled over creamy vanilla ice cream
- stirred into plain greek yogurt with a sprinkling of granola
- topping or dipping sauce for Hanukkah potato latkes (that's how I like mine!)
- lower fat substitute for oil in brownies or cookies
- baked into my Applesauce Cake or Apple Cider Bundt Cake!
Ingredients needed to make easy homemade applesauce
- Apples: you will need approximately 6 pounds of apples for this recipe. Use any type of apples or a variety of apples.
- Water: substitute with apple juice or apple cider, if you prefer
- Lemon juice: fresh squeezed lemon juice is always ideal, however, use bottled lemon juice if that's all you have. Be sure to strain out any pits or pieces of lemon or pith if using fresh lemon juice.
- Brown sugar: light or dark brown sugar will work equally as well here. You can substitute for granulated sugar if in a pinch.
- Cinnamon: feel free to add more or less cinnamon, add in some allspice, ginger, nutmeg, or other Fall spice to jazz it up and make it your own.
How easy is applesauce to make?
Honestly, this applesauce recipe is so stinking easy! And quick, too. The part that takes the longest is peeling, coring and slicing the apples.
If you enlist some helpers (aka, your kids, nieces, nephews, neighbors, spouse) it goes much quicker and makes them feel all warm and fuzzy for contributing. Anyone who helps in my house gets dibs on first taste! That always works like magic.
How to make applesauce
Step 1
Peel, core and slice the apples into 8 slices each.
Add the apples to a large pot and add water (you could use apple juice or apple cider if you've got it too!) lemon juice, brown sugar and cinnamon, giving it a good stir.
Step 2
Set the pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 25 minutes or until the apples are nice and soft.
Step 3
Once the apples are cooked, mash them with a potato masher for chunkier applesauce or puree in the blender for a smoother applesauce.
When blending the apples, be careful to avoid filling your blender all the way to the top, as it may splatter steaming hot apples all over you or your kitchen.
To be safe, puree the applesauce in two smaller batches.
And, just like that you've got yourself homemade applesauce!
Recipes with applesauce
Try adding your homemade applesauce to Old Fashioned Applesauce Cake or Spiced Apple Cider Bundt Cake for easy but elegant desserts this Fall. These cakes are perfect to help celebrate the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, too.
Substitute the vegetable oil in your baking recipes with applesauce for a healthier option, like in these Breakfast Cookies.
Ingredients
- 6 pounds apples peeled, cored, and cut into 8 slices each
- 1 cup water or apple juice or apple cider
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed or from a bottle
- ½ cup brown sugar packed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large pot and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 25 minutes.6 pounds apples, 1 cup water, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, ½ cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Carefully puree in a food processor or blender (fill only halfway, splitting into two portions, if needed) until desired consistency is reached.
Notes
- This applesauce will keep well in the fridge for awhile if stored in jars with tightly fitted lids
Nutrition
