This homemade applesauce recipe has no added sugar and is super easy to make with just 4 ingredients. Enjoy it as a delicious fall snack or use it in your favorite recipes!
Skip the store-bought stuff and make homemade applesauce instead! It’s so easy to make and such a great way to use up all those apples after apple picking. Plus, it tastes exponentially better than the store-bought applesauce.
You can enjoy it as a healthy fall snack (it’s one of my kids favorite snacks) or keep it on hand for recipes. I use applesauce ALL THE TIME in my recipes like these healthy pumpkin bars, oatmeal raisin cookies, apple cinnamon baked oatmeal and apple pancakes.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Naturally Sweet – This homemade applesauce is naturally sweetened by the apples themselves. No need for added sugar — it’s delicious just as it is!
- Super Simple – With just four ingredients, this recipe is as easy as it gets. You’ll have a batch of fresh, warm applesauce ready in no time.
- Versatile – This applesauce is incredibly versatile. Enjoy it straight from the jar, use it as a topping for oatmeal or pancakes or in your baked goods to keep recipes nice an moist like these vegan pumpkin muffins.
- Kid-Friendly – Kids of all ages love applesauce and this homemade version is a great kid-friendly snack without any added sugars or preservatives. You can feed it to babies as homemade baby food or pack it in your toddlers school lunch box for a healthy snack.
- Customizable – I love that you can customize how smooth or chunky you want your applesauce and you can play around with flavor variations! I love keeping it plain or adding a dash of cinnamon.
- apples – I recommend choosing a sweet variety like Fuji, Gala or Golden Delicious.
- water – adds moisture to the applesauce.
- cinnamon – cinnamon is optional but I personally love adding it to my applesauce. It adds that dynamic spice flavor and a hint of sweetness without adding sugar.
- lemon juice – a bit of tang to balance the sweetness of the apples! Apple cider vinegar could be used instead.
Applesauce Variations
Personally, I enjoy keeping things simple by just adding a pinch of cinnamon to my applesauce, but this recipe is flexible with plenty of variations you could try for yourself, here’s some ideas:
- Spiced – Add a warm, cozy flavor by increasing the cinnamon or trying other spices like nutmeg, cloves, or allspice. You can create a spiced applesauce that’s perfect for fall or the holidays.
- Mixed Fruit – Experiment by adding other fruits like pears, peaches, or berries to your apples. Pears blend particularly well with apples for a smooth, sweet sauce.
- Sweetened – If you prefer your applesauce a bit sweeter, you can stir in a tablespoon or two of maple syrup, honey, or agave nectar after cooking. This is especially nice if you’re using tart apple varieties.
- Vanilla – For a subtle, sweet aroma, add a small splash of vanilla extract to the applesauce after it has cooked. The vanilla pairs well with the natural sweetness of the apples.
- Citrusy – Add a little more zest to your applesauce by including a bit of orange or lime zest along with the lemon juice. It brightens up the flavor beautifully!
How to Make Applesauce
Step 1: Add your apple chunks to a large pot with some cinnamon (optional).
Step 2: Add water, lemon, and place the pot over medium heat. Let simmer for 10-25 min.
Step 3: Let the apples cool slightly, then place in a blender.
Step 4: Blend mixture until smooth and you’ll have a beautiful homemade applesauce!
Brittany’s Tip!
For a chunky applesauce, use a potato masher to mash the apples. For a smooth applesauce, place the apple mixture into a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. You can also use an immersion blender.
How to Use Applesauce
There are dozens of ways to enjoy applesauce! On its own with a bit of cinnamon is amazing, but you can also use it for baking, and more! Here are some ideas you may want to try out:
- In Baked Goods – Applesauce is a fantastic substitute for oil or butter in baking, adding moisture and a subtle sweetness. Try using it in recipes like healthy apple muffins or my tasty oatmeal carrot cake. It keeps your baked goods moist and flavorful while cutting down on added fats.
- As a Topping – Spoon some of your homemade applesauce over a warm bowl of my cinnamon raisin oatmeal or blueberry peach oatmeal for a naturally sweet and fruity topping.
- In Smoothies – Blend a scoop of applesauce into your favorite smoothie for an extra dose of fruit. It works well with ingredients like spinach, nut butter, and frozen berries. Try adding it to the peanut butter green smoothie.
- As a Snack – Enjoy your applesauce on its own as a healthy snack, or pair it with a handful of homemade granola for some added crunch!
Recipes That Use Applesauce
I personally love having this recipe in my back pocket because there are times when I need applesauce for baking and don’t have any on hand. Here are a few applesauce recipes you might enjoy.
How to Store Homemade Applesauce
Let your homemade applesauce cool before placing in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
If you’re making a big batch, consider freezing some for later. Applesauce freezes well and can be a quick and healthy snack or addition to recipes. Just be sure to leave some space in your containers, as the sauce will expand when frozen. Applesauce will be good for up to 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
I know what you might be wondering… how is this recipe different than my apple butter recipe? Let me explain!
Both apple butter and applesauce are made by cooking apples with water, spices AND sugar (but I make mine without added sugar). The main difference between the two is that apple butter is cooked longer so the mixture becomes a thick, caramelized consistency. Applesauce is soft and creamy too, but is typically a thinner, lighter consistency. The other difference is that apple butter is usually made with an array of spices like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and vanilla. Occasionally you’ll see cinnamon applesauce, but most of the time applesauce is plain.
Yes! I’ve made this applesauce in the slow cooker before and it turned out awesome. Just add all your ingredients and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for about 6 hours or until your apples are soft and mashable.
