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During the school year, I often buy store made applesauce for my family. It’s easier (or so I sometimes think) to get it for everyone’s lunches and snacks, and my family found a brand that we really enjoy. However, during the holiday season and during the summer, I make applesauce at home and my family really enjoys it! Whenever I tell people that I make applesauce, they wonder how in the world I have time for it. The truth is that it doesn’t take long to make at all and I could probably do without buying the store bought kind if I really wanted to. If you’re looking for a quick an easy way to make applesauce, then look no further.

I began making applesauce when my children were babies. When it was time for them to start eating solid foods, my husband and I divided and conquered. At that time, I was working (still am) 9am-5pm and he was working third shift before we decided that he should stay home. He took on the sweet potatoes and green peas and I took on applesauce. While I have ten years of making this behind me, applesauce is one of the few recipes where I haven’t really changed the process. It’s just too easy and you’ll see why.

Ingredients and Tools

Here’s what you’ll need to make the applesauce: 6 apples, 1/4 cup of sugar, 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, and a crockpot.

Pretty simple, right? The key is in choosing the right apple. When I started, I bought any apple that was on sale, but the applesauce didn’t taste right when I did that. Luckily, my mother schooled me on different apples and their uses. Some apples that I bought just did not taste great when mashed, but they were great for baking. Other apples were perfect for applesauce. After a few trial and errors, I found which ones worked for me: Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Golden Delicious did the trick. They were sweet enough and provided great juice for my applesauce. While Honeycrisp is rarely on sale in my area, I often buy the other two. However, when I want to splurge, I get the Honeycrisp and that applesauce does not last long. Be sure to choose the best apples for your taste buds.

The next thing you’ll need is a crockpot and a blender or food processor. If you do not have any of these, a simple pot on the stove, and a fork or potato masher will do. You’ll mash the apples more or less, depending on the consistency you’d like to achieve. Okay, let’s make some applesauce.

Directions

First, skin the apples and cut them into chunks. Remove the seeds and the core of the apples.

Next, place the apples into the crockpot. Cook on high for one hour, stirring occasionally.

When they apples are incredibly soft (almost like a potato ready for mashing), cut off the crockpot and pour the apples (along with any juice in the crockpot) into a food processor.

Pulse the apples about four to five times. They’ll have a chunky consistency to them.

Next, add your sugar and cinnamon and then blend them, in increments, in the food processor until they are the consistency that you want.

Place the applesauce into containers and let them cool for one hour. Then eat and enjoy!

*If you are using a pot and fork or potato masher, you’ll mash the apples until they are as smooth or as chunky as you’d want.

Optional: Optional additions can be added should you choose: brown sugar, lemon juice, butter, nutmeg, vanilla extract.

And that’s it! You now have homemade applesauce. If you’re not canning the sauce or placing them in the freezer, be sure to eat it within 7 days. You’ll love it.

Happy cooking!