Have you ever wanted to find the perfect recipe for homemade applesauce? I’ve got it for you! This recipe for homemade applesauce is not only delicious but also so versatile and can be made according to your preferences. This applesauce can be made sweetened or unsweetened, cinnamon or original, and can be made in the instant pot or over the stove top.
Homemade applesauce is so nostalgic for me. My grandma used to make applesauce for my sisters and I when we were young. And it was SO GOOD! It was always a special treat when Grandma would come over with a container of her homemade applesauce. And truthfully, she never brought enough! Now I make applesauce for my kids and they love it too! My grandma always made sweetened applesauce, however I typically opt for the unsweetened version because my kids eat it so often! I do however make the sweetened version on occasion.
This recipe is almost my grandma’s recipe except she used a lot more sugar!
Why You Should Try This Recipe for Homemade Applesauce
So many reasons! The most important one: because it’s delicious! Homemade applesauce is so much better than the store-bought version! Don’t get me wrong, I still by store-bought applesauce, but whenever I make the homemade version I always wonder why I don’t make it EVERY time.
Homemade applesauce is perfect for:
- Babies
- Snacks
- School lunches
- Light dessert
- Baking recipes
Applesauce makes a great snack – especially for kids! My son’s school has a scheduled snack time in addition to lunch, and applesauce is one of his most requested school snacks. Applesauce can even be divided into applesauce pouches for the little ones!
All of my recipes are egg-free and applesauce is one of my favorite ways to replace eggs in baked goods. This recipe can be used instead of the store bought version in any of my recipes. These Blender Banana Muffins, Blueberry Banana Baked Oatmeal, and Blueberry Crumb Coffee Cake recipes all have applesauce in them.
What Do You Need for This Recipe for Homemade Applesauce?
Equipment Needed
You don’t need any fancy equipment for this recipe. Only a few basic kitchen items are all you need. You probably have all of these tools already!
- Instant Pot (for the Instant Pot method)
- Large stock pot (for the stove-top method)
- Apple or vegetable peeler
- Large spoon
- Sharp knife or apple slicer
- Vegetable masher
- Cutting board
Ingredients Needed
You only need a very small handful of ingredients for this recipe! Once again, they’re basic kitchen items you probably already have!
- Apples
- Water
- Sugar, optional
- Cinnamon, optional
That’s it! That’s all you need! Super simple, right? You’ll be eating this delicious recipe for homemade applesauce in no time! I’m so excited for you. Truly. If you’ve never had homemade applesauce before then you are in for a real treat.
What Kind of Apples Are Best?
You can use any kind of apples for this recipe. I’ve used Gala, Honeycrisp, Fuji, and Golden Delicious. McIntosh apples are great for applesauce because they soften easily. I’ve never tried Granny Smith but if you have some you could try it out. I would just combine them with a sweeter apple or include the sugar.
In short, you can use any apple you have! Homemade applesauce is a great way use up any bruised apples if you have them.
The recipes for both the stove-top version and the Instant Pot version are below.
Recipe For Homemade Applesauce – Stove Top Version
First decide whether you want sweetened or unsweetened applesauce and cinnamon or original. I personally love the sweetened cinnamon version of this recipe the best! However, as I mentioned already, I typically opt for the unsweetened cinnamon version. Purely because my kids eat so much of this stuff! You can also always make two batches at once if you want to try the different versions.
Begin by washing and peeling you apples. This can take awhile so I try to do this as quickly as possible. Peeling the apples is the hardest part of the recipe – I promise! After you peel the apples, slice them and add them to a large stock pot.
Add 1 cup of water to the pot, along with the sugar for the sweetened version. The recipe below calls for 1/4 cup of sugar, but truthfully my grandma used a whole cup for this amount of apples! It was so good so if you want to use that much sugar than go for it! I just like to keep this recipe lower in sugar for those of you who are like me and like to keep sugar to a minimum. But I mean, it’s really good with the whole cup!
Next, set the pot on the stove top over medium low heat. Give it a good stir and allow it to cook for about 40-45 minutes. You want the apples to cook down and soften. Make sure to stir occasionally to avoid the apples from burning on the bottom of the pot.
Once the apples have softened, remove the pot from the stove and mash those apples up! You may also blend them in a blender if you prefer a smoother applesauce.
I like to let my applesauce cool a bit before adding the cinnamon. It just tastes different when it’s warm to me and I can never decide if the amount of cinnamon is right. However, feel free to add it right away if you want!
Allow the applesauce to cool completely in the refrigerator.
Keep scrolling for the instant pot version.
Homemade Applesauce – Stove Top
Equipment
- Large stock pot
- Vegetable Masher
- Vegetable Peeler
Ingredients
- 12 large apples
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup sugar , optional
- ¾ tsp cinnamon , optional
Instructions
- Wash and peel apples. Slice.
- Add apples along with water and sugar (if using) into a large pot. Cook over medium low heat for about 40 minutes or until the apples are tender. Stir occasionally, scraping the bottom of the pot to prevent burning.
- When apples are done cooking, remove the pot from heat. Mash the apples with a vegetable masher. Transfer applesauce to a large bowl. Add in cinnamon (optional) and stir. Allow to cool completely in the refrigerator.
Recipe For Homemade Applesauce – Instant Pot Version
This recipe for homemade applesauce is made almost the same way in the Instant Pot versus over the stove. It just goes faster in the Instant Pot! Plus, it’s easier to walk away from since the Instant Pot does all the work for you. A huge plus if you ask me!
Begin by washing, peeling, and slicing your apples. Place the apple slices in the inner pot of the Instant Pot. Add your water then close and seal the lid up. You’ll cook the applesauce on high pressure and then follow a quick release method.
There will be more liquid in this version than the stove-top version. The Instant Pot contains all the liquid unlike the stove-top where some water is lost. I personally like the thicker applesauce that comes from the stove-top method. So, when I make this recipe in the Instant Pot, I pour a little of the water off. This is totally up to you. If you don’t like thick applesauce, then leave all the water.
Use a vegetable masher to mash the apples into a sauce. Transfer to a glass bowl and allow to cool completely. After the applesauce has cooled, stir in the cinnamon (optional).
Homemade Applesauce – Instant Pot
Equipment
- Instant Pot
- Vegetable Masher
- Vegetable Peeler
Ingredients
- 12 apples
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup sugar , optional
- ¾ tsp cinnamon , optional but recommended
Instructions
- Wash and peel apples. Cut into slices.
- Add 1 cup of water to the bottom of the Instant Pot pot. Add apple slices. Close the Instant Pot and secure lid. Cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. Do a quick release.
- Pour off some of the liquid if you prefer a thicker applesauce. Or leave all liquid for a thinner applesauce. Mash apples with a vegetable masher. Add sugar (optional) and stir.
- Transfer to a bowl and stir in cinnamon if desired. Allow to cool in the refrigerator.
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