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Quick & Easy Applesauce Recipe
Easy Recipe for Home Made Applesauce
In many parts of the world, autumn means briskly cool air, trees ablaze with color, hay rides and the scent of apples and cinnamon as applesauce simmers on the stove.
The most flavorful applesauce is made with fresh, tasty apples. In Peru, the green and red apple (manzana Israel) seen at right is the most common and inexpensive variety. Harvested in October and November it is juicy, crisp and tart-sweet. A wonderful apple for eating and cooking, it also makes great applesauce.
Mix different types of apples for applesauce with complex flavor. Each apple variety requires different cooking times, though, so make sure to cook long enough for all apples to soften. Use whichever apples are common to your area. The sweet/tart varieties are our favorite choice for applesauce. Some of these varieties include: Jonathan, Cortland, Gravenstein, Lady, McIntosh, Macoun, Braeburn and Winesap.
Best of all, this applesauce is quick and so easy. Stick around afterward for variations and serving suggestions. Enjoy!
Peel, cores and slices apples in a jiffy
Tips
- Superior applesauce starts with flavorful apples. Choose the tastiest apples available in your area.
- Try mixing different varieties of apples for complex flavored applesauce.
- Add a little lemon juice if your applesauce needs a tangy flavor boost.
- For mild cinnamon flavor, cook applesauce with cinnamon sticks instead of ground cinnamon.
- Choose a little honey or maple syrup instead of sugar for all-natural applesauce.
- You may need more or less sugar depending on the variety of apple you use.
- If you have it, use apple juice or apple cider instead of water in the recipe.
Ingredients
- 6 pounds apples
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
- pinch of salt
- Peel, slice and core apples.
- Place a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat.
- Pour apple slices, sugar, cinnamon, salt and water into the pot and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Mash the apples with a potato masher and continue to simmer for 5-10 minutes longer, until softened.
- Serve applesauce warm or cold. Applesauce freezes well.
Variations
- Berry Applesauce: Add raspberries, blackberries or blueberries to apples (step 3). Continue with recipe.
- No Sugar Added Applesauce: Omit sugar and sweeten cooked applesauce with stevia.
- Harvest Applesauce: Substitute pumpkin pie spice for cinnamon.
More Delicious Recipes
- Easy Recipe for Moist Banana Bread
- Horchata Ice Cream With Bananas & Salted Caramel Sauce
- Moist Chocolate Cake With Cherry Ganache Filling & Buttercream Frosting
- Dark Chocolate Bark With Carmelized Nuts & Pink Salt
- Chewy Blondie Bars With Chocolate Chips & Salted Caramel
- Blackberry & Lemon Mini Bundt Cakes
Serving Suggestions
- Add a little applesauce to a bowl of warm oatmeal
- For lower fat baked goods, substitute applesauce for half of the oil
- Freeze a batch of applesauce popsicles
- Serve applesauce alongside pork chops, roasted chicken or roasted turkey
- Substitute applesauce for the bananas in a banana bread recipe for tasty applesauce bread
- Spread applesauce on toast with a smear of peanut butter
Comments
- Author
moonlake, I'm so glad you can make applesauce with your fall harvest! What I wouldn't give to own apple trees. : )
I have to pin this recipe. We have five apple trees in our yard so I can use this in the fall.
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Winterfate, I'm glad you like the layout of this recipe. Thanks for the votes and comment!
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MamaKim, I'm glad you're going to make applesauce for your little girl. I'm sure she'll love it! Thanks so much for the vote and pin!
I'll admit I'm not the biggest fan of applesauce. However, I really like the fact that you gave an overview of the recipe before actually listing it. So, voted up and useful! :)
Oh my little girl would LOVE this ^_^ I'm going to have to make it for her. Thanks for all the great advice and recipe. Voting a whole bunch and pinning!!
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Alocsin, I've never had a problem with burning the applesauce as long as the apples are juicy. Just keep adding a little water if you notice sticking. It cooks up so quickly, you won't have much time to burn it anyway. Thanks for the votes!
This only has a few ingredients and looks easy enough for me to try. Still I'm worried about burning it, so I'll have the family cook do it. Voting this Up and Useful.
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Prasetio, applesauce is great on breakfast bread. Enjoy it and thank you for the vote and comment.
I really enjoy the recipe here. I can use this with bread in the morning. It sound delicious. I can't wait to make it soon. Thanks for writing and share with us. Voted up!
Prasetio
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Naomi's Banner, enjoy the applesauce! Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.
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PeggyW, I sometimes fantasize about a pantry full of canned fruits and veggies! Canning is an interesting process and I know Hubs have been written about it. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy applesauce until I recently made a batch. Thanks for the votes and share!
Can't wait to try this recipe. I love applesauce.
I used to can applesauce when living in Wisconsin. My neighbor and I would buy several bushels of apples and then split them. We did have a freezer but used that primarily for freezing vegetables from the garden. I also canned tomatoes from the garden instead of freezing. This hub will be useful for those who wish to prepare and freeze homemade applesauce if it is not used immediately. Like your serving suggestions. Up and useful votes. Will also share.
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Moonlake, my husband is the same---loves applesauce but can't be bothered with an apple. Apples are in season in Peru, so I've been making a lot of applesauce lately. Thank you for coming by and taking the time to comment. : )
This looks very good. I don't like just eating an apple but I do like apple sauce. Thanks for sharing this recipe. Voted up.
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Billybuc, this is a great recipe even for those who don't enjoy cooking as it's so easy and quick. Yes, you do live in apple country! You could whip up an especially delicious batch. Thanks for your comment and I hope the best for you and yours. : )
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Carol, I'm glad this hub inspired you! I hadn't made applesauce for a while but apples are in season here in Peru. This applesauce is so quick and easy that I make it often when I have apples. Enjoy and thanks so much for the vote and pin!
I don't believe I have ever made applesauce, a glaring omission since I love it and live in the apple capital of the United States. Thank you for the tutorial and Happy New Year.
I am inspired to immediately go make some applesauce and I have a bunch of apples..Great hub at the perfect time. Voting UP and PINNING
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