Homemade applesauce is a fall favorite! With only 3 ingredients (and a splash of water), it’s so easy to make!
A simple blend of apples, sugar, and cinnamon is all you need for this applesauce recipe. Perfect and fresh!
This recipe can be divided into applesauce pouches or be used to replace some of the oil in baked goods like carrot cake or muffins or even added to banana breakfast cookies!
An Easy Favorite
When my kids were little, I used to serve this applesauce as a dessert. Warmed and topped with a pinch of cinnamon sugar and a tiny scoop of ice cream, they thought it tasted like apple pie!
- It needs only 3 ingredients plus a splash of water.
- You can use any variety of apples.
- It’s healthy and delicious, make it to your liking and add a little or a lot of sugar and spice.
- This recipe freezes well and makes a great snack or even a dessert served warm with a scoop of ice cream.
The Best Apples for Applesauce
We use firm apples for apple pie but any kind of apple is great in homemade applesauce. Try a combination of any of the following: Granny Smith, Gala, Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, or Fujis.
A sweeter apple will make a sweeter sauce while a tart apple (like Granny Smith) will result in a more tart sauce. You can add extra sweetener if needed. Try an assortment or mixture of your favorites.
How to Make Applesauce
- Prep Apples: Peel, core, and chop the apples (per the recipe below).
- Simmer: Cook the apples over medium heat along with the rest of the ingredients below. Stir occasionally until the apples are soft (you can also use a crock pot set on low for about 3 hours)!
- Mash: Mash apples with a masher or blend until smooth.
Variations
- Swap the water for your favorite juice or apple cider.
- Add extra spices like pumpkin pie spice or a pinch of nutmeg.
- Sugar can be substituted for a sweetener of your choice.
Serve as a side dish, snack, or dessert. It’s great with yogurt or over vanilla ice cream or even as a side with pork chops!
Smooth or Chunky Applesauce
Mash with a potato masher for a chunkier texture or use an immersion blender (or food processor) to create a smoother apple sauce.
Homemade applesauce will keep for about a week in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed container.
For a quick kid-snack, seal in snack-sized freezer bags, or reusable applesauce pouches, and squeeze out from one corner just like the ones you see at the store!
Place the applesauce into small containers or freezer bags. I like to freeze in 1-cup portions. Freeze for up to 4 months.
Yes, it’s not only delicious, homemade applesauce is really nothing more than mashed apples and cinnamon with a pinch of sweetener. If your apples are a sweeter variety, you can skip the sugar if you’d like or substitute maple syrup or agave.
So Many Ways to Use Applesauce
- Banana Breakfast Cookies – delicious breakfast on the go
- The Best Carrot Cake – quick, incredibly moist, and homemade!
- Homemade Apple Butter – already halfway there
- Carrot Cake Cupcakes – yummy handheld bite!
- Baking Substitutions! – use in place of oil!
Homemade Applesauce Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 pounds apples peeled, cored, and chopped (about 6 medium)
- ⅓ cup water
- 2-4 tablespoons sugar* or to taste
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a low simmer and cover.
- Cook 15-20 minutes or until apples are very tender. Remove lid and simmer an additional 5 minutes to thicken.
- Mash apples with a masher for a chunky consistency or blend/puree with an immersion blender for a smooth consistency.
- Serve warm or chilled.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
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How many cups does this make?
This makes approximately 4 cups, but will depend on the size of your apples. Enjoy Darlene!
This is AMAZING!!!! I made using fuji apples since that’s what I had on hand. My mom used to make homemade applesauce, I always assumed it was difficult & labor intense, but I was so wrong. This was super easy & oh, so yummy!!! Reminded me of pleasant childhood memories! I will definitely be making again.
Hi Holly,
How long will the Applesauce last in the refrigerator? Thank you.
Hi Mayumi, homemade applesauce will keep for about a week in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed container. Enjoy!
I used 4 pink lady apples and 2 tablespoons of sugar. Made it for a muffin recipe and my baby but can’t stop eating it myself. Soooo good!
I love that, SG! I hope your baby doesn’t mind sharing. :)
Made it. gonna freeze it and see how it turns out in recepies
Hello Holly,
I made this recipe and it is awesome and it will definately be a go to in my kitchen. Thank you so much.
God bless
Deborah LaRive
You are very welcome! We are so glad you enjoyed it, Deborah!
This is a wonderful recipe. I put all the ingredients in a slow cooker for 5 hours, then blended it up and it is the best, richest, almost caramelized velvety thick applesauce. Thank you!
What if you wanted to add other flavors to the apple sauce? Like banana or peaches, woukd you add that at the end or beginning like the other ingredients.
It would depend on the fruit. Peaches you’d want to cook down with the apples. I haven’t tried banana but I would add them closer to the end. Let us know how it works out for you!
wow – I have never made homemade apple sauce before. I made it exactly as per the recipe and it turned out fantastic!! Not too sweet and perfect consistency! YUM
So glad you loved it Julie!
Perfect! So easy and delicious. Our whole house smells amazing! I used the applesauce to doctor grilled pork tenderloin leftovers.
So glad you loved this Meghan
I feel like this is a silly question but if you dont have an immersion blender you can use a regular blender, can’t you? Works the same?
You sure can! If the mixture is warm/hot be careful to not seal the lid tightly or it can burst open. Leave it open a little bit to allow for the steam to escape.
Be careful while blending and watch for consistency, though. I think pulsing would be the safest way of achieving your desired consistency. I overblended and mine turned out very smoothe, like a butter. A bit weird for my taste! The taste was great, though; it’s a good standard recipe for a basic apple sauce.
Hey there.. I have 20 cups of Apple’s – any thoughts on water, sugar and cinnamon?
This recipe is for about 6-7 cups of apples. If you have 20 cups, you’ll need about 1 cup of water and 1 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon and sugar to taste.
My kids favorite is pink applesauce just boil the apples with the skin on then run it threw a strainer it’s there favorite to them it’s not real unless it’s pink lol. It was a recipe passed down through there dads family for generations and it’s still a hit.
Sounds wonderful, Dena!
Holly, this could not have been easier! And its so pretty! Perfect full-bodied flavor. As suggested, I mixed apple types and added red delicious for a little extra sweetness.
I chose to keep with big chunks to serve over fish/chicken dinners this week, or mix with the beautiful homemade cottage cheese I made.
3# raw yielded 2# cored and peeled, which chunky still provided 4 1/2 cups. Thank you!!!
I’m so glad you loved it Debra! Thank you for sharing your measurements.
This homemade applesauce recipe is really an amazing recipe. Thanks for sharing this recipe with all of us.
I would like to receive these easy recipes.
Dana, you can click here to sign up to receive emails. Look forward to sending you recipes!
Easy and fun! My five year old and I enjoyed making this together. Thank you :)
Hey Holly,
I haven’t made this yet but it’s so close to my recipe. Except at this time of year, I use 4 large Granny Smith apples and 1 cup of Apple Cider!! You can find fresh, apple cider in the refrigerated section of the grocery store or in a little road side truck selling fresh produce. It takes this recipe to another level – promise! Then, I adjust the cinnamon and brown sugar for taste!
4 Large Granny Smith Apples
1 cup fresh apple cider
Brown Sugar to taste
Cinnamon to taste
Follow rest of Holly’s recipe. Enjoy!
Sounds delicious Cynthia, I just happen to have some apple cider on hand too!