This homemade Applesauce Recipe is simple, easy to prepare, and made with just a few simple ingredients for the perfect fall flavors. Enjoy it warm or chilled, make it chunky or smooth, or use it in so many ways.
I love to use it in my easy carrot cake recipe, on top of crispy potato pancakes, or served alongside savory fried pork chops.
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Holly’s Recipe Highlights: Applesauce Recipe
- Flavor: Naturally sweet and lightly spiced with cinnamon, with a fresh apple flavor.
- Why I Love This Recipe: Made with pantry staples and one saucepan, this recipe turns fresh apples into a delicious applesauce. It’s easy to customize and freezes well so you can prep it in big batches too!
- Prep Note: Cut the apples into similar-sized pieces so they soften at the same rate, and mash to your desired consistency. Use a potato masher for a chunkier applesauce or an immersion blender for a smooth sauce.
Cook Time: 45 Mins Yield: 4 cups Cooking Method: Stovetop
Ingredient Notes
- Apples: Use your choice of apples or a combination of a few, such as McIntosh, Golden Delicious, Gala, Fuji, or Cortland. Combine a sweet and tart variety for a fuller, more balanced flavor.
- Water: For a sweeter, more concentrated flavor, replace with apple juice or cider.
- Granulated Sugar: Sweet varieties may need little or no sugar, while tart apples may need a bit more. Replace with brown sugar, maple syrup, or honey. Or omit the sugar for unsweetened applesauce.
- Cinnamon: Swap for Apple pie spice for a more pronounced fall flavor, or sprinkle in a pinch of nutmeg, ginger, or allspice.
How to Make Applesauce
- Peel, core, and chop the apples (full recipe below)
- Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and simmer.
- Mash the apples with a potato masher or blend until smooth.
Have more apples to use? Turn them into my homemade apple butter for another easy fall favorite
Save It for Later
- Store cooled applesauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Freeze applesauce in airtight containers for up to 4 months. Freeze it in half-cup or 1-cup portions (I love using these souper cubes) so you can take out just the amount you need.
Best Ways to Use Apples
Did you enjoy this Applesauce Recipe? Leave a comment and rating below.
Equipment
- Potato Masher or immersion blender
Ingredients
- 3 pounds apples peeled, cored, and chopped, about 6 medium
- ⅓ cup water
- 2 tablespoons granulated 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 to 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.
Simply perfect applesauce recipe. I now make this all the time. Once I left the peels on, still good!!
I needed applesauce for a carrot cake recipe and didn’t have any. I did however have a few apples on the verge of turning. this made the best applesauce. I almost said to heck with the cake and just ate the apple sauce. it makes a lot of sauce though. who knew it was this easy and this delicious
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 1½ 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!