If you’ve never tried making homemade applesauce before, you’re in for a treat.
This super easy applesauce recipe comes together with just a few simple ingredients—and once you taste it, you’ll never go back to store-bought.
Whether you’re using a stovetop, slow cooker, or Instant Pot, this guide shows you exactly how to make applesauce from scratch with no guesswork. It’s naturally sweet, perfectly spiced, and can be made with or without added sugar.
Homemade applesauce is a family favorite around here. It’s cozy and nourishing and makes the whole house smell incredible while it cooks. You can serve it warm, chilled, or even freeze a batch for later.
How to Make Homemade Applesauce
You can make my homemade applesauce recipe three different ways:
- on the stove (takes about 30 minutes)
- in a slow-cooker (mostly hands-off, takes 3-6 hours)
- in an Instant Pot (takes about 30 minutes)
Choose any of these methods that work best for you (it’s all detailed below in the recipe card for you to save or print.) You’ll simply peel & chop the apples (discard the stems, seeds, and core), combine all ingredients, cook, and mash. It’s that easy.
If I have time, I love making homemade applesauce in the slow cooker to let it cook all day—it makes the entire house smell A-MA-ZING! I start it around 8am and we enjoy it as an afternoon snack—and then usually again after dinner because the kids love it so much.
On busier days or when I don’t think ahead, I toss it all in an Instant Pot for a quick applesauce. The stovetop works great too if you don’t have either of those tools.
How to Get The Best Applesauce Flavor
The secret is in the balance of sweet and tart apple flavors.
You don’t want to use all super sweet apples (e.g. Red Delicious). Great homemade applesauce needs some balance with a tart flavor. This is why I prefer to make homemade applesauce with Honeycrisp apples—they are naturally both sweet and tart. Or, if you use sweet apples, add a few tart apples (e.g. Granny Smith) to balance the flavors.
Combining both sweet and tart flavors will take your applesauce from just OK to WOW. (This is also the secret to making a great apple pie filling, BTW.)
Homemade Applesauce Ingredients
Apples (Obviously!)
Of course, you’ll need some apples. You’ll want about 3 pounds total, which is 5 large or 8 small apples depending on how big they are. This recipe is pretty flexible—it doesn’t have to be exact. I recommend going for at least 3 pounds or over because homemade applesauce freezes beautifully if you have any leftover. As I mentioned above, combine sweet and tart flavors.
To prepare your apples, peel ’em (I recommend a sharp veggie peeler) and remove the cores & seeds while chopping into large chunks.
Fresh Lemon Juice
Fresh lemon juice adds that extra tartness and the natural citric acid actually helps preserve it a little if you want to keep it in the fridge for a few days. It also gives your applesauce a bit of that gourmet flavor. I recommend it, but if you find yourself without a lemon you can leave it out.
Ground Cinnamon
Cinnamon adds that special flavor we all know in applesauce. Cinnamon also has powerful medicinal benefits. It’s full of antioxidants and is a natural anti-inflammatory. Cinnamon also has blood sugar balancing properties, which is perfectly paired with the natural sugars in applesauce. (The natural fiber in apples helps keep your blood sugar balanced, too.)
Applesauce Natural Sweetener
I prefer to use natural sweeteners, so I add 1/2 cup real maple syrup OR honey, more or less to taste, depending on how the final product tastes. Real maple syrup pairs beautifully with apples and is always my first choice here.
All apples are different (even the same varieties), so taste and add your sweetener accordingly.
Brown sugar also works if you prefer. You can leave out any added sweetness depending on your preferences if you prefer no-sugar-added applesauce.
Tips for the Best Homemade Applesauce
- For ultra-smooth texture, use a food processor or high-speed blender after cooking. Prefer it chunky? Just mash with a fork or potato masher until you reach your desired consistency.
- Mix and match apple varieties, such as Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, or McIntosh, to achieve the sweet-tart balance. Each one adds a unique flavor twist.
- Want a flavor boost? Add a splash (about 2 teaspoons) of apple cider vinegar while your apples simmer—it brightens everything up.
- Don’t forget the power of spices: cloves and allspice add a warming depth, especially if you’re using this applesauce as a topping for pancakes, waffles, overnight oats, french toast, or even vanilla ice cream.
- Storage: Let your applesauce cool to room temperature before storing. Then seal it tightly in mason jars for easy fridge storage or freezer batches.
- Making a big batch? Freeze in smaller portions for snacks, desserts, or an easy side dish for dinner.
- Nutrition facts: These will vary based on the apples you use and whether or not you add a sweetener, but most online tools can provide estimates. Applesauce is naturally low in calories and contains fiber, antioxidants, and some protein, depending on what you pair it with (like a dollop of yogurt).
Making your own applesauce is just so darn good, once you try it, it will be in your regular rotation. Enjoy!
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Description
This homemade applesauce recipe is so good that once you make it, you’ll never want to buy it again. It’s also really easy to double or triple this recipe and freeze it for later. If you love it, please leave a star rating in the comments below to help other readers in our community (thanks!).
- Peeling tip: Use a sharp veggie peeler to remove the skin from apples.
Slow-Cooker Method:
- Combine the apples, water, lemon juice, and cinnamon in your slow-cooker. Cover and cook on high 2-3 hours or low 4-6 hours until the apples are soft and falling apart.
- Mash with a potato masher or fork (or use an immersion blender for an extra smooth apple sauce).
- Taste for sweetness, then stir in 1/4 to 1/2 cup real maple syrup and/or brown sugar until the desired sweetness is achieved.
Instant Pot Method:
- Combine the apples, water, lemon juice, and cinnamon in the Instant pot.
- Close the lid and double-check that the vent is set to “sealing.” Pressure cook for 5 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally (this takes about 20-25 minutes). Once the pin has dropped, open the lid and mash the apples with a potato masher or fork (or use an immersion blender for an extra smooth apple sauce).
- Taste for sweetness, then add 1/4 to 1/2 cup real maple syrup and/or brown sugar until the desired sweetness is achieved.
Stove-Top Method:
- Combine the apples, water, lemon juice, and cinnamon in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Cover and cook 20-25 minutes until the apples are soft and falling apart.
- Mash with a potato masher or fork (or use an immersion blender for an extra smooth apple sauce).
- Taste for sweetness, then add 1/4 to 1/2 cup real maple syrup and/or brown sugar until the desired sweetness is achieved.
Applesauce will keep in the refrigerator in a covered container for up to 5 days. Freezes beautifully in a freezer-safe container up to 5 months.
Notes
*Honeycrisp apples are a great balance of sweet and tart flavors, which make a great apple sauce. If using other apples such as Red Delicious, balance the flavor by adding a few tart apples such as Granny Smiths.
