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Home » Recipes

Easy Peasy Applesauce

diced apples in a pan.

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I am not saying the store-bought stuff is nearly as good as the homemade version…just more convenient of course. Let’s just say that my husband and I do not regularly consume the little store-bought containers of applesauce, but all four of us fight over the last few drops if it is homemade! Plus making it yourself can be a fun activity (especially with kids), and luckily you can freeze the leftovers.

applesauce recipe on 100 Days of #RealFood

It is especially quick and easy to make this dish at home if you have a handy dandy apple slicer that will cut out the core and cut the rest into pieces. You can find these inexpensive tools at most grocery stores (or Target), and they will easily cut your prep time in half. Not to mention they come in handy for just slicing apples for a snack (or even pears too!).

applesauce recipe on 100 Days of #RealFood

Easy Peasy Applesauce

It is apple season here in the Carolinas! Making homemade applesauce is somewhat of a special occasion around here since a healthy store-bought alternative (with no sugar added) can easily be found. But nothing beats this homemade Easy Peasy Applesauce recipe. I love that this recipe freezes well, too!
9 Reviews / 5 Average
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 20 minutes mins
Total Time: 30 minutes mins
Course: Breakfast, Holiday, Lunch, Sides, Snacks & Appetizers
Cuisine: American
Method: Freezer Friendly
Diet: Dairy Free, Egg Free, Gluten Free, Peanut/Tree Nut-Free, Vegetarian
Print Recipe
Servings: 2 cups
Save Recipe Saved!

Ingredients
  

  • 3 pounds apples (cut into ½ inch or 1 inch slices (no need to peel them unless you have an extra hour you want to kill, any variety is good))
  • ½ cup apple juice (or cider)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
  • 1 stick cinnamon (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons honey (optional)
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (ground)

Instructions
 

  • Combine the apples, apple juice/cider, lemon juice, and cinnamon stick (if using) into a large pot. Cover and simmer for 20 – 25 minutes or until tender (but not mushy).
  • Remove the cinnamon stick (if using) and transfer warm apple mixture to a food processor (or you can mash by hand with a potato masher) and add honey (if using) and nutmeg. Puree to desired chunkiness. Serve, refrigerate, or freeze the leftovers!

Notes

We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts
Easy Peasy Applesauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 453 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 10mg0%
Potassium 791mg23%
Carbohydrates 120g40%
Fiber 17g71%
Sugar 94g104%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 365IU7%
Vitamin C 34.7mg42%
Calcium 58mg6%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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3.9K shares

About Lisa Leake

Lisa is a wife, mother, foodie, blogger, and #1 New York Times Best-selling author who is on a mission to cut out processed food.

Comments

  1. Renee says

    November 04, 2021 at 3:22 pm

    5 stars
    Everyone enjoyed this recipe! Even though I forgot the apple cider and used 1 cup of water instead, it turned out great. Can the recipe be doubled? I have a bunch of apples I need to do something with before they go bad and end up goat food!
    Thanks!
    Renee

    Reply
    • 100 Days Admin says

      November 09, 2021 at 2:20 pm

      Of course! It's a great way to use them all up. - Nicole

      Reply
  2. Steph Shea says

    October 29, 2017 at 9:11 am

    Do you have to cook the apples? I’ve made “emergency” apple sauce in the past by literally throwing apples into the blend tec with a bit of cinnamon. But it wasn’t to put away or freeze, it was to eat right then. I mean- why bother having pork chops if you don’t have apple sauce? Is the cooking so that it can be stored or frozen? Either way, I plan to try this recipe! Also- didn’t realize you were in NC. I’m in Chapel Hill!

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      November 01, 2017 at 1:47 pm

      Yes, apple sauce is typically made with cooked. apples.

      Reply
  3. Rachel says

    February 22, 2017 at 9:49 am

    I core my apples, chop into large chunks and put them in the food processor to a large dice before I cook them. Then when they're cooked, their done!

    Reply
  4. Courtney Carlson says

    October 05, 2016 at 5:50 pm

    Ok, so I did this recipe in the crockpot! I doubled the recipe and cooked it on high for 4 hours. It turned out great!

    Reply
  5. Courtney says

    September 23, 2016 at 2:40 pm

    I wonder if I could do this in a crock pot?

    Reply
    • Nicole says

      October 05, 2016 at 4:17 pm

      I am wondering the same thing!

      Reply
  6. Hadassa says

    January 30, 2016 at 11:03 am

    Thanks for this recipe!! Can I use water instead of apple juice?

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      February 07, 2016 at 2:29 pm

      Hi. You can. The muffin will likely be less moist and sweet.

      Reply
      • Hadassa says

        February 08, 2016 at 12:42 am

        Thank you for responding! =D

  7. Linda says

    September 24, 2015 at 2:27 pm

    Hi Lisa, thanks for this recipe, I'm making it right now for my son who has not been well and needs some home made organic apple sauce for his tummy.
    I don't know if you know this but there is an add "banner" for McDonalds on this page of your blog. I am a bit surprised to see it here.

    Reply
  8. Nat says

    August 30, 2015 at 12:16 pm

    This is a PERFECT recipe! Tastes fantastic! Thanks.

    Reply
  9. Shannon says

    February 01, 2015 at 5:20 pm

    5 stars
    Just made this and it is so yummy! I accidentally added the honey before simmering and it turned out fine. My kids love this recipe too.

    Reply
  10. Debbie says

    November 09, 2014 at 3:09 pm

    I am making the Easy Peasy Applesauce today (LOVE this website!) but it doesn't say to take the cinnamon stick out before turning the food proccesor on. I'm assuming I take it out?? I've never used a cinnamon stick before...wasn't sure?

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      November 24, 2014 at 8:27 am

      Hi Debbie. Yes, remove the stick. The apples will have already absorbed the flavor. :)

      Reply
    • Jason Leake with 100 Days of Real Food says

      January 23, 2015 at 10:21 am

      Hi Debbie - I just updated the recipe to make this more clear. - Jason

      Reply
  11. Sarah says

    October 16, 2014 at 9:22 pm

    I have made applesauce for years but this is the first time I used lemon juice and apple cider vinegar. It is a little too acidic tasting for me...any ideas on how to change that taste/flavor?

    Reply
    • Jen says

      October 21, 2014 at 8:01 pm

      Oh, the recipe said apple cider or apple juice, not apple cider vinegar. ;) I bet it WAS acidic with the vinegar!

      Reply
      • Sarah says

        October 21, 2014 at 8:37 pm

        Pays to read a recipe a few times before you cook it. I had made another batch my old way and ended up mixing both together and it tastes fine!

  12. Leslie says

    October 16, 2014 at 11:03 am

    This applesauce looks yummy! I usually make a much simpler homemade applesauce in the slow cooker for my 2 year old and he loves it! I use 3 sweet apples, 3 Granny Smith apples, a teaspoon of cinnamon, a pinch of nutmeg, and a tablespoon of water. That's it! It's delicious without the added sugar (honey, etc.)!

    Reply
  13. Shanon says

    October 05, 2014 at 12:53 pm

    5 stars
    Fantastic - we used local, organic honeycrisp apples and this will be a yearly fall routine going forward! Thank you!

    Reply
  14. Jocelyn says

    September 13, 2014 at 11:42 am

    I absolutely love the fact that if I want to make something specific 9 times out of 10 I can go to this blog and can find a recipe for whatever it is I wish to make. Another huge bonus as a busy mom is I normally have the dry Ingredients on hand. It's terrific.

    We love unsweetened applesauce for eating and baking but also making seasonal apple butter. I love this recipe because we can multiple it and follow it easily without adding the honey and spices. Then puree, spilt in half freeze the unsweetened portions (to be flavored however later) then add the apple butter portion back to the pot. We spice it accordingly, simmer low for an hour and then freeze. If doing this though make sure you strain the cooking juice but don't discard before processing/mashing. Apple butter should be thicker in consistency then applesauce and I like to add juice back as needed. 1 pot and 1 mess to clean up but two different products.

    Reply
    • Katie says

      September 27, 2014 at 7:11 am

      Jocelyn, What is your apple butter recipe?

      Reply
  15. Lissa Wadkins says

    September 08, 2014 at 7:43 pm

    I just picked up 25# of an apple called No Name from one of our local farms (its a hybrid they created...hence the name No Name lol)I'm going to try out the crock pot way tomorrow so I can focus on getting my homework done while it cooks.

    Reply
  16. Lindsay says

    August 25, 2014 at 5:46 pm

    Could this be made in a crockpot?

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      August 27, 2014 at 12:33 pm

      Hi Lindsay. I'm sure it can. Here is another recipe to use as a reference for cooking times and such (not sweetener recommendations): http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/10/crock-pot-applesauce.html. :) ~Amy

      Reply
  17. Margaret Anne @ Natural Chow says

    August 04, 2014 at 4:28 pm

    5 stars
    Mmmm, I will have to try this with all the pears coming from my tree right now!

    Reply
  18. Theresa says

    May 07, 2014 at 10:26 pm

    I typically freeze and can applesauce. Would this be a recipe that I could also can? Or would you not recommend it? Thank you for any insight.

    Reply
  19. Roxy says

    April 07, 2014 at 6:07 pm

    Loved this recipe! Check out my blog at http://healthyandhappywellness.blogspot.com :)

    Reply
    • Kayla says

      July 15, 2014 at 10:59 pm

      cool blog, lots of good ideas. I really liked the natural beauty treatments. Thanks!!

      Reply
  20. Tammy says

    February 20, 2014 at 7:42 pm

    Can I use water instead of cider or apple juice?

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      February 24, 2014 at 11:02 am

      Hi Tammy. It will reduce the sweetness but yes you could. ~Amy

      Reply
  21. Antoinette says

    February 17, 2014 at 5:04 pm

    If I don't have a food processor, can I just use the blender, as for other recipes as well?

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      February 21, 2014 at 10:08 am

      Hi Antoinette. A heavy duty blender will work for some but not all. It should easily process apples. ~Amy

      Reply
  22. Callie says

    February 09, 2014 at 7:00 pm

    Can I use ground cinnamon instead of a stick or would you advise leaving out the cinnamon if I do not have a stick of cinnamon? If it will work just as well with ground cinnamon, how much would you recommend?

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      February 23, 2014 at 7:47 am

      Hi Callie. You can use ground cinnamon. Add it, to taste, after the cooking process. :) ~Amy

      Reply
  23. Andrea says

    February 04, 2014 at 9:05 am

    When I made this it turned really brown. Is that normal?

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      February 05, 2014 at 9:26 am

      Hi Andrea. The lemon juice typically keeps the apples from turning terribly brown. The picture above is the color I typically get. Different apples, however, oxidize at different rates. ~Amy

      Reply
  24. Nichole says

    January 27, 2014 at 10:12 am

    5 stars
    This is so simple and the kids loved it. This recipe is a keeper.

    Reply
  25. Katie says

    January 14, 2014 at 3:02 pm

    I used to love helping my mom make applesauce and now I enjoy doing it myself! We just quarter the apples, core and all, and drop them in a big pot with maybe a cup of water. Then we cook up until soft, and run them through an old fashioned Foley Food Mill. Keeps the skins and seeds up top, but lets all the fresh cooked sauce through the bottom. It turns bright pink and we're only left with a little waste! So tasty! Mom makes enough every fall to freeze and last the entire year!

    Reply
    • Erin Wendt says

      October 16, 2014 at 2:51 pm

      What do you freeze the applesauce in? TIA

      Reply
  26. Jennifer says

    January 08, 2014 at 3:49 pm

    Just made for the first time today and turned out great!! Thanks for all your hard work, this site has really helped me make changes in my family's eating habits!

    Reply
  27. Julie says

    January 05, 2014 at 3:27 pm

    5 stars
    Just made this and it is great. Will double or triple the receipe next time.

    Reply
  28. Azalea says

    December 19, 2013 at 5:49 pm

    I juiced the cores instead of using bottled apple juice. It came out great!

    Reply
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