This homemade applesauce recipe needs just a few ingredients to make the best easy homemade applesauce. This applesauce is perfect for enjoying on its own or to use in other recipes. This stovetop applesauce recipe is made with just 5 ingredients and you can have it done in under 30 minutes and is great for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and makes a delicious snack too.
Homemade Applesauce Recipe
There is not much that screams fall more than making a batch of stovetop homemade applesauce right after you get home from apple picking. This Homemade Applesauce Recipe is perfect as a side dish, breakfast, lunch, or snack! If you are looking for the best easy applesauce recipe then you have found it!
Sometimes I make homemade crockpot applesauce so I can just toss everything to the crockpot and let it cook, but that takes quite a bit longer than this stovetop applesauce recipe. While I love making applesauce in the slow cooker, sometimes I do not have the patience to wait that long to enjoy some delicious applesauce! This stovetop applesauce recipe is quick and easy to make and makes the perfect delicious treat.
We love going apple picking during apple season and every time we do we end up with a ton of apples. When I say a ton, I am talking 50-60 pounds of apples picked. The kids love picking apples and they tend to go a little bit overboard but that is ok because there are many delicious recipes that I can make with fresh picked apples. One of them that we always make is our own homemade applesauce.
So if you are like me and you find yourself going apple picking and coming home with 59 pounds of apples you are going to love this easy applesauce recipe. No, I am not kidding. Yes, we went apple picking and came home with 59 pounds of apples. I guess that is what happens when you have 4 kids and 1 adult picking apples. I am not sad at all though, because that means LOTS of apple goodness in our house!
Seriously this is the best applesauce recipe ever and it is so easy to make. If you are looking for more amazing apple recipes be sure to check out these! I mean I can not be the only one who comes home from apple picking with so many apples their husband gives “the look” right?
Easy Apple Recipes
- Apple Crisp
- Cinnamon Apple Pancakes
- Best apple pie recipe
- Crockpot Apple butter
- Apple Banana Bread
- Healthy apple muffins
Why Make Your Own Homemade Applesauce?
There are many reasons you should make your own applesauce. Aside from being a super easy and delicious recipe to make at home, there are quite a few reasons that you will love making your own applesauce. This stovetop applesauce recipe has been a family favorite for years.
- Much better flavor. The first reason to make your own applesauce is that a Homemade applesauce recipe tastes so much better flavor than any jarred applesauce.
- You can adjust the flavors to make them exactly what you want and what you prefer. When you are making homemade apple you can make it as sweet as you want to, or as tart as you want to. You can use your favorite apples as long as you are using fresh apples it doesn’t matter what flavor they are. If you like a strong cinnamon applesauce flavor you can add more cinnamon, like a less cinnamon flavor use less cinnamon.
- Chunky or smooth. No matter which you prefer, chunky applesauce or smooth applesauce you can make it at home.
Why I Make Homemade Applesauce
You might be wondering why one would even bother making homemade applesauce when you can pick up a jar at the store so easily. Well my main reason is that premade apple sauce is just to sweet for my liking and making your own you can control how sweet it is.
It is also super easy to freeze applesauce so when I am making this easy stovetop applesauce recipe I can double, triple or even 10 times the recipe to have it for whenever we want to enjoy it!
How to Serve Applesauce
As a side dish. Applesauce makes a great side dish for lunch or dinner, including holiday dinners. There are many different main dish recipes including pork chops and grilled chicken that make great main dishes to serve with applesauce as a side dish. If you are having a holiday dinner, applesauce is often a staple and this applesauce is better than anything you will get in the grocery store.
Hot applesauce for Breakfast. You can serve applesauce warm with a drizzle of maple syrup if you want a little bit more sweetness.
As a snack. A quick bowl of applesauce is one of the best healthy snacks to have on hand with kids. It is always a kid pleaser and I haven’t met an adult yet who also didn’t love stovetop applesauce.
Do you serve applesauce warm or cold?
During the fall and winter months I like to heat homemade applesauce up in the microwave or on the stove when we are having it as a side dish, breakfast, or a snack. During the warmer months of the year I serve it chilled right from the fridge.
What are good apples for homemade applesauce?
There are so many different choices for apples when it comes to making applesauce at home. The best apple sauce is made with sweet, tangy, and tart varieties of apples but you can use any type of apple you have on hand. I am not sure I have a favorite kind of apples to use when making crockpot apple all of the types of apples I have used to make homemade applesauce have given us amazing applesauce. I tend to stick with Fiji apples, Granny Smith apples, honey crisp apples, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, and McIntosh if I am shopping at the store. If we are at a you-pick farm I pick whichever ones they have ripe for picking at that time.
At times I use any of the random variety of apples no matter what type they are when I am making this easy applesauce recipe and it always turns out amazing!
Sweet-tart apples: Cameo, Jonagold, Lady Alice.
Mildly sweet apples: Red Delicious and Golden Delicious.
How to make applesauce sweeter?
To make a sweeter applesauce, then before blending you will want to add the agave nectar. You can also add little bit of sugar if you want to after you have made the applesauce.
How to Make Homemade Chunky Applesauce
If you want to make homemade chunky applesauce you will follow the steps for making homemade applesauce and then at the end of the cooking process, you can make it as chunky or as smooth as you want to. If you are wanting chunky applesauce use a potato masher and mash the apples so there are chunks of apples in the applesauce.
How do you make smooth applesauce?
After cooking the applesauce if you want to have a smoother applesauce use a hand blender or an immersion blender and blend the homemade applesauce.
How long does homemade applesauce last?
Depending on how you are storing applesauce will determine how long homemade applesauce will last.
If you are storing apple sauce in the fridge it will keep for up to 2 weeks. If you are storing applesauce in the freezer it will last for up to 6 months.
How to store homemade applesauce
Applesauce lasts for up to two weeks in the refrigerator when it is stored in an airtight container. Make sure the homemade applesauce is in a sealed container because applesauce will absorb the odors from other foods if left uncovered.
Can you freeze homemade applesauce?
Yes! You can totally make a large batch of applesauce and freeze it. I like to make a large batch and store it in quart sized freezer bags, which are the perfect size for enough servings in a meal for my family.
How to Freeze Homemade Applesauce
To freeze applesauce, let it cool to room temperature before dividing it amongst freezer-safe containers or freezer bags. Lable the bags and containers with what is in them and the date it was made so you can make sure to use it before it goes bad. Homemade applesauce freezes well for up to 6 months
How to Thaw Frozen Applesauce
When you’re ready to eat the frozen applesauce, thaw in your fridge overnight.
Do I need to peel the apples?
While you do not have to peel the apples, we prefer applesauce that does not have apple skins in it. If you like the apple skins in your applesauce feel free to skip the peeling step.
Can I make a double batch of this homemade apple sauce?
Yes! You can easily double, triple and more this recipe. However if you are going to make a larger batch then you will want to use a large pot instead of medium sized pot.
What Can I Make with applesauce?
There are lots of recipe that you can use stovetop applesauce in, be sure to check out some of our favorites.
Homemade Applesauce Ingredients
- apples peeled and chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
- water
- lemon juice
- salt
- cinnamon (You can add more if you like a more cinnamon flavored applesauce)
- agave nectar (optional)
How to Make Homemade Applesauce
Wash, peel, and chop your apples and set them aside.
In a medium sized pot add the apples, water, lemon juice, salt, and cinnamon.
Turn the heat to medium heat and bring to a boil.
Once the water and apples are boiling let them boil for 15-20 minutes. The applesauce is done cooking when the apples are tender, soft and easily pierced with a fork. Remove the applesauce from the heat and turn off the stove.
Serve immediately if you want it warm, or refrigerate and serve cold.
Apple Recipes
- Homemade apple pie filling
- Apple nachos
- Puff Pastry apple pie
- Baked Apples
- Pumpkin Apple Bread
- Pumpkin Pie from Scratch
- Apple Waffles
Kitchen Basics
These are essentials for pretty much every recipe! They also make great gifts for those just starting to cook or moving out on their own.
Homemade applesauce
Tools
- 4 apples peeled and chopped into 1/2 inch piece
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/2 tsp lemon juice
- pinch salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon You can add more if you like a more cinnamon flavored applesauce
- 1 tsp agave nectar optional
Instructions
- Wash, peel and chop your apples and set them aside.
- In a medium sized pot add the apples, water, lemon juice, salt and cinnamon.
- Turn the heat to medium high and bring to a boil. Once boiling let boil for 15-20 minutes. The applesauce is done cooking when the apples are tender, soft and easily pierced with a fork. Remove the applesauce from the heat and turn off the stove.
- If you are wanting a chunky applesauce use a potato masher and mash them. If you are wanting a smooth applesauce blend with a hand blender.
- If you are wanting a sweeter applesauce, then before blending you will want to add the agave nectar.
- Serve immediately if you want it warm, or refrigerate and serve cold.
0 Weight Watchers SmartPoints
Comments & Reviews
ashlie elari says
Yum thanks I pinned:) wounded if it would still be good without cinnamon?