Easy Homemade Applesauce 🍏 A simply delicious recipe for preparing the best applesauce you've ever had! Fresh apples, lemon juice, maple syrup & cinnamon are all you need to create this classic comfort food favorite.
A is for apples and this awesome recipe for preparing the simplest, easiest and tastiest applesauce. As one of the first solid foods given to many human babies, applesauce is a comfort food in the truest sense. There are good reasons why people of all ages enjoy it. It's easy to eat, it's delicious and nutritious! Plus it's oil-free, gluten-free, nut-free and 100% vegan!
Applesauce is the key ingredient in my scrumptious Vegan Old Fashioned Applesauce Cake and adds beautifully to the perfectly moist texture of this Easy Homemade Vegan Pumpkin Bread. You can also use this recipe to make one of my favorite Thanksgiving and holiday side dishes - Easy Homemade Cranberry Applesauce.
I'm going to share all the basics you need to know to prepare the simply best apple sauce ever. Let's get started!
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Why we love this recipe
- It's the perfect way to use up a lot of apples.
- So easy to prepare!
- Kids love it.
- It's absolutely delicious!
- You can freeze applesauce up to 3 months.
- Only a few basic ingredients.
- It's sweetened with maple syrup
Why use maple syrup in applesauce?
Most traditional applesauce recipes require white or brown sugar. Personally, I prefer to sweeten mine with pure maple syrup. The combination of fresh apples and maple are like a match made in heaven. Since maple syrup tends to be sweeter than sugar, you can use less of it. I like my applesauce to be on the less-sweet side, but if you want yours sweeter, simply add more maple syrup to taste. You can also omit adding any syrup at all if you prefer unsweetened applesauce.
Want to know how to make the best homemade applesauce?
If you haven't tried making homemade applesauce, you're in for a treat. I think you'll be amazed how fresh and good it tastes. It's so simple and easy to prepare, chances are, you might not use store-bought applesauce again!
🥕Hint
The key to creating the best applesauce is by combining a variety of tart and sweet apples like Granny Smith, Fuji, Honey Crisp, Rome, Red or Golden Delicious, etc. For the apple sauce I prepared here, I used Granny Smith & Honey Crisp apples. It was scrumptious!
Ingredients
🥕This recipe makes approximately one quart or 32 oz. of applesauce.
- Apples - a variety is best
- Lemon juice - fresh
- Water
- Cinnamon - ground
- Maple syrup (optional) or homemade vegan apple honey
Instructions
🥕See printable recipe card below for complete details
Gather your ingredients. Peel, core, and slice apples into chunks.
Place in a stovetop pot with water and lemon juice. Cook until tender, then add cinnamon and maple syrup.
Place cooked apples into a blender or food processor. Cover and purée to a consistency you like. That's it!
🥕Tip: If your prefer chunky applesauce, pulse the cooked apples just a few times in a blender or simply hand mash the cooked apples with a potato masher or large fork.
Enjoy all on its own, with a sprinkle of cinnamon, or stir in cranberries & holiday spice for the tastiest homemade cranberry applesauce.
Equipment
- Blender or food processor
- 5 qt stovetop pot with lid
- Measuring cup
- Measuring spoons
- Citrus juicer
- Veggie peeler
- Long handled spoon
Variations
Variety is the spice of life and that is certainly true with applesauce. The mellow flavor of fresh apples provides the perfect foundation for the addition of other fruits and spices like:
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Apricots
- Mango
- Orange zest
- Nutmeg
- Cloves
- Cranberries - my favorite!!!
FAQ's
Applesauce as a side dish or dessert is wonderful all on its own, but it's also an ideal ingredient to include with lots of other recipes & dishes. It adds flavor, texture, moisture and can be a good substitute for eggs in baked goods. The pectin in applesauce acts like a binder, much like eggs. I love using applesauce as a healthier alternative to oil in baking. Simply replace one part oil to one part applesauce.
Here are just a few of the many food items you can enjoy with applesauce:
Cakes
Cookies
Muffins
Oatmeal
On toast
On potato pancakes or latkes
Package applesauce in an airtight container and store refrigerated up to 3 days or frozen up to 3 months. Thaw in a refrigerator before using.
Yes it is! According to this article, applesauce can provide such health benefits as:
Heart Health - Applesauce contains about the same amount of fiber as whole apples. The fiber is soluble, which helps to lower your blood cholesterol levels. Like fresh apples, applesauce also contains polyphenols, which may help to reduce blood pressure. Lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels can help to reduce your risk for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
Digestive Health - The soluble fiber in applesauce, in the form of pectin, can be helpful in treating digestive issues, such as diarrhea and constipation. It can help to neutralize the effects of irritable bowel syndrome. Pectin also acts as a prebiotic, which feeds good gut bacteria and promotes good digestive health.
Cancer Prevention - The phytochemicals in apples can help to reduce the risk of cancer. While most of these compounds are in the apple skin, there are some in the flesh. Applesauce retains some of the antioxidants, so it can help lower your cancer risk as well.
Lower Risk of Asthma - The antioxidants in apples can help fight oxidative damage in the lungs, which can lower your risk for asthma. The quercetin in apples and applesauce can also give your immune system a boost and reduce inflammation.
Source: webmd.com
If you love this recipe, you should look at these delish fruit-centric desserts!
- Vegan Old Fashioned Applesauce Cake
- Easy Vegan Old Fashioned Apple Crisp
- Vegan Berry Cobbler
- Easy Vegan Apple Pie
- Vegan Orange Cranberry Bread
- Best Vegan Strawberry Shortcake
very vegan 🍏 very good
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you’ve enjoyed this recipe, please rate it using stars in the comment section below the recipe. It helps other readers find it online & decide if they want to give it a try too!. Thanks a bunch!🥕
Easy Homemade Applesauce
Equipment
- blender or food processor
- 5 qt stovetop pot with lid
- Long handled spoon
- Mesh strainer
Ingredients
Easy Homemade Applesauce
- 3 lbs apples approx 6-8 large apples - washed
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¾ cup water
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup maple syrup add more if desired or none for unsweetened applesauce
Instructions
Easy Homemade Applesauce
- Wash, peel, core and slice apples.
- Place apples in a 5 qt. or larger pot. Add ¾ cup water and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Stir.
- Place apples on stove over med-high heat. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and allow apples to simmer for 12 - 15 minutes, until soft. Cover with lid if needed to avoid splatters.
- Remove from heat. Stir in cinnamon and maple syrup.
- Carefully transfer cooked apples to a blender or food processor. Pulse until pureed or consistency you prefer.
- Cool for a few minutes. Store applesauce in an airtight container in refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Notes
Nutrition
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you’ve enjoyed this recipe, please rate it in the comments below. Sharing your experience helps others decide if they should give it a try too. Thanks a bunch!🥕
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Connie Edwards McGaughy
When I learned how easy it is to make my own applesauce from scratch I knew I wouldn't be buying it off the shelf anymore. There's nothing quite like a batch of this homemade applesauce made with fresh apples, a splash of pure maple syrup & tart lemon with a sprinkle of cinnamon.