If you’re anything like my kids (or myself for that matter) applesauce is one of your favorite foods. I never seem to have enough! It’s healthy, delicious, and is the perfect mid-afternoon snack to tide them over until dinnertime. The only downside – those pre-made packages are expensive. Never mind how they are full of needless ingredients. Let’s make a better version.
Today on the blog, I want to walk you through a homemade applesauce recipe that your entire family will enjoy. It’s incredibly easy and tastes just as good (if not better) than it looks.
Why Homemade Applesauce?
Applesauce is a perfect example of a simple and easy food that gets jam packed with unnecessary ingredients to help preserve its shelf life. By making it at home, you have full control over everything that goes into the recipe, including sweetening options and other added flavors. I have a lot of fun playing around with spices and extracts to make something different when the regular applesauce is getting a bit dull.
Plus, it saves a good amount of money in the long run. With how much my kids reach for applesauce, the prepackaged versions cost way too much. Homemade applesauce just seems like the better option all around.
Which Apples Make The Best Homemade Applesauce?
When you’re making homemade applesauce, the type of apples you use really matters. Some apples are sweeter, some are more tart, and some are a mix of both. I’ve tried every apple in the store and our family’s favorites are Fuji, Granny Smith, or Honeycrisp.
Fuji apples are sweet and firm, making a smooth sauce, while Granny Smith apples are tart and give a zesty flavor. Honeycrisp apples are my personal favorite because they’re the perfect texture and smell amazing.
Sometimes, I’ll just mix all the apples I have left together and it always tastes great. Try different apples to see which one makes the applesauce you prefer the most.
Homemade Applesauce Recipe:
This recipe takes about 25 minutes total and makes about 2 cups of applesauce. While that’s enough to tide my kids over for a few days, it’s a really easy recipe to double or triple depending on what you need it for. This usually gets devoured by my kids before I can use it for other purposes, but applesauce is an excellent substitute for eggs, oil, or butter when baking as well.
Ingredients:
- 6-8 medium-sized apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji) peeled, cored + chopped
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (optional)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
Steps:
- Peel, core, and chop 4-5 apples.
- In a saucepan, combine the chopped apples, ¼ cup water, and 2 tablespoons lemon juice.
- Simmer the mixture over medium heat for 15-20 minutes until the apples are soft.
- Mash the cooked apples with a fork or potato masher to your desired consistency.
- Optional: Add 2-3 tablespoons of sugar and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon to taste.
- Cook the applesauce for an additional 5 minutes to blend the flavors.
- Let the applesauce cool completely.
- Transfer to a jar or container and refrigerate, freeze or water bath can until ready to use.
How To Store Homemade Applesauce
Once your applesauce is finished, I find it’s easiest to store in mason jars in the refrigerator. It can easily be frozen, but we never seem to get to the point. I’d recommend 7 days when refrigerated and 2-3 weeks when frozen.
Homemade Applesauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 6-8 medium-sized apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji) peeled, cored + chopped
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup (optional)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
Instructions
- Peel, core, and chop 4-5 apples.
- In a saucepan, combine the chopped apples, ¼ cup water, and 2 tablespoons lemon juice.
- Simmer the mixture over medium heat for 15-20 minutes until the apples are soft.
- Mash the cooked apples with a fork or potato masher to your desired consistency.
- Optional: Add 2-3 tablespoons of sugar and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon to taste.
- Cook the applesauce for an additional 5 minutes to blend the flavors.
- Let the applesauce cool completely.
- Transfer to a jar or container and refrigerate, freeze or water bath can until ready to use.
- Once your applesauce is finished, I find it’s easiest to store in mason jars in the refrigerator. It can easily be frozen, but we never seem to get to the point. I’d recommend 7 days when refrigerated and 2-3 weeks when frozen.
Curious To Find More Easy Homemade Recipes?
Once you start making homemade and healthy recipes, I promise there’s no going back. If you’re looking to start making the switch to more whole foods and meals in home, I want to help! My recipe book, Staples Made Simple, will give you a complete guide on how to make everyday recipes that are good for the body and the soul.
Have you ever made your own applesauce before? Let me know in the comments! And to keep up with the latest recipes on the blog, check out my recent posts: