This Easy Homemade Applesauce recipe is so simple. I love that it contains only apples, plus a little bit of fresh lemon juice to prevent the apples from browning. You can add cinnamon and other spices if you like, and sugar too. But I like the fresh and slightly tart taste of pure apples. And this way, you can spice your applesauce however you like when using it in recipes. Or you can sweeten it with maple syrup before eating. (Which is really yummy, BTW.)

Apple Varieties

It’s best to use a sweeter variety of apples for applesauce, especially if you aren’t adding any sugar. I used a combination of Macintosh and Spartans. Just because I happened to have a bounty of them, thanks to a generous neighbour. Using just one variety of apple is fine, but a combo makes your apple sauce a bit more interesting, I find. Just be sure to use apples at the peak of ripeness, and don’t use bruised or soft ones. The taste of your sauce will reflect the freshness of the apples that you use.

Canning Isn’t Hard, And You Get To Stock Your Pantry

Homemade applesauce could not be any easier, and canning it means you have it in the pantry to use in recipes. I also like to give homemade preserves, jams, and jellies as holiday gifts, and this applesauce is a great addition to my gift packs. Homemade, edible gifts are always universally welcomed.

Homemade Apple Sauce is Perfect For Babies and Kids

Pure, unsweetened applesauce is perfect for babies and little kids, and you’ll feel good knowing that what they’re eating is apples. No sugar, no preservatives or other additives. Besides, the kiddies, homemade applesauce is also handy for baking. And delicious with pork, on pancakes, and stirred into your morning oatmeal.

Most of the work in this easy homemade applesauce recipe is in the peeling and coring.  If you have an apple peeler/corer, it makes short work of it, and it’s a great gadget to have for making pies like this Apple Cranberry Pie or any apple recipe like Pork Chops with Caramelized Apples & Onions. If you don’t have one, just enlist some peeling help and the time will fly by.

How to Make Easy Homemade Applesauce

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Easy Homemade Applesauce Recipe

Prep Time

30 mins

Cook Time

30 mins

Total Time

1 hr

 

This easy to make Homemade Applesauce is healthier and tastier with no sugar added.

Course: Jams, Jellies, & Preserves

Cuisine: American, Canning & Preserving

Servings: 8 250 ml jars

Calories: 176 kcal

Author: Colleen

Ingredients

• 6 pounds fresh apples peeled, cored, and cut into quarters
• Juice of one lemon
• 1 cup water

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. Put apple pieces in a large, deep pot and toss with lemon juice..
2. Add water
3. Over high heat, bring to a boil, stirring.
4. Reduce heat to medium, and cook, stirring occasionally, until apples are soft, about 20 minutes.
5. Use an immersion blender in the pot to puree the apples.
6. Keep sauce at a gentle boil while ladling into hot, sterilized jars.
7. Wipe jar rims with a damp paper towel, and put lids and bands on jars.

8. Process jars in a boiling-water canner for 20 minutes.

9. Allow jars to cool, making sure they are sealed, and store in the pantry until ready to use.

Recipe Notes

If you don't have an immersion blender, transfer cooked apples to a blender or food processor in batches. Then return pureed apples to the pot and bring back to a gentle boil before ladling into jars.

If you prefer to add cinnamon, put a cinnamon stick in the pot with the apples, then remove it before transferring the sauce into jars.

Prep time given is for peeling and coring apples by hand, and if you have an apple peeler / corer, it will be much reduced.

For even more apple flavour, substitute the water for apple juice or apple cider.

If you prefer not to can your applesauce, it will keep in the fridge for about a week, and can also be frozen.

Nutrition Facts

Easy Homemade Applesauce Recipe

Amount Per Serving (1 g)

Calories 176

% Daily Value*

Sodium 4mg0%

Potassium 364mg10%

Carbohydrates 46g15%

Fiber 8g32%

Sugar 35g39%

Vitamin A 185IU4%

Vitamin C 15.7mg19%

Calcium 20mg2%

Iron 0.4mg2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

*This post contains an affiliate link. If you click on it and end up buying the product, I will receive a small commission. Which helps a little with the costs of running The Food Blog, so that I can keep sharing awesome recipes with you. I only endorse products that I use and love myself.