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.)
Best Apple Varieties For Applesauce
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.
Home Preserving Is Easy, 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.
Home Canning will keep for up to a year in the pantry, so it’s wise to label it with the year that you made it. For more information on home canning, check out Canning FAQ’s
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.
Easy Homemade Applesauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 pounds fresh apples peeled, cored, and cut into quarters
- Juice of one lemon
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Put apple pieces in a large, deep pot and toss with lemon juice.
- Add water
- Over high heat, bring to a boil, stirring.
- Reduce heat to medium, and cook, stirring occasionally, until apples are soft, about 20 minutes.
- Use an immersion blender in the pot to puree the apples.
- Keep sauce at a gentle boil while ladling into hot, sterilized jars.
- Wipe jar rims with a damp paper towel, and put lids and bands on jars.
- Process jars in a boiling-water canner for 20 minutes.
- Allow jars to cool, making sure they are sealed, and store in the pantry until ready to use.
Notes
Nutrition
I love making my own homemade applesauce! It is so much healthier!! Yours looks delicious!
Homemade really is so much healthier, Sam! Thank you.
Homemade is always best. You control EVERYTHING from the spices to the sweetness. No artificial ingredients…just goodness….made in your kitchen.
Gloria, I couldn’t agree more!
I love homemade applesauce! Its so great! We make a big batch every year with the apples my in-laws bring us from their apple trees!
Hi Jenni, It’s great to have access to all those fresh apples!
Good idea and so easy. Thanks for posting.
Thanks Dina!
I like simple, classic recipes. I will have to make this the next time I make a baked ham. I like mine plain, too.
Hi Tiffany, Mmm, baked ham with applesauce is so good!
We are huge applesauce eaters…can’t wait to try this recipe!
Sandi, I hope you try this one. If you like applesauce you’ll love this ?
It’s always great to have these simple, classic recipes in your repertoire! Thanks for sharing — I’ve pinned it for future reference. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, Colleen!
Thanks Justine, I agree on simple classic recipes. 🙂 Have a lovely Sunday!
This is so easy to make! I like it plain too without spices. It’s more flexible when you use it in other recipes. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Vicky. It’s so easy, right? And even plain, it tastes fresh and delicious.
This homemade applesauce totally brings back memories of when my Oma made it for us when we were kids! Love how simple the ingredients are – I’ll definitely be trying this recipe out!
Hi Jessica, its such an old fashioned recipe, and sometimes those ones are the best, aren’t they?
I haven’t had homemade applesauce in such a long time. You’ve convinced me to fix that! I’m going to keep my eyes out for sales on apples and make this, stat! Yours looks so perfect and creamy!
Hi Nicole! I love how easy it is and so handy to have in the pantry! 🙂
Wow, how fabulously simple!
I will definitely give this a try. I absolutely love apple sauce with pork and love the simplicity of this recipe.
Have a fantastic weekend.
Hi Redawna, I know, so easy, right? Enjoy your weekend!