• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Food Blog
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Me
  • Work With Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Hello and Welcome!
  • Work With Me
  • Contact Me
×

Home » Recipes » Canning & Preserving Recipes

Homemade Unsweetened Applesauce Recipe

Published: Sep 10, 2021 · Modified: Oct 3, 2021 by Colleen 56 Comments

Sharing is caring!

262 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
Jump to Recipe
Jars of applesauce on a wooden board
Jars of applesauce on a wooden board

This Easy Homemade Unsweetened Applesauce recipe is super simple to make. It contains only apples, with a little lemon to prevent browning. If you make your homemade applesauce sugar free, you can sweeten and spice your applesauce however you like when using it in recipes. 

A jar of applesauce with a spoon inserted.

Homemade applesauce could not be any easier, and canning it means you have it in the pantry to use in recipes. Homemade applesauce, like Apricot Jam, Pepper Jelly, or Asian Plum Sauce are always a welcome holiday gift, too.

Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Applesauce Recipe
  • Ingredient Notes
  • How To Make Applesauce Step by Step
  • Tips for Canning Applesauce
  • Applesauce Canning FAQ's
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Variations
  • Equipment I Used for this Recipe
  • Recipe
  • Comments

Why You'll Love This Applesauce Recipe

  • Besides some fresh lemon juice, this homemade unsweetened applesauce is just apples, that's all.
  • Many applesauce recipes have added sugar, but this is a refined sugar free applesauce recipe.
  • This applesauce is super easy to make.
  • Your homemade applesauce will keep for a year in the pantry.
  • Homemade applesauce is handy to have on hand. Especially if you use applesauce for baking, like I do with this Gluten-Free Zucchini Bread, or Gluten-Free Carrot Cake. You can eat it as a snack, stir it into Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats, or as a topping for ice cream. This unsweetened applesauce is delicious with pork. Try it with Grilled Pork Tenderloin, or Pork Chops with Apples & Onions.
  • Sugar free homemade applesauce is ideal for babies, and kids love it too.
  • Once you know how to make this easy applesauce recipe, you'll never want to buy store bought applesauce again.
A jar of homemade applesauce with a silver spoon.

Ingredient Notes

Apples Since we're making this applesauce sugar free, you may want to use a sweeter variety of apples. Try any of these varieties or a combo:

Sweet Apple Varieties

  • Ambrosia
  • Honeycrisp
  • Golden Delicious
  • Red Delicious
  • Crispin
  • Fuji

However, a combo of tart and sweet apples can make your homemade unsweetened applesauce a bit more interesting. Try one of the sweeter varieties mentioned above in combination with a tart variety. Here are a few:

Tart Apple Varieties

  • Granny Smith
  • Pink Lady
  • Gravenstein
  • Cortland
  • Macintosh

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.

The ingredients to make homemade applesauce.
Only Three Simple Ingredients

How To Make Applesauce Step by Step

  1. Peel, core, and slice apples.
  2. Combine apples pieces, lemon juice, and water in a large pot.
  3. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium and cook 10 minutes
  4. Use an immersion blender to puree the apples.
The first four steps to making the recipe.
Recipe steps 1 through 4
  1. Ladle the hot sauce into hot jars
  2. Apply lids and bands to the filled jars.
  3. Process jars in a boiling water bath for 20 minutes
  4. Allow the jars to cool, making sure they are sealed, label them with the date, and store in the pantry until ready to use.
Steps five through eight to making the recipe.
Recipe Steps 5 through 8

Tips for Canning Applesauce

  • If you are new to canning, you can find a more detailed guide here: Using Boiling Water Canners
  • Jars and bands can be reused, but new lids are required.
  • Check each jar for any chips or nicks and do not use those for processing.
  • Sterilize the empty jars for ten minutes in the water bath canner you are using for processing, keeping the water simmering so that it's ready to bring to a boil for processing the filled jars.
  • Cooking time for the apples will depend on how big your pieces are. Larger pieces will require longer cooking time.
  • Use a canning funnel to fill the jars with hot applesauce.
  • When filling the jars, leave ½ inch headspace.
  • Use a damp paper towel to wipe the rims of the jars clean before applying the lids.

Applesauce Canning FAQ's

Do I have to peel the apples to make applesauce?

You don't have to peel the apples. In fact you will have a more nutritious applesauce if you leave the peels on, albeit a chunkier one. For baking and other recipes, I prefer a smoother puree, so I peel the apples.

Why did my applesauce turn brown?

Browning (called oxidation) occurs when the cut surfaces of the apple are exposed to air. Adding lemon juice to the slices stops or slows the oxidation process. To limit browning, add apple slices to the pot with lemon juice as you slice them.

Can you overcook applesauce?

Yes, apples will loose their flavour if they are cooked too long. Cook just until the apples are fork tender.

How can I tell if my jars are sealed?

As they cool, you will hear the satisfying pop as each jar seals. To check, press the center of each jar lid with your finger. The lid should be concave and will not move when pressed. If the center of the lid gives to your finger pressure, it is not sealed.

What if a jar doesn't seal?

If, after cooling completely, a jar fails to seal, refrigerate and use the applesauce within 5-7 days.

Serving Suggestions

Eat it as a snack or use your homemade unsweetened applesauce to top yogurt, oatmeal or pancakes. It's great with pork and can be used in many baked goods.

Five processed jars of applesauce on a wooden board.

Variations

  • Change the fruit. You can use pears, or a combo of apples and pears.
  • Spice it up. Add spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cardamom.
  • Make it sweet. You can add sugar if you want this unsweetened applesauce recipe to be a sweet applesauce. Add sugar in ¼ cup increments, tasting until it's as sweet as you like. Sugar should be added after the apples are pureed and brought back to a boil.
  • Make it chunky. If you like a chunky, rather than a smooth applesauce, coarsely crush half the cooked apples and puree the other half before combining them.

Equipment I Used for this Recipe

  • Apple peeler/corer/slicer This inexpensive tool makes short work of prepping, but isn't necessary. It's great to have for making pies and other apple recipes.
  • Citrus juicer This tool is the best way to get every last drop of juice from lemons, limes, oranges, etc.
  • Immersion Blender This is the easiest way to puree the applesauce and it's also great for soups and sauces. If you don't have one, you can transfer the cooked apples in batches to a blender and return to the pot after pureeing.
  • Canning kit This contains a canning funnel for filling jars, a jar lifter, tongs, bubble popper, and a magnetic lid lifter. Of course, you can buy any of those items separately, too.
  • Water Bath Canner Essentially a large, deep pot with a rack. You can use a stock pot with a rack purchased separately.
  • Half Pint Jars with lids and bands Jars and bands can be re-used. Lids must be new.

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a rating in the comments below and let us know how it turned out. Did you make any changes? We would love for you to share and your feedback is important!

Recipe

Jars of homemade unsweetened applesauce.

Homemade Unsweetened Applesauce Recipe

This easy to make Homemade Applesauce with no sugar added is healthy, tasty, and a versatile pantry item to have on hand.
5 from 18 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prevent your screen from going dark
Course: Jams, Jellies, & Preserves
Cuisine: Canning & Preserving
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 6 250 ml jars
Calories: 236kcal
Author: Colleen Milne

Ingredients

  • 6 pounds fresh apples (about 12 large apples) peeled, cored, and sliced or chopped
  • Juice of one lemon
  • 1 cup water
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Peel, core and slice or chop the apples
  • 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 10 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

Jars and bands can be reused, but new lids are required.
Check each jar for any chips or nicks and do not use those for processing.
Sterilize the empty jars for ten minutes in the water bath canner you are using for processing, keeping the water simmering so that it's ready to bring to a boil for processing the filled jars.
Cooking time for the apples will depend on how big your pieces are. Larger pieces will require longer cooking time.
Use a canning funnel to fill the jars with hot applesauce.
When filling the jars, leave ½ inch headspace.
Use a damp paper towel to wipe the rims of the jars clean before applying the lids.
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 process your applesauce, it will keep in the fridge for about a week, and can also be frozen.
You can add sugar if you want this unsweetened applesauce recipe to be a sweet applesauce. Add sugar in ¼ cup increments, tasting until it's as sweet as you like. Sugar should be added after the apples are pureed and brought back to a boil.
If you like a chunky, rather than a smooth applesauce, coarsely crush half the cooked apples and puree the other half before combining them.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 236kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 485mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 47g | Vitamin A: 245IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @TheFoodBlog or tag #thefoodblog!
« Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls
Gluten Free Peach Cobbler »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ash

    November 24, 2021 at 11:50 am

    Hi! I’m going to try this recipe to use in a sweet potato casserole…do you know about how many cups of apple sauce this recipe makes? 🙂 Thanks!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      November 25, 2021 at 6:18 am

      Hi Ash, this recipe makes 6 cups of applesauce. If you need less, or more, you can adjust the recipe by toggling the "servings" at the top of the recipe card. Happy applesauce making!

      Reply
  2. Terri

    September 20, 2021 at 6:57 am

    My favorite part of this recipe is that it lasts A YEAR in your pantry! Pinned 🙂

    Reply
    • Colleen

      September 20, 2021 at 8:08 am

      Hi Terri, I love that part, too!

      Reply
  3. Chenée

    September 20, 2021 at 12:13 am

    I love making applesauce at home! So glad I found this recipe to make it without added sugar!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      September 20, 2021 at 8:03 am

      Chenee, I'm glad you found this recipe, too! Enjoy!

      Reply
  4. Jamie

    September 19, 2021 at 9:58 pm

    I love how simple and easy this recipe is! I appreciate how there's no sugar added which is perfect for a quick, healthy snack.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      September 20, 2021 at 8:02 am

      Hi Jamie, I'm so happy that you love it, and I think apples are sweet enough, too.

      Reply
  5. Amy

    September 19, 2021 at 8:19 pm

    We love unsweetened applesauce at my house and I didn’t realize how simple it was! It was delicious too, much better than store bought!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      September 20, 2021 at 6:31 am

      Hi Amy. So happy that you loved it, and isn't it so simple? Your comment is appreciated!

      Reply
  6. Nicole

    September 19, 2021 at 7:31 pm

    This looks great and good for football games!

    Reply
  7. Julia

    September 18, 2021 at 9:27 pm

    I really appreciate how simple this is! Sometimes I feel like the apple sauce I get from grocery stores just have way too much sugar. This is great in the fridge as a snack or for those days where I'm just too lazy to make a full meal!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      September 19, 2021 at 6:46 am

      I agree, Julia. Who needs all that sugar? And I love applesauce for snacking too. Enjoy!

      Reply
  8. Fouzia Husainy

    September 18, 2021 at 7:32 pm

    Love this recipe for the fact that it is sugar free as well as so simple and easy. Thanks for sharing Colleen.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      September 19, 2021 at 6:41 am

      You're very welcome, Fouzia! I'm so happy that you love it!

      Reply
  9. Leslie Sawmiller

    September 18, 2021 at 10:54 am

    Homemade applesauce will forever be a memory that reminds me of my grandma! Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      September 18, 2021 at 2:17 pm

      You're so welcome, Leslie! I love when food brings joyful memories.

      Reply
  10. Natalia

    September 18, 2021 at 9:15 am

    I’m really not one for applesauce but this applesauce is the BEST EVER that I have tasted. My neighbours gave me a lot of apples, I really didn’t know what to do with them all, so I decided to try and make some applesauce. Best decision ever!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      September 18, 2021 at 2:16 pm

      This just made my day, Natalia! I so happy that it turned out well for you. Thanks for your comment!

      Reply
  11. Jenny

    September 18, 2021 at 6:58 am

    Thanks so much for sharing this. I am always buying apple sauce but decided to make it at home after finding your recipe. Hubby went bananas over it. It was that good! I am sure I will be making it frequently.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      September 18, 2021 at 7:24 am

      Hi Jenny! I'm so happy you found this recipe and you and your hubby loved it. Thanks for letting me know!

      Reply
  12. Beth

    September 17, 2021 at 12:07 am

    I ordered a set of eight ounce jars and I’m still waiting for them to come in, but as soon as they do I’m making this! My son has always loved apple sauce and I’m excited to make it from home now, so much better than store bought!

    Reply
  13. Chef Mireille

    September 16, 2021 at 6:07 pm

    I often replace the eggs with applesauce when making low fat muffins. Having this delicious sugar free applesauce recipe at the ready will allow me to make my muffins even healthier. I added a bit of cardamom and nutmeg and the flavor in this applesauce was amazing even just as a snack on its own.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      September 16, 2021 at 6:16 pm

      Chef Mireille, I am super happy to know that this applesauce recipe is helpful to you, and I love the spices that you added! Thank you for commenting.

      Reply
  14. Aimee Mars

    September 16, 2021 at 5:26 pm

    Thank you for including all the canning information! I plan on making a huge batch of this applesauce to use in recipes and eat throughout the year.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      September 16, 2021 at 6:14 pm

      You are so welcome, Aimee. This recipe is so great to have in the pantry all year. Enjoy!

      Reply
« Older Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Colleen, the creator of The Food Blog.

Hi, I'm Colleen!  I’m glad you stopped by. I hope that you’re here because you love delicious, simple, mostly healthy recipes . Because that’s what I do and I want to share it with you.

More about me →

Trending Now

  • Meyer Lemon Curd Tart (Gluten-Free)
  • Vegan Asparagus Soup
  • Gluten Free Blueberry Scones (Lemon Glazed)
  • Spring Chicken Salad

In Season Now

  • Asparagus Stuffed Chicken Breasts
  • Steak & Asparagus Stir Fry Recipe
  • Vegan Asparagus Soup
  • Air Fryer Asparagus Fries
The Food Blog has been featured in

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright
  • Accessibility

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact
  • Work with me

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2022 The Food Blog

262 shares