I have fond memories of making my homemade applesauce recipe with the kids every year. We no longer Live in one area With apple trees (it’s so hot here!) but I still like to make my own. Unlike some canning adventures, I feel like homemade applesauce is worth the effort. It also makes the house smell good!
A word of caution though… your family will never want to eat store-bought applesauce again. Not mine!
A simple recipe for the best applesauce
There’s really no comparison between homemade and watered-down, store-bought applesauce. Homemade applesauce tastes so much better. And I’m totally skipping store-bought applesauce with added sweeteners.
While it’s easy to whip up a little bit as needed, we usually do a larger size for tins. If you want the short and sweet version, I’ve included instructions on how to make applesauce in the Instant Pot. It tastes amazing with a little apple pie spice and fresh lemon juice. My kids can’t get enough of it!
How to make homemade apple sauce
Here’s what we do…
Step 1: Make a plan to do it
Cooking and canning applesauce probably works best if you have a bit of spare time on the weekend. We usually a Happy fall weekend And make it a family event. (Extra hands are easy work and everything works!)
Go to the farmer’s market or apple orchard together and make a day of it. The kids will experience sights and sounds (and tastes!), and they can score organic local produce at affordable prices.
Step 2: Estimate the size
How much it does varies by family, but it’s an important step to consider. Nothing kills the fun of cooking from scratch and cutting out too much at once. (Ask me how I know…)
In my experience, one bushel of apples produces approximately 15-16 quarts of applesauce. I usually go for 2 bushels for our family of 7 to stay for 6 months.
Some equivalents to remember:
- 21 pounds of apples = about 7 quarts of applesauce (one water bath full)
- 1 bushel = 40 pounds of apples
Of course, it doesn’t hurt to buy more for snacking, baking, or drying. We love making seasonal dishes with them. Apple cinnamon muffinsApple Pork, Apple ciderApple butter and as a side dish Shaved Apple Kale Salad.
Step 3: Buy apples (preferably local and organic)
Making homemade applesauce not only saves time, but it also saves money. The first year I tried making apple shots, I was able to get a bushel of organic apples from the CSA for only $20. (Crazy good deal!)
Step 4: Wash and prepare
Even though I made sure to get pesticide and wax-free apples, I still recommend drinking them in vinegar. I fill the sink with vinegar and water and let them drain. This will prevent any dirt or debris from collecting. After washing, wash well with clean water.
You can use a cleaner to remove the apple skins, but I prefer to leave them. Cut the apples into quarters and remove the cores before cooking. (If you have The KitchenAidThese Attachments Simply cut and core for you).
Step 5 Cook and mix until smooth
You can use a slow cooker, Instant Pot, or just a large pot on the stove to cook applesauce. Cook the apples in a pan covered with a little water (less than a cup of water) over medium heat. I usually add a few tablespoons of cinnamon to each jar full of apples.
Since I left the apple skins on, I used them once they were soft. Immersive mixture So that they blend properly in the pan. A large blender, food mill, or food processor will work just as well. The main thing is to make the skins blend, so that they are not even visible. You can make soft or smooth applesauce by blending the soup to the desired consistency.
Step 6: Freeze it, make it or shut up!
At this point, the apple is ready to eat! This is a good time for any kitchen helpers to cook up some warm applesauce before packing. If you’re new to packing, This is an important FAQ It’s a good place to start.
Here’s to a new fall tradition. I hope you like it as much as we do!
Homemade Applesauce Recipe
Make your own applesauce with this simple homemade recipe. The applesauce can be canned or frozen.
- 21 Pounds Apple (adjust up or down as needed)
- 2 TBSP Cinnamon (adjust up or down as needed)
- ¾ Cup Water
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Soak apples in vinegar and water in the kitchen sink for a few hours and remove any dirt or residue. Rinse thoroughly after washing or your apples will have a slightly sour taste. This step is not necessary with organic apples, but it is still a good way to clean them.
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If desired, peel the apples. Quarter and core washed apples.
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Place all the apples in a crock-pot or large pot on the stove with 3/4 cup water and cinnamon. For every jar full of apples, I usually add a few tablespoons of cinnamon.
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Cook on medium heat until apples are soft. Time varies, but wait at least a few hours. When you cook, the house will smell good all day!
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When the apples are soft and the skins start to fall off, turn off the heat and let the apples cool until slightly warm. Use a blender, food mill, or immersion blender (not a hand blender) to puree the apples until smooth.
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If storing fresh, pour into clean quart jars, cover and refrigerate.
Nutrition facts
Homemade Applesauce Recipe
Per serving size (1 cup)
Calories 178
Calories from fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1 g2%
Saturated fat 0.1 g1%
Polyunsaturated fat 0.2 g
Monounsaturated fat 0.03g
Sodium 4 mg0%
Potassium 366 mg10%
Carbohydrates 47 g16%
Fiber 8 g33%
Sugar 35 g39%
Protein 1 g2%
Vitamin A 185IU4%
Vitamin C 16 mg19%
Calcium 26 mg3%
Metal 0.5 mg3%
* Percent daily values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe yields approximately 7 quarts of apples. One bush apple makes about 15 quintals of apples. You can easily adapt this recipe to smaller or larger batches.
The best varieties of apples for applesauce
The main thing is to ask the organic farmer for “seconds” (not very beautiful apples with small defects in appearance). This is not a problem for applesauce because the apples are already mixed. It makes the process more affordable. Every year we get different kinds of apples depending on what is available from local farmers. That depends on which apple trees grow best in your local climate.
In the past we have regularly used Mackintosh, Jonathan, Gala, Fuji and Ida Red. The main thing is to use 3 or more species and mix them together. You get the best flavor when you combine tart apples like Granny Smith apples with sweet apples, like Pink Lady, Honey Crisp, or Golden Sweet.
Instant Pot Applesauce Recipe
This quick and easy recipe uses the Instant Pot for an extra quick version. I like to make this when I don’t have a ton of apples, but still want homemade applesauce.
- 8 Apple (Using different types is key to taste)
- ½ Cup Water
- 1 TBSP Lemon juice (half a small lemon, juice)
- ½ tsp Ground cinnamon (optional, to taste)
- ½ tsp Apple pie spice (optional, to taste)
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To remove any dirt or chemical residue, soak the apples in vinegar and water for two hours in the kitchen sink. Rinse thoroughly after washing or your apples will have a slightly sour taste. This step is not necessary with organic apples, but it is still a good way to clean them.
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If desired, peel the apples. Core and cut into quarters.
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Add apples, water, lemon juice, and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon/apple cake mix to an Instant Pot.
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Close the lid and let the pressure cooker cook on high for 5 minutes.
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Apply natural pressure for 10 minutes, then quickly release the remaining pressure.
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Use an immersion blender or mash with a potato masher or fork to achieve desired texture.
Nutrition facts
Instant Pot Applesauce Recipe
Amount per service provider (1 time)
Calories 128
Calories from fat 4
% Daily Value*
Fat 0.4 g1%
Saturated fat 0.1 g1%
Polyunsaturated fat 0.1 g
Monounsaturated fat 0.02 g
Sodium 4 mg0%
Potassium 264 mg8%
Carbohydrates 34 g11%
Fiber 6 g25%
Sugar 25 g28%
Protein 1 g2%
Vitamin A 132IU3%
Vitamin C 12 mg15%
Calcium 18 mg2%
Metal 0.3 mg2%
* Percent daily values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Serve warm or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Have you ever made applesauce? how did it happen
