Easy homemade applesauce made in a slow cooker, Instant Pot, or on the stovetop. All you need are apples, cinnamon, and water!
You might also like my apple cider donuts, instant pot apple cider, or baked apple chips!
When we lived in Ohio, we were right down the road from an apple orchard, and we would pick apples every year to make applesauce. I no longer live near an orchard, but that doesn't stop us from filling a large pot with sliced apples and simmering them down to make this cinnamon-y goodness. It's the perfect side to any meal and so easy to make. You can make it in an Instant Pot, on the stovetop, or in a slow cooker, and I'll show you how! Did you know that you can also make apple cider in an Instant Pot?
Why I Like This Recipe
- Make in a slow cooker, Instant Pot, or stovetop. This applesauce recipe is incredibly versatile and easy to make in a variety of ways. I include instructions for all three methods!
- Simple ingredients. It's hard to buy applesauce at the store, knowing how simple it is to make at home with apples and water. You can add cinnamon and a small amount of sugar, but you don't have to!
- Easy to store. Fresh applesauce will keep fresh in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, and it can be frozen for up to a year. I freeze my containers of applesauce, so there is no need to process them in a canner. However, if you'd like to make your applesauce shelf-stable, canning is the way to go.
What Others Are Saying
Delicious! I used a variety of apples & no sugar! I filled quart freezer bags and froze mine for future use!---Kandy on Pinterest
Super easy and my Toddler class loved making this and eating it!!---Karrie
This is perfect for canning applesauce! Delicious with honey crisp apples---Audrey on Pinterest
Jump to:
- Why I Like This Recipe
- What Others Are Saying
- Tips and Tricks
- Ingredients
- How To Make Applesauce In a Slow Cooker
- How To Make Applesauce On The Stove
- How To Make Applesauce In An Instant Pot (Pressure Cooker)
- How To Store Homemade Applesauce
- Applesauce FAQs
- More Apple Recipes To Make
- Homemade Applesauce (Stovetop, Instant Pot, Slow Cooker)
Tips and Tricks
- Best method for making applesauce. What's the best way to make homemade applesauce? Honestly, there are benefits to all 3 methods. The Instant Pot is quick and automatic. Slow cookers are easy and foolproof; "set it and forget it." A good old-fashioned stock pot is also fast and easy, and honestly, my preferred method. Use whichever method you are most comfortable with.
- Best apples for homemade applesauce. The type of apple that you use depends on the flavor of applesauce you'd like! Want a sweet applesauce that needs little to no sugar? Try Golden Delicious or Honeycrisp. Want a great all-around applesauce? Gala, Macintosh, Rome, Jonagold, Fuji, or Pink Lady are great options! Looking for a tangy or tart apple? Granny Smith is an obvious choice. My favorite apples to use are Gala and Golden Delicious because they are sweet and inexpensive.
- Low sugar method. Many applesauce recipes call for ½ cup+ of sugar, but I find that when you use a sweet apple, you can get away with far less sweetener (or none at all). If using a Granny Smith, you may need to add sugar. Using Golden Delicious or Honeycrip? No sugar is required.
Ingredients
- Apples: a 3-pound bag of your favorite variety will yield a little over 3 ½ cups of apple sauce.
- Cinnamon: I use ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon, which is just the right amount. You can easily sprinkle a bit more over your finished sauce later on.
- Water: You don't need a lot of water. As the apples simmer, they release a significant amount of juice. Simply pour ⅓ cup of water over the apples before adding the lid.
- Sugar: the amount of sugar depends on how sweet you'd like your sauce. 3 Tablespoons is typically what I add.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How To Make Applesauce In a Slow Cooker
Step 1: Peel, core, and thinly slice 3 pounds of apples.
Step 2: Place apple slices in a slow cooker.
Step 3: Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.
Step 4: Pour water over the apples.
Step 5: Cover the slow cooker and cook apples on HIGH for 4 hours or on LOW for 6 hours.
Step 6: Mash apples with a potato masher for chunky applesauce or blend with an immersion blender for a smooth texture.
How To Make Applesauce On The Stove
Step 1: Peel, core, and thinly slice 3 pounds of apples.
Step 2: Place apple slices in a large pot.
Step 3: Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.
Step 4: Pour water over the apples.
Step 5: Cover the pot with a lid and bring it to a boil. Reduce to medium-low heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until apples are tender and fall apart easily.
Step 6: Mash apples with a potato masher for chunky applesauce or blend with an immersion blender for a smooth texture.
How To Make Applesauce In An Instant Pot (Pressure Cooker)
Step 1: Peel, core, and thinly slice 3 pounds of apples.
Step 2: Place apples in an Instant Pot.
Step 3: Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.
Step 4: Pour ⅓ cup of water over the apples.
Step 5: Secure the lid and cook on HIGH (manual) pressure for 8 minutes.
Step 6: Allow pressure to release naturally.
Step 7: Mash apples with a potato masher or use an immersion blender until the desired consistency is achieved.
Note: For all methods, allow the applesauce to cool. It will thicken as it cools.
How To Store Homemade Applesauce
Pour applesauce into freezer bags, containers, or jars. Leave at least a ½" headspace before adding a lid to allow for expansion in the freezer.
Applesauce freezes beautifully and can be stored in the freezer for up to a year. Simply take a jar from the freezer and place it in the refrigerator or counter to allow it to thaw.
If you'd like to make your applesauce shelf-stable canning it is the way to go.
Applesauce FAQs
Many applesauce recipes call for ½ cup+ of sugar, but I find that when you use a sweet apple, you can get away with far less sweetener (or none at all). If using a Granny Smith, you may need to add sugar. Using Golden Delicious or Honeycrip? No sugar is required.
The type of apple that you use depends on the flavor of applesauce you'd like! Want a sweet applesauce that needs little to no sugar? Try Golden Delicious or Honeycrisp. Want a great all-around applesauce? Gala, Macintosh, Rome, Jonagold, Fuji, or Pink Lady are great options! Looking for a tangy or tart apple? Granny Smith is an obvious choice. My favorite apples to use are Gala and Golden Delicious because they are sweet and inexpensive.
You don't need a lot of liquid when making applesauce. As the apples simmer, they release a significant amount of juice. Do not use more than ⅓ cup of water for 3 pounds of apples.
Fresh applesauce will keep fresh in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, and it can be stored in the freezer for up to a year. I freeze my containers of applesauce, so there is no need to process them in a canner. However, if you'd like to make your applesauce shelf-stable, canning is the way to go.
If freezing the applesauce, use freezer-safe containers, freezer bags, or jars with lids. If canning applesauce, use canning jars with lids and rings.
More Apple Recipes To Make
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Homemade Applesauce (Stovetop, Instant Pot, Slow Cooker)
Ingredients
- 3 lbs. apples Gala, Golden Delicious, Honey Crisp, etc.
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (more or less depending on taste)
- ⅓ cup water
- 3 Tbsp. sugar (optional)
Instructions
HOW TO MAKE APPLESAUCE IN A SLOW COOKER
- Peel, core, and thinly slice the apples.
- Place apple slices in a slow cooker.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.
- Pour water over the apples.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook apples on HIGH for 4 hours or on LOW for 6 hours.
- Mash apples with a potato masher or use an immersion blender for a smooth sauce.
HOW TO MAKE APPLESAUCE ON THE STOVE
- Peel, core, and thinly slice the apples.
- Place apples in a large stock pot.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.
- Pour ⅓ cup of water over the apples.
- Cover the pot with a lid and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to LOW and simmer for 20 minutes or until apples are tender and fall apart easily.
- Mash apples with a potato masher or use an immersion blender for a smooth sauce.
HOW TO MAKE APPLESAUCE IN AN INSTANT POT (PRESSURE COOKER)
- Peel, core, and thinly slice the apples.
- Place apples in an Instant Pot pot.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.
- Pour ⅓ cup of water over the apples.
- Secure the lid and cook on HIGH (manual) pressure for 8 minutes.
- Allow pressure to release naturally.
- Mash apples with a potato masher or use an immersion blender for a smooth sauce.
Notes
- You don't need a lot of sugar in homemade applesauce. I generally use 3 Tablespoons, or none at all depending on the type of apple that I use.
- Applesauce will thicken as it cools. If you mash it down and think it's too runny, don't fret. It'll be just fine.
- Store applesauce in the refrigerator in a jar or container.
- If making a large batch, store applesauce in freezer containers in the freezer. Allow at least ½" headspace in the container to allow for expansion in the freezer.
- You can also process the applesauce in a water bath canner to make it shelf-stable.
- Applesauce is delicious served warm or cold.
Marcie Wilson says
Do you have processing information for canning the applesauce?
Brandy says
I don’t, I’m sorry!
karrie says
Super easy and my Toddler class loved making this and eating it!!
Brandy says
So glad to hear Karrie!
Victoria says
How long does it last in the fridge?
Brandy says
A couple of weeks. You can freeze it for up to a year.
Debbie Joseph says
My mom always had thinner applesauce would I just add more water? Hers was sweet and tart would I use Granny Smith plus sweet apples? Thx
Brandy says
You can add a little more water if you'd like! That would thin it out. You can even do that after you make it if it isn't as thin as you'd like.