I always get a warm and cozy feeling anytime I make homemade applesauce. The smell of apples and cinnamon spreads through the kitchen as it cooks and soon the scent of Fall has filled the entire house. Fall is also the best time to make this homemade applesauce recipe because apples are in season so there are a lot of varieties to choose from, their flavor is at their peak, and they’re inexpensive. Sure you can buy store-bought applesauce, but trust me it’s no comparison to the taste of homemade applesauce!
This post contains some affiliate links, which means that we make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you.
Ingredients for Homemade Applesauce
You only need 4 simple ingredients to make this easy homemade applesauce recipe:
- Apples – Of course, there are lots of different apples to choose from when making applesauce, but in general you’ll want to stick with sweet or semi-sweet varieties. If you choose a tart apple, like granny smith, you may want to add some additional sugar. We used Gala apples for this recipe.
- Water – Water is used to cook the apples. Using water instead of apple juice or apple cider allows the fresh flavor of the apples to shine through!
- Ground cinnamon – A touch of ground cinnamon goes a long way and tastes great with cooked apples. It also gives the applesauce just a hint of flavor.
- Lemon juice – A little lemon juice brightens up the applesauce and helps the flavors pop. Don’t skip this one!
That’s it! Perfect homemade applesauce and no added sweetener needed.
What Kind of Apples Are Best For Making Applesauce?
You can honestly use several different types of apples to make applesauce. But to keep from having to add any sugar or sweetener, I suggest using a sweeter or semi-sweet variety of apple, like Fuji, Gala, Pink Lady, or Honeycrisp. You can use just one kind or a combination of 2 varieties if you want. And, of course, if you’re making your applesauce during the fall season, you’ll find the best deals and the sweetest apples during this time of year. ;)
Should You Peel The Apples?
This is a great question and it honestly depends on personal preference. I like to peel my apples when making applesauce in order to get a smoother consistency. But it’s definitely not required. If you’re short on time, just give them a good wash and leave the peel on.
How To Store Homemade Applesauce?
Homemade applesauce stores very well in the refrigerator and the freezer. Just store any leftover applesauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. To thaw the applesauce, let it sit in the refrigerator overnight.
Homemade Applesauce
Servings 6Ingredients
- 6 large apples (about 3 lbs.) ($5.07)
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon ($0.03)
- 3/4 cup water ($0.00)
- 2 tsp lemon juice ($0.04)
Instructions
- Wash, peel, and remove the core from the apples. Chop the apples into small 3/4 inch chunks.
- Add the chopped apples, ground cinnamon and water to a medium pot and place a lid on top. Heat the apples over medium, allowing them to come up to a simmer. Continue to simmer the apples for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are tender. The total cook time will vary depending on the variety of apple used.*
- Remove the pot from heat. Mash the apples with a potato masher inside the pot for a chunky texture. Or allow the apples to cool slightly and blend with an immersion blender or carefully inside a blender for a smoother texture.
- Add the lemon juice to the applesauce and stir to combine. Serve homemade applesauce warm or chilled in the refrigerator.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Equipment
- Potato Masher
Notes
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @budgetbytes or tag #budgetbytes on Instagram!
How to Make Homemade Applesauce – Step by Step Photos
Wash, peel, and remove the core from 6 apples. Chop the apples into 3/4 inch small chunks.
Add the chopped apples, 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon, and 3/4 cup of water to a medium pot and place a lid on top. Heat the apples over medium heat, allowing them to come up to a simmer. Continue to simmer the apples for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are tender. The total cook time will vary depending on the variety of apple used.
Remove the pot from heat. Mash the apples with a potato masher inside the pot for a chunky texture. Or allow the apples to cool slightly and blend with an immersion blender or carefully inside a blender for smoother texture.
Add the 2 tsp of lemon juice to the applesauce and stir to combine. Serve homemade applesauce warm or chilled in the refrigerator. Enjoy!
A real winner and easy. I have now used this recipe 3 times. I have an apple tree that produces a lot of fruit. My family loves. Prices is even better because I have a friend who exchanges lemons from her tree for apples and blueberries that we grown. I do add about 1 1/2 tablepoons of sugar because we like it a bit sweeter.
What kind of apples do you recommend?
We like to stick to sweet or semi-sweet varieties for this. If you choose a tart apple, like granny smith, you may want to add some additional sugar. We used Gala apples for this recipe.
Very good
Applesauce to the Rescue!
I needed to prepare foods for my teenage daughter recovering from stomach and digestive issues. I was looking in my pantry and making a shopping list. Applesauce was on my but I had all the simple ingredients to make it. So I came across your recipe with pictures and decided to give it a quick go before heading off to the market. I chilled it before serving and it was just what Dr Mom needed. I put this in my digital recipe book and emailed a copy to my daughters.
Thank you for cooking and sharing with love👩🏽🍳❤️!
Love this short, sweet and healthy recipe!
What can I use besides lemon juice??
You can technically skip it. But the little amount really makes the flavors pop!
How long would this keep in the fridge?
Homemade applesauce stores very well in the refrigerator and the freezer. Just store any leftover applesauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. To thaw the applesauce, let it sit in the refrigerator overnight.
Thank you! I just made it tonight and it’s great! If I wanted to swap out apples for another fruit (like pears) would you make any adjustments?
I’m so glad you liked it! You may just need to adjust the cook time and water amount slightly depending on how firm the pears are, but it should be easy to play by ear. Just simmer until they’re tender enough to mash and add water if it gets too dried out in the process. :)
Iliketolierdefinstuffigrowupownit
Outstanding and so simple. I’ve now made two batches this week. No reason to ever again buy it in a jar. Though there is no sugar, this was sweet enough for a dessert.
I have a very silly amount of homemade applesauce left over from last year’s canning extravaganza; I would love some recipe ideas on how I could use it up!
I have my own appletrees, so I can relate.
My go to lately has been Nigel Slaters baked Ricepudding:
Heat Oven to 150 °C, and figure out what else will go in, as it will take 2 hours.
80 gr round rice, 1 l Milk (I used Pea, almond, soy with success).
Use wide enough baking dish as it will boil up in the oven!
First, place the rice in the baking dish, it will merely cover the bottom.
Boil milk plus any condiments you like – cinnamon, vanilla, sugar -Nigel goes wild and uses bay to top with fig marmalade later in one recipe- in a cooking pot. Strain or take out anything you do not want in the pudding later.
Pour over the dry rice and set on a sheet in the middle.
Forget for 1and1/2hours, I just turn the oven off then and let it sit for at least the last 1/2 hour.
Enjoy warm or cold- it makes a lot and stays well in the fridge – with applesauce- of course ;-)
This is so super flexible, I can even envision an apple/almond layer on top in the last 1/2 hour.
Hi Beth! You can check our applesauce archives for some inspiration. :)