Homemade applesauce is a family tradition

When my kids were little my friend Sarah made my family a big batch of homemade applesauce. I was dumbfounded. It never occurred to me the you could make applesauce. My kids adored it and it seemed I could never make enough. My biggest hurdle was peeling all the apples. So I got smart and bought everyone their very own apple peeler. I'd make a big batch with about 20 apples and get everybody around the counter, some standing on chairs so they could reach, and we all peeled apples. So thank you Sarah for introducing the Pawell's to homemade applesauce.

Very simple and kid-friendly cooking

The nice thing about making applesauce is it is so simple. It is a perfect dish to introduce kids to cooking.

Variations

I tend to use Granny Smith apples because I like that apple pie tartness that you get with green apples. You can use any apple you want.

I like to put a little sweetener in my applesauce, but depending on the tartness of the apple it is not always needed. You can use maple syrup, honey, regular sugar, brown sugar or palm sugar. I avoid any artificial sweeteners just because.

Sarah taught me to but a big pat of butter in the applesauce to finish it off. Warm apple sauce is delicious with a little butter, but I don't like to eat cold applesauce with butter in it. So in general, I do not use butter unless I'm feeling particularly flamboyant.

Click to download our free e-cookbook: 15 Recipes To Make You Look Like A Star

Equipment

A large heavy bottomed pot is perfect for making applesauce. I like to use my Le Creuset Dutch oven. You will need a carrot peeler, or multiple peelers if you are enlisting your kids to help you. For me the most important piece of equipment, particularly if you are making a large batch, is an apple slicer and corer like this one. It doesn't quite get all the core, but it greatly simplifies the process by coring and slicing in one quick stroke. Then you can clean up any residual core or peel with a paring knife.

So versatile

Homemade apple sauce is so versatile. We eat it for breakfast with oatmeal or yogurt or sometimes with both oatmeal and yogurt. Applesauce quickly disappears when someone is hunting in the fridge for a snack. When my kids were little I packed it in their lunch. We eat applesauce as a side for dinner, or save it up for dessert. Try warm applesauce with Maple-brined pork chops.

Apple sauce is delicious cold when the weather is hot and comforting eaten warm when the weather is cold. My single bit of advice is to double the recipe. You won't be sorry!

Homemade applesauce

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Homemade applesauce is a treat everyone old and young enjoys. It is easy to make and a great way to introduce children to cooking. Serve it hot or cold, for snacks, breakfast, lunch or dinner. Homemade applesauce is extraordinarily versatile.

• Author: Something New For Dinner
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 5 pounds of apples, I like Granny Smith, but you can use others
• 1 cup water, approximately
• 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup maple sugar, honey, brown sugar, regular sugar or palm sugar, to taste
• 1 t cinnamon, to taste
• 2 T lemon juice

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

1. Peel all of your apples, core them, slice them and cut each slice in half. It is important that you remove all the core and peel or you will have hard bits in your applesauce.
2. Put all the apple pieces in a pot, along with water, maple syrup, cinnamon and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium and cover. Cook for about 20 minutes, until apples are soft, stirring occasionally.
3. When apples are tender enough to easily smash turn off heat heat and go at the pot with a potato masher. If you don’t have a potato masher you can use a fork. Mash until you get the consistency you like. I tend to like my applesauce chunky. If you prefer smoother applesauce you can puree it in a food processor, blender or with an immersion blender.