All-Natural Applesauce Recipe

12 Comments

This all-natural applesauce is very easy to make, needing only 3 ingredients. It’s vegan, gluten-free and it tastes naturally sweet without the need of any added sweetener. Don’t forget to add it to your Batch Cooking or Meal Planning.

A glass jar with applesauce and apples and cinnamon stick as background

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What do I need to make this homemade applesauce

The only ingredients needed for this recipe are:

*Since we are going to keep the apple’s skin for this recipe, it’s highly recommended to use organic apples.

Even if most applesauce recipes call for sugar, you actually don’t need any if you use apples that are naturally sweet. 

I prefer red apples in general, the Red Delicious or Fuji kind in particular, but any type would work, except for the green ones, unless you like a more sour taste. In that case, you might want to add a sweetener. 

As per utensils, you’ll need:

How to make applesauce

STEP BY STEP PICTURES ON HOW TO MAKE APPLESAUCE

Half apples being cored

STEP 1: Wash the apples well, cut them in half and cor them.

A pot with apples, cinnamon and water

STEP 2: Chop them roughly and add them into a pot, together with cinnamon and water. 

A pot with a lid from the top

STEP 3: Place a lid on top of the pot and cook on medium heat for about 15 minutes, or until soft.

An immersion blender pureeing apples

STEP 4: Puree with an immersion blender, in a food processor, or with a potato masher, to your favorite consistency.

A glass jar full of applesauce

STEP 5: Let it cool at room temperature and then store it in an airtight container. 

Note: We don’t want to peel the apple because we want to keep all of the good stuff, including the fiber, that comes with the skin.

WATCH HOW TO MAKE THIS APPLESAUCE (49 sec)

Best apples for applesauce 

My favorites are the Red Delicious and Fuji because they are sweet and they have red skin. (More about the red skin below.) 

However, if you prefer a more intense flavor for your applesauce, you can mix different types of apples. 

This recipe for applesauce is perfect for those apples that start looking a little old. Also, as it applies for any fruit; the riper the apples, the sweeter their taste. So, if you already have apples at home, just used them 😉

Why this apple sauce looks so dark?

Most of the applesauce that we find at the supermarket, or even the applesauce recipe that we find online, tell you to discard the apple skin, causing them to look brighter.

However, as already said, in this recipe, we purposely keep the skin of red apples; that’s what makes the sauce look darker

Keep reading to know all of the benefits of red apple skin.

A glass jar with applesauce and apples and cinnamon stick as background

Why do I consider this applesauce to be healthy

APPLES

As explained in this study: “Apple is among the top nutritionally rated and most widely consumed fruits worldwide. Epidemiological studies have shown that the consumption of apples, which are rich in a variety of free and easily absorbable flavonoids, is associated with a decreased risk of various diseases.” 

Apples contain polyphenolic compounds that play an important role in physiological functions related to human health and in this other study, it has been found that peels have higher concentrations of these compounds than the flesh.

APPLE SKIN

Applesauce is usually made without the peel; however, this study showed that peels contain the highest content of phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity and antiproliferative activity in red apples

Also in this other study, looking for the antioxidant content in apples, antioxidants were mainly localized in the apple peel. 

SWEETENER-FREE

This applesauce is 100% natural with no added sugar or sweeteners. The apples contain their natural sugar and we use cinnamon to enhance the sweet taste.

A glass jar with applesauce and apples and cinnamon stick as background

How to store and how long does this last

Before storing it, let the applesauce cool down completely. 

Once it reaches room temperature, move it into an airtight glass container like these or these and store it in the fridge.

Keep in mind, that once in the fridge, the applesauce will change to a thicker consistency.

Store it in the fridge for up to two weeks. 

Uses for Homemade Applesauce

Applesauce can be eaten as a healthy snack on its own, or by adding some crushed nuts on top. 

Here, there are also some ideas on how to use it in, or with, other recipes : 

APPLE CRUMBLE: applesauce can be used instead of cooked apples.

OATMEAL CUPS: applesauce can be used as a filling.

CHIA PUDDING: use applesauce instead of the homemade jam.

SEED CRACKERS: spread the applesauce on them.

This applesauce is perfect to add to your meal plan; if you like to batch cook, try these healthy fridge staples too:

Healthy Nutella

Homemade jam

Teriyaki Sauce

Finally, if you are looking for more recipes with apples:

Oatmeal Cookies

Apple Crumble

A glass jar with applesauce and apples and cinnamon stick as background

Now it’s your turn: Have you ever tried to make homemade applesauce? If not, do you think you will give this recipe a try? 

Let me know if you have any questions by leaving a comment below.

As always, I appreciate you stopping by my blog, and if you think this post might help someone you know to make a small step to a healthier lifestyle, please don’t hesitate to share it away!

Happy Healthy Eating!

A big hug,

Equipment needed to make this homemade applesauce:

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All-Natural Applesauce

A glass jar with applesauce and apples and cinnamon stick as background

This all-natural applesauce is very easy to make, needing only 3 ingredients. It’s vegan, gluten-free and it tastes naturally sweet without the need of any added sweetener. Don’t forget to add it to your Batch Cooking.

  • Author: Claudia Canu
  • Prep Time: 5 min
  • Cook Time: 10 min
  • Total Time: 15 min
  • Yield: 10 1x
  • Category: Snack
  • Method: Cooking
  • Cuisine: Healthy
  • Diet: Gluten Free
Scale

Ingredients

2 apples*

2 Tablespoons of water

1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Cut the apples in half and core them.
  2. Chop them roughly and add them into a pot.**
  3. Add one teaspoon of cinnamon and two tablespoons of water, and place a lid on top of the pot. 
  4. Cook on medium heat for about 15 minutes or until soft.***
  5. Puree with an immersion blender, **** in your food processor, or with a potato masher, to your favorite consistency.*****
  6. Let it cool at room temperature and then store it in an airtight container. 
  7. Keep it in the fridge for up to two weeks. 

Notes

*Preferably organic

**The smaller you cut the apple, the quicker they will cook

*** The softer the apples, the quicker they cook

**** Don’t use an immersion blender with Teflon or ceramic pots. 

***** An immersion blender, or a food processor, will make a smooth applesauce. A potato masher will make a chunky one.

Keywords: applesauce, healthy, fall recipe, autumn, vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free

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12 responses to “All-Natural Applesauce Recipe”

  1. Andrea says:

    I had no idea this would be so easy. I love this!

  2. Patty says:

    I just love homemade applesauce! I am definitely going to make a batch using your recipe. It’s perfect!

  3. Lisa Huff says:

    Homemade applesauce is the best!! Now you have me all excited for fall!

  4. Neha says:

    Love that rich color on this apple sauce. This recipe sounds so easy, I need to try it out.

  5. Susan says:

    I’ve made applesauce before, but always discarded the skins. I felt so guilty I just ate the peels separately because they’re so healthy. I love that you used the peels in this recipe!

  6. Susan says:

    Ai-yi-yi! My husband was looking at this over my shoulder saying how good it looks, I got distracted, and didn’t give you any stars!! So I came back :-).

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