The short answer: This applesauce recipe turns a bag of fall apples into a warm, naturally sweet sauce in about 30 minutes, with only a few ingredients. Peel, core and chop 3 pounds of apples, simmer them with water, lemon juice and cinnamon until they're soft, then mash them for a chunky sauce or blend them until smooth. Homemade applesauce tastes far better than store-bought, and you decide how much sugar goes in, if any.
Our picks for applesauce recipe
Starter pickPrintables
Meal Planner & Grocery List
Weekly meals, a grocery list sorted by aisle, and pantry and freezer inventories so you shop once and waste less.
Printables
Family Recipe Binder
Section dividers, four recipe page layouts with room for the family story, 4x6 and 3x5 cards and a conversion chart - print it or type into the fillable version.
Prep time: 10 minCook time: 20 minTotal time: 30 minServings: 5 cups
It's great next to pork chops, on top of latkes, stirred into oatmeal, or packed into lunch boxes. Below are amounts, steps, the best apples, and ways to store it.
One batch makes about 5 cups, enough for a week of snacks or a holiday side dish.
Applesauce ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Apples | 3 pounds | About 8 to 9 medium apples, mixed varieties |
| Water or apple cider | ¾ cup | Cider makes a richer sauce |
| Lemon juice | 1 tablespoon | Keeps the color bright |
| Ground cinnamon | ½ to 1 teaspoon | Optional |
| Brown sugar or maple syrup | 0 to ¼ cup | Taste first, then add |
| Salt | 1 pinch | Brings out the sweetness |
| Butter | 1 tablespoon | Optional, for a holiday side |
How to make applesauce, step by step
- Prep the apples. Peel the apples if you want a smooth sauce, then core them and cut them into 1-inch chunks.
- Add the liquid. Put the apples in a large pot with the water or cider, the lemon juice, the cinnamon and the salt.
- Simmer. Bring it to a boil, then cover and simmer over medium-low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring now and then, until the apples fall apart when you press them.
- Mash or blend. Mash with a potato masher for chunky applesauce, or use an immersion blender for smooth sauce.
- Taste and adjust. Stir in sugar or maple syrup only if you need it, and add a splash of water if the sauce is too thick.
- Cool and store. Let it cool, then refrigerate it in jars or containers.
Best apples for applesauce
| Apple | Flavor | Texture when cooked |
|---|---|---|
| McIntosh | Tangy and sweet | Breaks down fast into a smooth sauce |
| Golden Delicious | Mild and honeyed | Soft and smooth |
| Gala | Sweet | Soft, with a little texture |
| Fuji | Very sweet | Holds a little shape, good for chunky sauce |
| Honeycrisp | Sweet and tart | Juicy and soft |
| Granny Smith | Tart | Firmer, best mixed with a sweet apple |
Applesauce variations
- Unsweetened applesauce: skip the sugar and use Fuji or Gala apples.
- Cinnamon applesauce: add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg.
- Pink applesauce: leave the peels on red apples and blend well.
- Slow cooker applesauce: cook on low for 6 to 8 hours with ½ cup of water.
- Holiday side: stir in 1 tablespoon of butter and a little brown sugar, and serve it warm with ham or pork roast.
- Apple-pear sauce: swap a third of the apples for ripe pears.
Ways to use homemade applesauce
Applesauce is one of the most useful things to keep in the refrigerator. Spoon it warm next to pork chops, roast pork or holiday ham. Serve it on top of potato latkes for Hanukkah, with a dollop of sour cream. Stir it into oatmeal or yogurt for breakfast, or pack it into small containers for school lunches.
It's also a handy baking swap. In many muffins, quick breads and snack cakes, you can replace up to half of the oil or butter with the same amount of unsweetened applesauce. The result is moist and a little lighter, though it can be slightly denser. Applesauce also works in banana bread and spice cakes.
How to store, freeze and can applesauce
Refrigerate homemade applesauce within 2 hours of cooking, as USDA guidance on leftovers and food safety recommends. It keeps 7 to 10 days in the refrigerator, or up to 12 months in the freezer. If you'd like shelf-stable jars, follow the tested canning directions for applesauce from the National Center for Home Food Preservation, which give the jar sizes, headspace and processing times for your altitude.
Plan the week's meals and save the recipe
- Meal Planner & Grocery List, $3.99. Plan a week of breakfasts, lunches and dinners, and add apples to the grocery list before you shop.
- Family Recipe Binder, $6.99. Save this applesauce recipe, along with the apple mix your family likes best.
Have extra apples? Bake an apple pie, or find more fall comfort food in our slow cooker recipes and soup recipes.
Serve latkes with applesauce for a crisp potato dish, frying in batches instead of crowding the pan.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best apples for an applesauce recipe? The best apples for an applesauce recipe are ones that cook down soft and sweet, such as McIntosh, Golden Delicious, Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp and Jonagold. Using a mix of two or three kinds gives the sauce more flavor than any single apple. Add one tart apple, like a Granny Smith, if you like a brighter sauce, and you may not need any sugar.
Do you have to peel apples for homemade applesauce? You don't have to peel apples for homemade applesauce. Peeling gives you the smoothest, palest sauce. Leaving the peels on adds fiber and a pink or golden color, especially with red apples, but you'll want to blend the sauce well or press it through a food mill afterward. Always remove the cores, seeds and stems before cooking.
How do you make applesauce without sugar? To make applesauce without sugar, use naturally sweet apples like Fuji, Gala or Honeycrisp and cook them with a little water, lemon juice and cinnamon. As apples cook, they release their own sugars, so most batches taste sweet enough on their own. Taste the sauce at the end, and stir in a spoonful of maple syrup or honey only if you need it.
How long does homemade applesauce last? Homemade applesauce lasts about 7 to 10 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. For longer storage, freeze it in containers or freezer bags for up to 12 months, leaving a little room for it to expand. To keep it on the pantry shelf, you'll need to can it using a tested method, such as the one from the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Can you make applesauce in a slow cooker or Instant Pot? Yes, you can make applesauce in a slow cooker or an Instant Pot. In a slow cooker, add the chopped apples, ½ cup of water, lemon juice and cinnamon, then cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours before mashing. In an Instant Pot, cook on high pressure for 5 minutes with ½ cup of water and let the pressure release naturally. Both make a smooth, deeply flavored sauce.
Is homemade applesauce good for babies and toddlers? Smooth, unsweetened homemade applesauce is a common first food for babies, and toddlers love it as a snack. Peel the apples, cook them until very soft and blend the sauce until it's completely smooth for young babies. Skip added sugar and honey, since honey isn't safe for babies under 12 months. Ask your pediatrician when your baby is ready for solid foods.