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Description
A simple and delicious recipe for homemade applesauce, made from scratch with fresh apples and your favorite spices. Perfect for a healthy snack or side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 pounds apples (about 8–10 medium), peeled, cored, and quartered
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (or to taste, can substitute with honey or maple syrup)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional, to prevent browning)
Instructions
- Place the prepared apples in a large pot or Dutch oven.
- Add the water, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg (if using).
- Cover the pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Reduce heat to low and cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are very tender.
- Remove from heat. Mash the apples with a potato masher or fork for a chunky texture, or use an immersion blender or food processor for a smoother consistency.
- Stir in lemon juice (if using).
- Let cool before serving or storing.
Notes
- Choose a mix of apple varieties for a more complex flavor. Tart apples like Granny Smith pair well with sweeter apples like Fuji or Gala.
- Adjust sweetness to your preference.
- For a sugar-free version, omit sugar and rely on the natural sweetness of the apples.
- Applesauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- For longer storage, you can freeze the applesauce or can it.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert/Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0.5g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 0.5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: homemade applesauce, easy applesauce recipe, from scratch applesauce, cinnamon applesauce, healthy applesauce, natural applesauce, fall recipes, apple recipes, fruit sauce, kid-friendly snack