Want to try more apple recipes? Here’s my Baked Apples, Apple Crisp, and Fresh Apple Cake!
What I love about this applesauce:
Wholesome Ingredients: All you need is apples and water, and you can sweeten the applesauce to your liking, or leave out the sugar altogether. Store-bought applesauce often has additives, and I love controlling exactly what’s in mine.EASY – Only three easy steps and no special equipment required. Canning Friendly – Use your water bath canner to can applesauce to enjoy all year round.
How to Make Applesauce:
Prep Apples: Wash the apples well, then peel, cut, and core. I use a johnny apple peeler to do all three steps at once. Fast and easy! Cook apples in a large pot with one cup of water over medium heat until they are soft enough to mash Mash with a potato masher (for chunkier applesauce) or process apples in a blender or food processor until smooth. Sweeten (optional) with sugar or brown sugar, if desired. Enjoy or see steps for canning below!
The Best Apples for Applesauce:
My favorite kind for apples for making applesauce are golden delicious apples, or a combination of two different kinds, however, you can truly use any kind of apples! And, as my mom used to say, “save the bad apples for applesauce”, meaning save the apples that are more “beat-up” or aren’t as pretty or expensive.
How To Can Applesauce:
Pour prepared applesauce into jars: Fill jars with applesauce leaving 1/2” of headspace. Use a small rubber spatula to scrape down the inside of the jar and remove any air bubbles. Wipe jar rims clean. Process in water-bath canner for 20 minutes. Allow to rest at room temperature for 24 hours. Press down on the center of the lid: it should not pop back. If it sits flat it is safe, but if it pops back, it has not sealed properly, and it should be stored in the fridge and consumed. If your applesauce starts to develop a fowl odor, become discolored, or if you see signs of mold, these are signs of spoilage and you should discard it!
Recipe Variations:
Applesauce for Baby: No added sugar is needed (apples are naturally very sweet) but if you choose to use sugar, only add a teaspoon or two. Unsweetened Applesauce: Simply leave out the sugar.Slow Cooker Applesauce: Add the peeled and sliced apples to your slow cooker. Toss in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and sprinkle with some cinnamon (no water needed)! Cook on LOW for 4 hours. Pour into blender and blend until smooth, or desired consistency.Instant Pot Applesauce
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I originally shared this recipe September 2014. Updated September 2019 and January 2022. This post contains affiliate links.
