You are going to go crazy for this cinnamon-kissed Crock Pot Applesauce Recipe that you can get cooking in just minutes. Nothing beats homemade applesauce, and making it in the crockpot with just three ingredients is a breeze!
After making my Apple Crisp for Sunday’s dessert last week and my Caramel Apple Cheesecake Cookie Bars for a cookie contest, I still had some apples left over. So, I decided to make some homemade Applesauce to go with our Pork Chops for dinner. Who doesn’t love Applesauce with Pork Chops? They just go together!
This crock pot applesauce recipe couldn’t get any easier – peel, chop, cook, mash, and eat. That’s it! Head to your local apple orchard with your kids, pick some fresh apples, and then try making this easy applesauce recipe with the kids. It’s the perfect no-fail way to get them in the kitchen with you and love what they are making!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It takes less than ten minutes to get the applesauce cooking in the slow cooker making it one of the easiest apple recipes ever.
- With just three simple ingredients, this slow cooker applesauce is simple and healthy! It is free of any unnecessary additives and flavorings that you sometimes find in store-bought applesauce.
- Slow cooker applesauce is super versatile. You can use it to top oatmeal, serve it with ice cream, pancakes, or just eat it as a tasty snack.
Recipe Ingredients
- Apples – Use semi-tart apples that will give the applesauce a delicious sweet and sour flavor. I like to use a mix of varieties like Jonagold, Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, and Granny Smith to give the applesauce a complex flavor. The best apples for applesauce are firm, crisp apples.
- Sugar – A little sugar will sweeten the applesauce. You can also use light brown sugar to give the applesauce a richer taste, or try one of these sugar substitutes.
- Cinnamon – A touch of ground cinnamon gives the applesauce a classic taste.
Directions For How to Make Crockpot Applesauce
Step 1. First, start off with 7-10 fresh, semi-tart apples such as these Jonagolds (a cross between Jonathans and Golden Delicious) from our local Apple Barn.
Step 2. Next, peel and dice into small pieces and add to the crock pot.
Step 3. Cover with water.
Step 4. Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.
Step 5. Add 1/4 cup of sugar.
Step 6. Cook on high for 3 hours.
Step 7. When finished, pour off excess water, and smash the apples with a potato masher, fork, or even a whisk. If you’d like smoother applesauce, you could whip out your mixer, blender, or food processor to get it really smooth. I wanted to keep it nice and organic. So, I just mashed it up with a fork so that it would be nice and thick.
That’s it! Serve warm or chilled—it’s up to you. You can keep extras in the fridge. This recipe could be made with as few or as many apples as you have on hand. Experiment by adding more or less sugar and cinnamon. It’s tough to mess this one up! Just play around with it and have fun! Enjoy!
Variations
- Skip adding the sugar to make sugar-free applesauce. If you use sweet apples, the homemade applesauce will be tasty enough without any added sugar.
- Puree the applesauce after it is done cooking to make it smooth and creamy. Use an immersion blender to puree the apple sauce in the pot, or pour it into a blender to reach your desired consistency.
- Add a little nutmeg, ground ginger, or ground cloves to give the applesauce a more complex flavor. You can even replace the cinnamon with pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice for a tasty fall flavor twist on this classic applesauce recipe.
- To enhance the flavor of the applesauce, add a little lemon juice, a splash of vanilla extract, or a pinch of salt.
Tips for Success
- If you want extra fiber and a bit of texture, leave the apple skins on—they’ll soften as they cook and blend easily.
- Make a double batch of this slow cooker applesauce recipe, and freeze the extras in portioned containers. Homemade applesauce stays fresh for up to 3 months in the freezer!
- For thicker applesauce, cook with the lid slightly ajar to let excess moisture escape; for a smoother, thinner sauce, keep the lid on tight.
Storage + Reheating
- To Store: Keep the applesauce in an airtight container in the fridge. It will stay fresh for about 7 to 10 days.
- To Reheat: Heat the applesauce in a small saucepan on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally. You can also pop the applesauce in the microwave and heat it for about 20-30 seconds.
- To Freeze: Store the applesauce in an airtight, freezer-safe container and freeze for up to three months. Thaw the applesauce in the fridge overnight, give it a good stir, and enjoy!
FAQs
For the best applesauce, combine sweet varieties like Fuji, McIntosh, Red Delicious, or Gala with tart ones like Granny Smith, Pink Lady, or Jonathan for a perfect balance of flavor. This mix creates a sauce that’s both naturally sweet and just the right amount of tangy!
You can put this homemade applesauce into a mason jar or glass jar and store it in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. However, if you want to process the applesauce using a canner, use an approved recipe with specific canning directions.
Yes! You can use this recipe to make Instant Pot applesauce. Follow the directions, adding all of the ingredients to your Instant Pot. Then, seal the pot, set the pressure to high, and cook for 5 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally, then mash the applesauce and enjoy!
Crock Pot Applesauce Recipe
Equipment
- slow cooker
- peeler
- knife
- cutting board
- Measuring cup and spoons
Ingredients
- 7-10 Apples
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Peel and dice the apples into small pieces and add to crock pot.7-10 Apples
- Cover the apples with water, stopping once all of the chopped apples are submerged.1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 cup sugar
- Add the cinnamon and sugar and stir slightly.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for three hours.
- Drain any excess water then smash the apples with a fork. Enjoy warm!
Nutrition
Share With Us!
I hope you enjoy this delicious Crock Pot Applesauce! If you give it a try, please share your experience in the comments below. Don’t forget to tag me on social media @allthingsmamma and use the hashtag #allthingsmamma.
Looks so delicious. I am going to try this recipe!
Oh my this looks so delicious. My mouth is watering for some. I bet it smelled so good. Like apple pie. I may have to give this one a try. Thanks for sharing 🙂
YUM! I love applesauce and I bet when you make it in a crockpot, your house smells like cinnamon all day long (or, for 3 hours at least!). 🙂