Description
Make the best homemade applesauce on the stovetop. This quick recipe captures the cozy flavor of fall apples, perfect for a healthy snack, side dish, or baking ingredient.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 lbs cooking apples (like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
Instructions
- Wash the apples thoroughly. You may peel them if you prefer a very smooth sauce, but peeling is optional for this recipe. Core the apples and cut them into 1-inch chunks.
- Place the apple chunks and water into a large pot or Dutch oven.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Cover the pot.
- Cook for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are very tender and easily mashable.
- Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice, if using.
- Mash the apples to your desired consistency using a potato masher for chunky sauce, or use an immersion blender for a smoother texture.
- Taste the applesauce. If you desire more sweetness, add a small amount of maple syrup or sugar, though the natural sweetness of the apples is often enough.
- Serve the homemade applesauce warm or chill it completely for a refreshing snack.
Notes
- For a slow cooker applesauce variation, combine ingredients and cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours.
- This recipe makes a naturally sweet snack, ideal for those avoiding added sugars.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3/4 cup
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 2
- Fat: 0.2
- Saturated Fat: 0
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.1
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 29
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 0.4
- Cholesterol: 0