Crockpot Applesauce (no Sugar Added)

Whether you bask it lukewarm consecutive from nan pot, spooned complete oatmeal, utilized arsenic a earthy sweetener successful baking, aliases stiff for later, this homemade applesauce look is simply a cozy and versatile autumn staple you’ll want to make again and again.

It seems to hap each fall. We spell pome picking, and I travel location pinch much apples than I cognize what to do with. On our past travel to Ellijay successful North Georgia, I thought I had planned better, but erstwhile again, we returned pinch bags and bags of apples. 

That is erstwhile I move to this homemade applesauce recipe. The slow cooker does each nan work, and nan champion portion is that nary sweetener is needed.

As nan apples navigator debased and slow, their earthy sugars go richer and sweeter, giving you an applesauce that tastes conscionable correct without immoderate other sugars. 

Over nan years, I person tried this look pinch galore different pome varieties and recovered that a operation of saccharine and tart apples gives nan champion spirit and balance, which is why this is nan type I support coming backmost to.

Notes connected nan Ingredients You’ll Need

You really only request 3 main ingredients to make this applesauce crock cookware recipe: apples, water, and immoderate citrus juice. Everything other is optional. 

You tin find nan nonstop measurements successful nan look paper below, but present are immoderate notes from my testing connected guidelines ingredients:

Apples: Any type of pome will activity here, truthful usage nan ones you emotion astir aliases operation a few. Apples for illustration Fuji, Honeycrisp, and Gala are sweeter, while a Granny Smith pome aliases Cortland are a spot much tart. 

I usually spell pinch a operation of Fuji, Honeycrisp, and Gala, and adhd 1 Granny Smith. And you do not request each of those. One aliases 2 types are sufficient.

You’ll request astir 3 pounds full (6-8 mean apples), which makes astir 4 cups of applesauce. If your apples are very different successful size, weighing them is nan easiest measurement to make judge you person enough.

I peel my apples because I for illustration a creamy and soft applesauce. However, if you for illustration to navigator them pinch their tegument on, you surely could, but conscionable cognize your applesauce won’t beryllium arsenic smooth.

Water: You only request astir 1/2 cup for 3 pounds of apples. If you want a sweeter applesauce, you tin switch nan h2o for pome juice.

Lemon juice: A small compression of caller citrus juice brightens nan spirit and keeps nan applesauce from browning arsenic it cooks. I’ve tested this look pinch and without it, and nan type pinch citrus offered a much analyzable flavor.

Spices: Since I for illustration to usage this applesauce successful baking and cooking, I support nan spices to a minimum, but consciousness free to prime and take arsenic you prefer. I find that a mates of cinnamon sticks, cloves, and a pinch of freshly crushed nutmeg activity beautifully.

Sweetener (Optional): Since nan cooked apples are already sweet, I for illustration not to adhd immoderate sugar. However, if you want yours sweeter, you tin sweeten it pinch granulated aliases brownish sugar, honey, aliases maple syrup aft it is cooked. Start pinch a mini magnitude (about ¼ cup), taste, and set from there.

How to Make Applesauce successful a Crockpot: Step-by-Step Instructions

The beauty of making applesauce successful a slow cooker is that it’s almost wholly hands-off. Simply peel and chop nan apples and flip them into nan crock pot, and fto it do its thing. Here’s really I make it, measurement by step:

Step 1 – Prep nan Apples: Peel, core, and chop astir 3 pounds of apples. While you do not request to trim them perfectly, it is champion to purpose for mean chunks. This way, they tin navigator evenly and soften without turning mushy excessively quickly.

Step 2 – Load nan Slow Cooker: Add nan apples, citrus juice, water, spices, and a pinch of brackish to nan crockpot. Give everything a speedy flip truthful nan apples are coated. It whitethorn look for illustration location is not capable liquid astatine first, but nan apples will merchandise a batch of their juices arsenic they cook.

Step 3 – Cook: Cover pinch nan lid and navigator connected precocious for 3 to 4 hours aliases connected debased for 5 to 6 hours. Use precocious power if you want applesauce fresh nan aforesaid day, aliases debased power if you for illustration to group it successful nan greeting and travel backmost to it later. If you can, operation it erstwhile aliases doubly to support nan apples cooking evenly.

Step 4 – Mash aliases Blend: Once nan apples are soft and falling apart, it is clip to blend. The instrumentality to usage depends connected nan texture you are going for. Use:

• A murphy masher, if you for illustration a chunky applesauce
• An immersion blender, if you want it to beryllium smooth. I usually do this correct successful nan crock pot. 
• A Vitamix if you want it to beryllium other silky and smooth.

I person tested each three, and it really comes down to what you for illustration best.

Step 5 – Taste and Adjust: This applesauce is usually saccharine capable connected its own. But if you for illustration a sweeter flavor, adhd a small sugar, honey, aliases maple syrup astatine this stage. I would urge starting pinch a mini amount, tasting it, and adding much if needed.  

Step 6 – Let it Cool: Enjoy warm, aliases fto it cool wholly earlier transferring to mason jars aliases airtight containers.

How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat Your Applesauce

Chances are you will extremity up pinch much applesauce than you tin eat successful 1 sitting, and personally, that is nan champion part. It keeps truthful good that you tin bask it each week aliases moreover frost it for later. 

Storage: Bring your applesauce to room somesthesia and scoop it into solid jars. It will enactment caller successful nan refrigerator for up to 5 days. 

Freezing: Divide it into smaller portions (I usually do 1 cup) and shop successful freezer-safe containers. I for illustration utilizing Weck jars because, dissimilar mason jars, they tin beryllium utilized to frost food. Alternatively, you tin usage reusable bags (such arsenic Stasher Bags) to prevention abstraction successful your freezer.

Thawing and Reheating: To enjoy, conscionable thaw it overnight successful nan fridge. When you are fresh to eat, lukewarm it mildly connected nan stovetop aliases successful nan microwave until it is heated through.

Notes from My Kitchen: What I Learned Making This Recipe

While this slow cooker applesauce look is simple, present are a fewer things I learned during testing that will thief you get nan champion results:

• Flavors get much aggravated arsenic they cook: As apples navigator down, nan flavors concentrate. The apples go sweeter, citrus juice tastes much sour, and cinnamon gets stronger. Keep add-ins minimal astatine first. You tin ever adhd much later, but you cannot region it.
• Whole spices vs crushed spices: In my first look testing, I utilized a mini magnitude of crushed cinnamon, but successful nan vanished applesauce, nan spirit was overpowering. Whole spices, specified arsenic cinnamon sticks aliases cloves, supply a much balanced result. If you only person crushed spices, commencement pinch conscionable a pinch and set to sensation aft blending.
• Make it your own: Store-bought applesauce often comes successful different flavors, but you tin easy spirit your homemade version. My favorites are Maple-Vanilla (a scatter of maple syrup and vanilla, which I emotion pinch pancakes connected nan weekend) and Pumpkin Spice (just a pinch is capable for a cozy autumn twist).
• Baby-friendly: If you are readying to service this applesauce to your baby, support it elemental by skipping nan spices and blending until very smooth. Freeze successful silicone trays aliases mini cubes for easy azygous servings. Always cheque pinch your pediatrician for feeding guidance.

FAQs

More Apple Recipes to Try

During nan pome season, I make this slow cooker applesauce look connected repeat, but I besides emotion uncovering caller ways to usage apples passim nan week. Here are a fewer that I make often:

• My Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal is simply a speedy stovetop meal that comes together successful conscionable 15 minutes pinch oats, apples, almond milk, and immoderate maple syrup.
• For dessert, effort my No Butter Apple Crisp. Made pinch oats and almond flour, it features a crispy topping that is dairy-free and refined sugar-free.
• If you are looking for thing fresh, my 15-minute Kale Apple Slaw is tossed successful a tangy maple Dijon vinaigrette, making it nan cleanable broadside crockery for your favourite protein.

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