If you have never made apple sauce before, this recipe is a great place to start, especially if you have an abundance of apples around!
Requiring just 4 ingredients (5 if you want to sweeten it), the ability to cut an apple and less than an hour of your time, it does not disappoint.
And once you try homemade apple sauce and see how easy it is, you'll wonder how the watery stuff that you get from the store even dares share the same name!
The Ingredients
- Apples- Apples do not need to be peeled but you can if you prefer. Core and cut them into large chunks (I usually quarter and then halve the quarters) that are all around the same size. You can use any type of apples or a combination that you have on hand. You just may need to use some sweetener if using more tart apples. Ideally you want to use hand picked or organic apples as the skin on a lot of store bought apples tend to be coated in an edible wax. If using apples that have wax on them, you will need to peel. 1 pound (450 g) of apples yields about 2 and ½ cups when cut up.
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Water- Keep an eye on the apple sauce as it is cooking and add a few more splashes of water if it seems dry.
- Optional Sweetener- Depending on the apples you use and how sweet you want your sauce to be, you can stir in some sweetener at the end. Maple syrup, honey or brown sugar are some options. I would start with 1 tbsp, taste and then continue to add if needed.
The Method
- Simmer ingredients until apples are softened.
- Blend. I prefer to use an immersion blender and puree it all in the pot. If you don't have one, you can allow it to cool a bit and then transfer to a blender.
- Taste and add sweetener.
Leftover Storage
Store leftover apple sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.
Ways to Use Apple Sauce
I'm personally a huge fan of this apple sauce all on its own for breakfast or a snack, but there are a lot of other ways to enjoy it!
- Use it in baking such as in Honey Spice Zucchini Muffins
- Mix it with Honey Cinnamon Granola or Maple Walnut Granola (Kind of like Apple Crisp for Breakfast!)
- Spread it in a grilled cheese sandwich
- Make Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats
Dietary Notes
If you have dietary restrictions, check the packaging of specific ingredients that you use to ensure they are compliant. This recipe is:
- Dairy Free
- Gluten Free
- Nut Free
- Paleo
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
And if you liked this recipe...
...you might also like these other apple recipes!
Ingredients
- 1 lb apples 2-3 cups chopped
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- pinch nutmeg
- 2 tablespoon water
Optional:
- sweetener of choice
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a pot, cover and heat over medium low.
- Allow mixture to simmer for 25-30 minutes until apples are tender, stirring occasionally and adding more water if needed.
- Using an immersion blender, puree to preferred consistency.
- Taste and add sweetener if desired.
- Enjoy on its own or use in any recipes that call for apple sauce.
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