Homemade applesauce is better than any you can buy in the store. Why? Because it contains the love for your family inside of it. Plus, you know where all the ingredients came from and can pronounce them! Homemade applesauce in the crockpot or instant pot slow cooker makes a great snack or side dish. It is also incredibly easy to make and preserve. Your kids will highly approve of this one and be asking for more!
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How can I preserve apples during apple season?
If you eat the seasons, you know that autumn is the time of the apple.
Whether you or your neighbor has a tree teeming with fruit or you purchase apples from a farmers market or orchard, this is one of the best ways to preserve the harvest…
Homemade applesauce in the crockpot.
My children ages 11 and 7 highly approve of this recipe and ask for a jar often. You’ll approve of how easy it is with few simple ingredients and a crockpot or instant pot with a slow cooker setting.
Also, give this apple jam recipe a try too!
How to Make Crockpot Homemade Applesauce:
Having an apple peeler is a game changer! Trust me. The first time I made applesauce I peeled them with a hand held potato peeler and it took a while. This is an investment you’ll be glad you made.
You’ll need an immersion blender to smooth well after apples are cooked. You can do this with a hand held potato masher but it takes more time and energy. I’ve used an immersion blender in a number of recipes such as pasta sauce, making mayonnaise, quick pizza sauce, and pear sauce.
- 10-15 apples, depending on size, peeled and cored (or enough to fill the crockpot)
- 1/4 cup lemon juice (fresh or bottled)
- 1/2 cup sugar (optional)
- 1 tbsp cinnamon (optional)
Wash apples well then peel and chunk-cut apples. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours. No need to mix ingredients. Just add all ingredients to the crockpot and let them cook.
After cook time, use immersion blender to smooth apples to a sauce, leaving all the juices in the crockpot as they’ll help make a smoother homemade applesauce.
With a spoon, taste test your sauce to see if it needs more sweetener or spices.
Easy peasy!
How Can I Store Homemade Applesauce Long Term?
To store your homemade applesauce long term, fill sanitized jars with sauce and close with sanitized lid and ring. You can water bathe your jars for 15 mins.
You can also store them in the refrigerator to be eaten within a month. Once the jar is opened, try to consume it all within a week of opening.
To freeze, add sauce to freezer safe containers and store for up to 6 months.
NOTE FOR MAMAS OF BABIES: I used to freeze cubes for my babies when they first started eating solid foods. Two or three cubes thawed out was the perfect amount. Allow the cubes to freeze then put frozen applesauce cubes in a freezer safe bag. More on this below!
Can I add other flavors to this crockpot homemade applesauce recipe?
Absolutely, you can!
Experiment with flavors! Here are some options:
- vanilla extract
- maple syrup
- caramel sauce
- nutmeg
- pumpkin pie spice
- peaches
- strawberries
- blueberries
- blackberries
- honey *not for infants under 1 year old; add honey just before eating to keep all of honey’s healing properties
To use this recipe for pear sauce, simply substitute the apples for pears or add a little razzle-dazzle by combining the two fruits. Know that pear sauce is just as good and my kids request it more often than apple sauce.
Can my infant eat this homemade applesauce?
For parents trying baby-led weaning, meaning you are letting your infant who is expressing interest try out food from your plate that is suitable for them, YES.
Soft, easy to gum up foods such as green beans, finger-mushed peas, mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes, and fruit sauces are perfect.
Or perhaps you just want to make your own baby foods for your little one so you know all its ingredients. This homemade applesauce is a great option for starting fruits.
If you want to make homemade baby food using this recipe, I highly suggest simply cooking down your peeled apples with 1 cup of organic apple juice (or breastmilk). You want it to be more watery. Then blend the fruit smooth before freezing in ice cube trays for easy freezer bag storage. A cube or 2 is perfect for your infant learning how to eat real food during baby-led weaning. Leave out the sugar! Babies don’t need any sugar, they have plenty 😉
*Be sure you were able to blend out all chunks when making this for baby food.
Can I make homemade applesauce in the Instant Pot instead?
Yes you can!
And it’s really fast too. Like 5 minutes or so on high pressure.
Be sure to check your machine’s user manual!
If you liked this homemade applesauce recipe, check out these too:
More my-kids-approved recipes:
Apple Jam, chunky and delicious, almost like pie filling but no spices used
Dandelion Jelly (yes, the yellow spring time “flowers” in your yard)
Sourdough Graham Crackers (a standing Pinterest’s Most Popular on my account there!)
Strawberry Jam, no pectin added!
Blueberry Jam, no pectin added!
Ranch Potato Soup (includes a bacon topping that you’ll rave over!)
SHOP THIS POST
Immersion Blender, arguably one of the BEST from scratch kitchen tools
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Homemade Applesauce
Ingredients
- 10-15 apples depending on size, peeled and cored (or enough to fill the crockpot)
- 1/4 cup lemon juice fresh or bottled
- 1/2 cup sugar optional
- 1 tbsp cinnamon optional
Instructions
- Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours. No need to mix ingredients. Just add to the crockpot and let them cook.
- After cook time, use immersion blender to smooth apples to a sauce, leaving all the juices in the crockpot as they’ll help make a smoother homemade applesauce.
- With a spoon, taste test your sauce to see if it needs more sweetener or spices.
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