Learn how to make homemade applesauce with this easy recipe! Spiced with cinnamon, it makes a healthy and delicious snack or topping for pancakes and more.
This homemade applesauce recipe is a classic in our house year-round, but especially during apple season. It’s an easy way to use up a surplus of overly soft or overripe apples, and as it cooks, it fills the house with the aroma of fresh apples and cinnamon. That smell is SO welcoming on a cool fall day. On its own, it would be enough to convert anyone into a homemade applesauce fan.
But this homemade applesauce recipe is even better. Not only does it smell good, it tastes good too! It’s tart, slightly sweet, and full of spiced apple flavor. You can make it chunky if you like your applesauce with some texture, or you can blend it if you want it totally smooth. Either way, it’s delicious. I think you’ll love it!
How to make applesauce
If you’ve never made homemade applesauce, you won’t believe how easy it is! My recipe starts with 5 simple ingredients:
Ingredients of applesauce
- ApplesAbsolutely! This applesauce recipe is a great way to use up apples that are overripe, bruised, or too soft to eat on their own. I like to use a mix of varieties for the best flavor. Find my favorites in the box below!
- Apple cider vinegar – Its acidic taste balances the sweetness of the apples. Fresh lemon juice would also work in this case.
- Water – Adds moisture to applesauce and helps the apples steam and soften as they cook.
- Ground cinnamon – Who doesn’t love mixing apples and cinnamon? Its warm, comforting flavor is delicious. If you like, you can add other warm spices like nutmeg or ginger, or replace the cinnamon with apple pie spice.
- And a little sea salt – So that all the flavors stand out!
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
The best apples for making applesauce
This applesauce recipe works well with almost any variety of apple. Since you’re cooking the apples until they’re very soft and tender, you don’t have to worry about them holding their shape.
I like to use a mix of sweet and tart varieties to add complexity to my applesauce. Here are some of my favorites:
- Sweet apples: Gala, Honeycrisp, Fuji, Golden Delicious and McIntosh
- Sour apples: Jonathan, Grandma Smith
Advice: If you’re making this recipe with 100% tart apples, you can add honey or maple syrup to sweeten it to taste. Brown sugar would also be delicious.
How to make homemade applesauce
You can find the full applesauce recipe with measurements at the end of this post, but here is a step-by-step description of how to make it:
First, prepare the apples. Peel, core, chop and add to a large pot or saucepan.
Next, start cooking. Pour the water and apple cider vinegar into the pot. Simmer, stirring frequently to prevent burning, until the apples begin to soften, about 4 minutes.
Then, cover the pot and let it cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes.
Add the cinnamon and salt. Uncover the pot and mix in the spices. Re-cover and simmer for another 10 to 20 minutes or until the apples are very tender and juicy.
- Advice: The softer the apples, the smoother the sauce will be. If you like chunkier homemade applesauce, cook the apples for less time. If you like your applesauce very soft, cook them for longer.
Finally, mash! Remove the pot from the heat and use a potato masher to mash the apples until you get the desired consistency. If you want a smooth puree, puree it in a food processor or blend it with an immersion blender.
Quick note if you are making applesauce—Don’t use a metal masher on an enameled cast iron, nonstick, or ceramic pot (I learned the hard way!). Instead, mash the apples in a large bowl or use a silicone masher.
How to serve homemade applesauce
This homemade applesauce is a healthy and delicious snack or side dish. But the ways to use it don’t end there!
How do you like to eat homemade applesauce? Let me know in the comments!
Storage
Store homemade applesauce in an airtight container or mason jar in the refrigerator for up to a week. For longer storage, freeze for up to 3 months.
More favorite apple recipes
If you love this homemade applesauce, try making one of these delicious apple recipes below:
Homemade applesauce
Serves 8
This homemade applesauce recipe is easy and delicious, and is made with simple ingredients like fresh apples and cinnamon. Enjoy it as a healthy snack or try one of the serving suggestions in the blog post above.
- 4 pounds apples, peeled, cored and chopped
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ⅓ cup water
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch of sea salt
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Combine apples, apple cider vinegar, and water in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Simmer, stirring frequently, until apples begin to soften, about 4 minutes.
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Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Uncover, add the cinnamon and salt, re-cover and continue simmering for 10 to 20 minutes more, stirring occasionally, until the apples are very tender and beginning to break down.
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Turn off the heat and use a potato masher to mash the apples until you get the desired consistency. If you want a smoother applesauce, run it through a food processor or blend it with an immersion blender.
