This Slow Cooker Applesauce recipe is so easy to make with just 5 ingredients. Grab your Crockpot, apples, cinnamon, brown sugar, lemon juice, and water to have this healthy side dish or snack cooking in no time!
Slow Cooker Applesauce Recipe
There is nothing easier than making Homemade Applesauce in a Crockpot. It’s so much better than store-bought and requires minimal effort. You can even make this applesauce recipe with no sugar.
I tend to serve homemade applesauce for a side with pork dishes like our Garlic Brown Sugar Pork Tenderloin or Slow Cooker Pork Chops. Apple flavors pair very well with pork. But, I do not serve it with just pork because applesauce is an excellent side dish with just about any meal.
During the fall months, I am always making apple recipes. Sweet apple desserts like Dutch Apple Pie, savory apple dinners, and healthy apple snacks are aplenty in my kitchen as the season changes. Slow Cooker Applesauce is a recipe that I make weekly during apple season. It’s great to have in the fridge for a quick side or a healthy snack. I find it great for making Slow Cooker Apple BBQ Ribs!
What are the best apples for applesauce?
I have made applesauce with quite a few different varieties of apples. All variations have been delicious. You can use a Gala Apple, that is what I chose this time. But, use any of these apples will work well:
- McIntosh
- Pink Lady (will be a bit less sweet)
- Golden Delicious Apples
- Fuji
- Cortland
Ingredients to Make Slow Cooker Applesauce:
- Apples
- Brown Sugar
- Cinnamon
- Lemon Juice
- Water
How to make Homemade Applesauce in the Slow Cooker:
First, gather about 3 pounds of apples. Peel and core and dice them. I like to dice mine about 1-2 inches. Size is not extremely important. No need for your apples to be uniform in size either. Just dice away.
Next, toss the diced apples into the crock. Add the lemon, water and give it a good stir to coat.
Now, sprinkle on the brown sugar and cinnamon. If you would rather make unsweetened applesauce, omit the sugar. Add the slow cooker lid and cook on low for 7-9 hours. If you are looking to cook the homemade applesauce a bit quicker, you can cook on high for 3-4 hours.
For the last step, you will need a potato masher, blender, food processor, or immersion blender. I have used all four, and the results are always perfect. Do you prefer chunky applesauce recipe? If so, use a potato masher. Are you a fan of smooth applesauce? If so, you will need a food processor or blender. I like both chunky and smooth. This time, I made a smooth version by placing my apple mixture in my small food processor and pulsing until I had my desired consistency. A blender works well too! Just blend until you have the applesauce just the way you like it.
How long is this homemade applesauce recipe good for?
I like to store homemade applesauce in mason jars. I allow my sauce to cool before filling my jars and placing them in the refrigerator. Applesauce can put in an airtight container and chill for up to 10 days.
How to freeze applesauce:
Applesauce never lasts very long in my house, even when I make large batches. So, I have never frozen mine. If you would like to freeze yours, you can see How to Freeze Applesauce on Wiki.
How to can applesauce:
I have never canned applesauce myself. If you are looking to make large batches of applesauce to can, you can see How to Can Applesauce at Taste Better from Scratch.
Slow Cooker Apple Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lb Apples
- 1 tsp Lemon Juice
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1/3 cup Brown Sugar
- 1/3 cup Water
Instructions
- Core and peel apples, then cut into small pieces.
- Add apples and all remaining ingredients to slow cooker and stir.
- Cook on Low for 7-9 hours or High for 3-4 hours.
- Transfer to food processor or blender, if you want your apple sauce smooth You can mash if you like it slightly chunky.
- Store in air tight containers and refrigerate.
Love the ease of making this in the slow cooker. My sister has tons of apples on her tree this year so I’ll be sharing your recipe with her.