Ingredients (~6 servings)
- ~4 1/2 lbs apples (about 9 medium apples), peeled, cored, and chopped into chunks
- 3/4 cup water
- 3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/3 cup white sugar (optional)
- 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
Combine Everything in a Large Pot
Put the chopped apples in your largest pot – they’ll cook down but you need the room initially.
Add the water, lemon juice, sugar if you’re using it, cinnamon, and salt. Give it a good stir to coat everything.
The lemon juice keeps the apples from browning and adds a nice tartness that balances the sweetness.
Bring to a Boil Then Simmer Low
Crank the heat to high and bring everything to a rolling boil.
Once it’s bubbling, drop the heat to low and cover with a tight-fitting lid.
You want to maintain a gentle simmer for ~30 minutes or until the apples are completely soft when you poke them with a fork.
The apples will release their own juices as they cook down, so don’t worry if it looks dry at first.
Mash or Blend to Your Preferred Texture
Once the apples are falling apart soft, pull the pot off the heat.
For chunky applesauce, just mash everything directly in the pot with a potato masher – leave it as chunky or smooth as you like.
For completely smooth applesauce, use an immersion blender right in the pot, or transfer to a food processor in batches.
If you’re using a regular blender, let the mixture cool for ~10 minutes first so it doesn’t explode from the heat.
The applesauce is great served warm right away or cold from the fridge. It’ll keep for abo\ut a week covered in the refrigerator.
Homemade Applesauce
Ingredients
Ingredients (~6 servings)
- ~4 1/2 lbs apples about 9 medium apples, peeled, cored, and chopped into chunks
- 3/4 cup water
- 3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/3 cup white sugar optional
- 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Combine chopped apples, water, lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a large pot and stir.
- Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low and cover.
- Simmer for 30 minutes until apples are completely soft.
- Remove from heat and mash with a potato masher for desired texture.
- Serve warm or refrigerate until cold.
