What Kind of Apples to Use for Home-made Applesauce?
Ingredients
- 3 pounds large apples (about 6), peeled.
- 1/2 cup water
- 2(3-inch) Cinnamon Sticks (if you don’t have cinnamon sticks you can add a few sprinkles of ground cinnamon – but know that will darken the color- you can always add later)
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
There are a wide variety of apple peelers/corers on the market to simplify the task – like this one: Cast Magnesium Apple/Potato Peeler Corer
Instructions:
Chop the apples, First, quarter them through the stem, then cut out the cores. Chop the apples coarsely into 1- to 2-inch pieces, depending on how chunky you like the finished product.
Place ingredients into a 5 quart or larger slow cooker. Add the water, cinnamon, lemon juice, and salt. Stir to combine.
Cover the slow cooker and cook on the HIGH setting for 4 hours. Stir twice during cooking. Note: If you’re using an Instant Pot to make this slow-cooker applesauce, set the machine to Slow Cooker once you add the ingredients, increase the heat level to “more,” set the cooking time to 4 hours, then seal the lid.
How do you make applesauce with a texture similar to store-bought?
Yes! I prefer leaving some chunks in my home-made applesauce, but many like the fine texture of jarred commercially made applesauce. If that’s your preference, you can approximate that same texture by pureeing your finished slow-cooker applesauce using an immersion blender. Be careful – hot applesauce can splatter!
Can you make slow-cooker applesauce in an Instant Pot?
Absolutely. Simply use the slow-cooker setting on your Instant Pot or any other multi-cooker.
Do I need to peel and core the apples?
It’s a good idea to core the apples, but you don’t necessarily need to peel them. It depends on your personal preference. Leaving the peel adds a bit of fiber and a rustic look. Delicious either way!
What spices work well besides cinnamon in applesauce?
Cinnamon is a classic choice, but you can also add nutmeg, ginger or cloves for a more unique flavor.
Simple Home-Made Applesauce
Equipment
- slow cooker
Ingredients
Instructions
- Chop the apples, First, quarter them through the stem, then cut out the cores. Chop the apples coarsely into 1- to 2-inch pieces, depending on how chunky you like the finished product.
- Place ingredients into a 5 quart or larger slow cooker. Add the water, cinnamon, lemon juice, and salt. Stir to combine.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on the HIGH setting for 4 hours. Stir twice during cooking. Note: If you're using an Instant Pot to make this slow-cooker applesauce, set the machine to Slow Cooker once you add the ingredients, increase the heat level to "more," set the cooking time to 4 hours, then seal the lid.
Notes
Leslie Farin is the Publisher and Founder of 50PlusToday. She is an experienced communications and marketing professional passionate about working with older adults and their families. She works with a team of writers to provide essential and cutting-edge information related to the 50Plus community.
