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This easy applesauce recipe is great for both canning or eating fresh! It begins with fresh apples from the market or from your backyard orchard. It’s made with 4 simple but natural ingredients and one of them is even optional!
This easy homemade applesauce recipe is a favorite in my family. I serve it with breakfast, lunch, and even dinner.
We eat it as a side dish with my low-carb Stuffed Bacon Cheeseburgers in place of fries, but of course, sometimes we do have hash browns. And my grandsons, when they are here on the weekend, love eating delicious applesauce with their homemade egg muffins.
What Kind Of Apples is Best for Making Applesauce?
You could spend hours searching for “the best” apple for making homemade applesauce. But I really feel it comes down to personal preference.
Each apple variety comes with its own natural color, flesh, and flavor. All apples can be used for making homemade applesauce though. A good rule of thumb is if an apple is good for “baking” it normally isn’t food for making applesauce.
RELATED: Apple Butter Recipe for Canning
If you will, let me explain. When I bake fresh whole apples or even apple quarters, I like for the apple to “keep its shape.” But when I am making my easy chunky applesauce recipe, I want the apples to cook up smooth. Of course be a bit chunky, but overall smooth and tasty.
Also, all apples respond to heat in different ways. Some apple flesh will be a bright white when others may darken just a bit when heated.
My favorite apple for making easy applesauce is the Mutsu Apple also known as the Crispin Apple. It has this wonderful yellow-gold skin, with a pink blush, that is very sweet and has a wonderful soft creamy white flesh. It darkens when cooked but we love it! My second favorite is Golden Delicious.
Other apples that make a good sweet and delicious applesauce are:
- McIntosh
- Fuji
- Golden Delicious
- Gala
- Pink Lady
- Transparent
- Johnathan
“How do you sweeten applesauce” is a question I hear often. Of course, sugar is completely optional. I don’t use a sweetener. Mutsu apples are the perfect sweetness my family likes.
So depending on the type of apple you choose, its natural sugar may be sweet enough, if not, slowly add Stevia or sugar to your taste preference.
Easy Applesauce Recipe
Of course, there are lots of recipes available that can be done in a crockpot, in the oven, and even with a microwave. But I prefer the old-fashioned way of cooking it on the stovetop.
Whether you will be eating it fresh or canning it, both ways are prepared the same. It can be stored safely in the refrigerator with the lids on tight for a few weeks.
Equipment Needed for Making Applesauce
- Cutting Board
- Apple Peeler or a Sharp Knife (I have this one – lifetime)
- Potato Masher or Food Processor
- Large Stock Pot
- Canning Jars & Lids
Ingredients for Easy To Make Applesauce
- 10 lbs of fresh apples (your choice)
- Water
- 1/2 cup Stevia (optional)
- 4 Tbsp Pure Lemon Juice
Directions for Easy to Make Recipe
Prep
Wash apples well even if they are organic in cold water. Next, using your peeler or sharp knife – peel, slice, and quarter all your apples. This will help them to cook up faster.
If you will be canning applesauce, fill your water bath canner with water and place it on the stovetop on high to sterilize jars. Skip this step if you are not canning.
Place apples in a pot with just enough water to keep them from sticking. Bring them to a boil. Careful, they will splatter and pop a bit – it is hot. Once to a good boil, cover and reduce heat to a medium temperature.
Stir them occasionally to keep them from sticking. Cook until apples are soft and tender. Time will depend on the variety, 5-25 minutes. When I use Mutsu, it takes about 25 minutes.
Process
When apples are soft and tender, use a potato masher and smooth out apples. If you are using a food processor, carefully ladle them out of the pot into the processor, process, and place them back into the pot.
If you will be using sugar, now is the time to add this and the lemon juice. Mix ingredients well into mashed apples.
Fresh homemade applesauce will keep for about 8 weeks in the refrigerator.
Canning Applesauce
If canning, ladle hot applesauce into sterile canning jars, leaving a 1/2 headspace. Wipe the rim of jars with a clean cloth and place on 2-piece canning jar lids.
Place jars into water bath canner with rack and process for 20 minutes. This time is for both pints and quarts.
Remove jars and place them on a towel on the counter. Leave undisturbed for 12-24 hrs.
RELATED: Use “The Complete Beginners Guide To Home Canning” and get comfortable with home canning.
Can You Freeze Fresh Applesauce?
Sure! To freeze applesauce, allow it to cool completely! Ladle into a freezer-safe container and store in the freezer. Leave enough space for expansion. Learn more tips about freezing foods and serving nutritious foods to your family.
This easy applesauce recipe is perfect! It’s just straightforward and not complicated with a whole bunch of steps and ingredients.
Will you be serving up fresh homemade applesauce to your family more often now?
More Fall Canning Recipe Ideas
Easy Applesauce Recipe
This easy applesauce recipe is so simple you'll serve it often. Perfect for canning, freezing or eating fresh.
Ingredients
- 10 lbs fresh apples
- 1/2 cup Stevia (optional)
- water
Instructions
- Wash, peel, and quarter apples
- Place apples into large pot and bring to a boil, add just enough water to prevent sticking. Stirring often .
- Cover and reduce heat to a medium, continuing to stir often. Let cook until soft and tender
- Using a potato masher or food processor, mash apples to the texture your family enjoys.
- Add sugar, if desired and lemon juice - mix well
- If Canning: Ladle into hot jars, wipe rims, place on 2-piece jar lids
- Process is water bath for 20 minutes (pints or quarts)
Notes
The amount of sugar, if desired, is completely optional. Add it is small increments to taste.
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Dianne Hadorn is the owner of Hidden Springs Homestead nestled in the hills of East Tennessee. She is a Master Gardener and enjoys helping others learn how to grow and preserve their own food and sharing tips for living a more self-sufficient lifestyle.