Description
This easy homemade applesauce is made on the stovetop with simple ingredients. Keep it chunky or blend it smooth, and adjust the sweetness to taste.
Ingredients
Scale
3 pounds apples, peeled, cored, and cut into about 1-inch pieces
⅓ cup water, plus more if needed
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional
1 to 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, optional
Instructions
- Peel and core the apples, then cut them into about 1-inch pieces.
- Add the apples and ⅓ cup water to a large saucepan. Cover and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
- Lower the heat as needed and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring from time to time, until the apples are very soft and easy to mash. If the pan starts to look dry before the apples are soft, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water at a time.
- Remove the pan from the heat. Mash the apples with a potato masher for chunky applesauce, or blend until smooth.
- Stir in the lemon juice and cinnamon, if using.
- Taste before adding sugar. If the applesauce is too tart, add 1 tablespoon of sugar, stir, and taste again. Add more only if needed.
- If the applesauce is too thick, stir in a little water. If it is too thin, return it to low heat and cook uncovered for a few minutes, stirring often, until it reaches the texture you want.
Notes
For a balanced flavor, use a mix of sweet and tart apples.
Sweeter apples may not need any added sugar, so taste the applesauce before sweetening it.
For chunky applesauce, mash with a potato masher. For smooth applesauce, use an immersion blender.
Store cooled applesauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
Nutrition
- Serving Size: about ½ cup
- Calories: 80
- Sugar: 17 g
- Sodium: 2 mg
- Fat: 0.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 0.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg