Apple season is just wrapping up here in NH, and one of my favorite ways to use up all those extra apples is by making a batch of this homemade Slow Cooker Applesauce recipe! This recipe is naturally unsweetened, requiring only three simple ingredients with no added sugar—I promise you won’t miss it! As the cinnamon stick gently infuses, the flavor of this applesauce becomes warm and aromatic.
We’re fortunate to have a local apple orchard just a few miles away, where we can either pick apples ourselves or buy them fresh from the farmstead. My family loves when I make applesauce in the slow cooker, as it fills the house with the cozy scent of apples and cinnamon!
Making homemade unsweetened applesauce is incredibly easy and so much healthier than store-bought versions. It’s low in calories, has no added sugar, and after trying this easy recipe, you might never buy applesauce from the grocery store again! In our home, applesauce has many uses, aside form eating out of the jar, we incorporate it into homemade dog treats like our Bacon Cheddar Dog Treats and our Pumpkin Dog Treats.
Ingredients For Slow Cooker Applesauce
- Apples – about 7-8 cups of chopped apples. Usually about 7-8 apples or 4 lbs. See below for varieties.
- Lemon juice – 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice (about half of a small lemon). Fresh lemon juice prevents the apples from turning brown (when not adding cinnamon) and enhances the flavor.
- Cinnamon stick – 1 cinnamon stick – for a warm, comforting flavor. This is optional, you may omit, however watch the apples in the first hour as you may need to add additional 1 tablespoon of water to prevent sticking.
Equipment
Slow cooker (crockpot). I use this smaller 2-quart crockpot as 8 cups of chopped apples fits perfectly and it does not take up a lot of space.
How to Make This Delicious Applesauce
Yield: About 4 cups.
Cooking time: 3-4 hours.
- Start by peeling, removing the cores, and chopping the apples into chunks.
- Add the chopped apples to your slow cooker, followed by the lemon juice, 1–2 tablespoons of water, and the cinnamon stick. Stir to combine. Set the slow cooker to low and let it cook for about 3–4 hours. At the 3-hour mark, check the texture of the apples for desired consistency. Once cooked, the apples should be soft enough to mash easily with a fork or potato masher. *You can use an immersion blender, but this shouldn’t be necessary as the apples break down well with slow cooking.
Note: You need very little water. Just enough to prevent the apples from sticking initially as they cook down, the juices for the apples release slowly so you don’t want to add too much as it will water down the flavor.
Storage Tips
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container, such as a mason jar, for up to two weeks.
- Freezer: Yes, you can freeze applesauce! Keep it in a freezer-safe container for up to three months for optimal flavor, though beyond that, the taste may degrade.
What kind of apples are best for applesauce?
For the best results, select sweet, softer apples that break down well without turning watery or mushy.
I tend to use McIntosh as that’s typically what is more plentiful in our area, but I also like to use a variety of apples for more depth of flavor.
Great options include:
- Cortland
- Gala
- Golden Delicious
- Fuji Apples
- Honeycrisp
- McIntosh Apples
Using an assortment of seasonal, fresh apples will give your applesauce the best flavor and nutritional value.
Nutritional Benefits of Applesauce
- High in soluble fiber – helps lower cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart disease.
- Natural prebiotic – supports gut health.
- Rich in antioxidants – boosts immune function and may reduce the risk of certain diseases
Ways to Serve Applesauce
- We love enjoying our Homemade Applesauce straight from the jar—perfect as a healthy snack or a light, after-dinner treat, especially when paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It also shines as a side dish for Thanksgiving or other holiday meals.
- While we’re mostly plant-based, one family member does enjoy this applesauce as a sauce on pork chops!
- You can also use applesauce as a substitute for oil in baking. We love adding it to muffins, cakes, and our homemade dog treats.
I hope you enjoy this easy, delicious crockpot applesauce recipe as much as we do.
Happy cooking!
Other Apple Recipes That You Might Like
Beet and Carrot Juice with Apple
Frozen Apple and Pumpkin Dog Treats
Easy Slow Cooker Applesauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 cups chopped apples, peeled and cored 4-5 lbs. (about 7-8 apples)
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice, fresh
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 tbsp. water
Instructions
- Start by peeling, removing the cores, and chopping the apples into chunks.
- Add the chopped apples to your slow cooker, followed by the lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of water, and the cinnamon stick. Stir to combine. Set the slow cooker to low and let it cook for about 3–4 hours. At the 3-hour mark, check the texture for desired consistency. After cooking, the apples should be soft enough to mash easily with a fork or potato masher.
- Enjoy!
Notes
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- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container, such as a mason jar, for up to two weeks.
-
- Freezer: Yes, you can freeze applesauce! Keep it in a freezer-safe container for up to three months for optimal flavor, though beyond that, the taste may degrade.
