Easy Homemade Applesauce with Cinnamon

In this post, you will learn to make the most simplest and delicious homemade applesauce that is flavored with cinnamon and optionally sweetened.

Applesauce in our home is a side dish. Not a treat or a snack, but an actual side dish. We pair it with salty sausages or other meats and yes, it works well with pork chops to. I buy those little cups, with no sugar added applesauce and our favorite is always the ones with cinnamon. Because face it, cinnamon is one of those spices that make everything its in, better.

Since my mom decided to plant a small orchard of apple trees, I have been making applesauce in the fall and we have all sorts of different apples so if you have a favorite type of apple or grow them yourself, use them. I personally like to use a combination of tart apples and sweet varieties so that I can use less sweetener. And on that, I have included several different sweetener options that I use. Just keep in mind, the type of apple matters. If using tart ones, you may need more sweetener to balance out the tartness and if wanting unsweetened applesauce, go with sweet apples for obvious reasons.

This Homemade Applesauce Is…

• An easy recipe for making your own applesauce.
• The perfect warm side dish for Thanksgiving dinner.
• My go-to recipe for apple season and so much better than the grocery store kind.
• Can be used for small batches or a big batch (doubling).
• A great recipe to use up softer apples in. 

Ingredients

Apples- I like to use granny smith, pink lady, or honeycrisp apples but any type of apple you love you can use. We have an apple orchard and I make a variety of different sauces and all make delicious applesauce. 

Cinnamon- I use ground cinnamon as it gives a more enhanced cinnamon taste. If you like more of a cinnamon essence you can use a few cinnamon sticks. 

Water- standard drinking water is fine to use.

​Lemon Juice- you can use fresh squeezed lemon juice for this or bottled works fine too.

Optional Ways to Sweeten Applesauce

If you find the applesauce is a bit more tart than you would like, sweetening it is easy. Here are a few optional additions you can add in.

Honey (1/4 cup or more)

Brown Sugar (half cup or more)

Maple Syrup (1/4 cup or more)

Vanilla Extract (1 tbsp.)

Directions

Begin by peeling, and coring all the apples. Cut them into equal-sized large chunks so that they cook evenly.

Place the apples in a large stock pot with the water, cinnamon, lemon juice, and any sweetener you desire.

Place the lid on and allow them to simmer over medium-low heat until soft.

When ready take a potato masher and begin mashing them into smaller bits or leave a little chunky if you prefer chunky applesauce.

Take a hand blender and blend the applesauce until smooth. If you do not have a hand blender, you can add the cooked apples to a blender and blend them up in batches.

Taste the applesauce to make sure it is sweetened to your liking. If placed in freezer bags, you will want to allow the applesauce to cool before placing it into freezer bags. If not, can as usual or place the applesauce into storage jars.

How to Pick the Best Apples

Picking the freshest apples isn’t as necessary for making applesauce as it is for making say, a pie or tart. Many times I will make a batch of applesauce out of any kind of apple that I have in our fruit bowl that is past its prime.

However, if the desire is to create the highest quality of applesauce or are one to go out apple picking. Finding the best apples is easy. Look for apples free from bruises or abrasions. Firm to the touch with skin that is smooth and wrinkle-free. Wrinkles or shriveled skin on the apple indicates an apple is past its prime.

FAQ

What type of apples make the best applesauce?

I love using all sorts of apples for making applesauce. But something to keep in mind, if you are like me and not wanting to add any additional sugar to your applesauce, then it’s best to stick with sweeter varieties. Such as Golden Delicious, Honey-crisp, Fuji, Gala, and Cortland. I sometimes will use a mix of these or just grab a 5 lb. bag of your favorite kind.

Can I freeze applesauce?

Homemade applesauce freezes very well. That is why making large batches of it in the fall when the apples are at their peak works well to keep delicious homemade applesauce on hand. During the fall there are plenty of apple-picking opportunities so don’t be afraid to grab extra and make large batches to keep for later.

To freeze, I like using half gallon sized freezer bags. Allow the applesauce to cool completely before placing it into the bags. The applesauce will store well for up to 2 to 3 months in the freezer. But keep in mind that once the applesauce is defrosted you will not want to refreeze it.

How to store homemade applesauce?

Store in an airtight jar such as a mason jar, freezer bag, or any container with a lid. For longer-term storage consider hot water canning or hot packing the applesauce. My favorite way to store homemade applesauce is to store it this way. While water canning is a simple enough process, however, sometimes I find I don’t feel like heating the entire house just to can my applesauce.

That is when I do the hot packing. I simply sterilize the mason jar lids and jars. Add the hot applesauce directly into the jars and place the lid on. Then turn the jars over and allow them to sit overnight. I check the jars in the morning to ensure the lid has popped, letting me know that the jars are sealed properly.

How long does homemade applesauce keep?

The shelf life of your homemade applesauce will depend on how you have chosen to store it. Hot water canning or placing in freezer bags for the freezer are two of the longest ways to keep homemade applesauce. If simply placed in a jar for the fridge, I find this homemade applesauce will keep for up to two weeks. I am always mindful to check the rim for any mold that might be present before serving.

Other Posts You May Like…

• Homemade Pesto with Walnuts
• How to Make Apricot Jam | No Pectin Recipe
• Quick and Delicious Ricotta Cheese
• How to Make Vanilla Extract

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