Ingredients You’ll Need
All you need for homemade applesauce is fresh apples and a bit of water, but you’ll take the flavor over the top by adding in a little ground cinnamon, too. The key to a delicious applesauce is using an apple variety you enjoy. In my opinion, the best apples for applesauce are Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji apples, because they are naturally sweet. When cooked, they almost taste like fruit compote that you could spoon over ice cream. Other apple varieties, like Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady, and McIntosh will also work! If you use more tart apples, like granny smiths, you might want to add in a little brown sugar or maple syrup for sweetness. Just taste and adjust as you go.
How to Make Slow Cooker Applesauce
- Prepare the apples. To make classic applesauce, use a vegetable peeler to remove the apple peels. This is the most time-consuming part of the recipe, but it will result in the classic texture that you expect from applesauce. If you’re wondering what to do with the leftover apple peels, save them to add to a batch of homemade apple cider. Time-Saving Tip: You can skip peeling the apples all together, if you don’t mind using a blender later. This method will result in a totally smooth, pureed applesauce with more nutrients. (A high-speed blender will totally pulverize the cooked apple peels.) Once the apples are peeled, slice them into quarters directly through the core. Then slice off the sharp edge of each apple quarter, removing the seeds, core, and stem. Cut the apples into 1-inch chunks to help them cook faster.
- Slow cook. Transfer the peeled and sliced apples to the bowl of a 6-quart slow cooker and add in the water. Sprinkle the cinnamon over the top of the apples, then cover the pot with the lid. Cook on high heat for 4 hours or low heat for 6 to 8 hours. Give the apples a stir halfway through the cooking time, if possible, to help them cook evenly.
- Mash. When the cook time is complete, remove the lid. The apples should be very tender and soft when tested with a fork, and they should have reduced in size. Use a fork or potato masher to mash the cooked apples directly in the slow cooker for a slightly chunky, rustic applesauce. For a smoother result, use an immersion blender to puree the apples until they reach your desired consistency. Or you can transfer the apples to a standard blender to carefully blend. (Be sure to cover the vent in your blender’s lid with a thin dish towel, so steam can safely escape while blending hot liquids.) Let the applesauce cool down, then pour it into an airtight container, like a mason jar. (Letting it cool down first will prevent condensation on the lid; I’ve even had a lid pop off my applesauce from sealing it too quickly while it’s still hot and then storing it in the fridge.) Crockpot applesauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. You can also store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months, if you’d like to freeze a larger batch. Looking for more apple recipes? Try homemade apple butter, healthy apple muffins, apple walnut salad, or my favorite apple smoothie for more ideas. If you try this slow cooker applesauce recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like it.
