Easy + Healthy Crockpot Applesauce With No Added Sugar

Inside: Want to make your own healthy crockpot applesauce? Here’s an easy recipe for making slow cooker applesauce using no added sugar.

Featured Review

This recipe is so simple yet AMAZING!!! I just made a batch this past week and then loved it so much I had to make it again.

Ever gone apple picking and gotten so swept up in the autumn spirit that you came home with $50 worth of apples that won’t fit in your refrigerator?

There’s when you load up your slow cooker and make your own applesauce!

Trust me when I tell you that once you’ve had homemade crockpot applesauce, you may never buy another jar at the grocery store again.

Homemade applesauce tastes like love and apple pie filling on a spoon. And making it in the slow cooker means that warm, sweet aroma fills your house for hours.

Simple Ingredients You Need for Crockpot Applesauce

• Fresh apples: Because this crockpot applesauce doesn’t have any added sugar, choose sweet apples such as Fuji, Gala, or McIntosh. I also like using one tart apple, such as Granny Smith.
• Cinnamon: You’ll just need 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Feel free to use more if you love the flavor.
• Lemon juice: Use either juice from 1/2 large lemon or juice from 1 small lemon.
• Vanilla: I prefer pure vanilla extract but use what you have.
• Water

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How to Make Crockpot Applesauce

1. Rinse your apples

Even if they’re organic. Even if you’re peeling them. If you don’t wash them, any dirt and germs on the skins will be transferred into the flesh when you slice them.

2. Peel, core, and slice the apples 

You can do this by hand and just cut the apples into quarters. My kids used to love using this old-fashioned peeler. You can leave the skins on if you don’t mind small bits of peel in your sauce (or you can use an immersion blender to make it smooth).

3. Put everything into the slow cooker

Add apples, water, cinnamon, lemon juice, and vanilla to the slow cooker insert.

4. Cook on low for 3-4 hours

Check after 3 hours and see if apples are tender enough to mash. Every slow cooker is different, so your time may differ. If your applesauce seems too thick, stir in a little water. If it seems too thin, continue cooking.

5. Mash with a potato masher

At the end of the cooking cycle, mash with a potato masher until you get the desired consistency–as chunky or smooth as you like it. My personal prefer is for a more chunky applesauce, but can also put it through a food mill or use an immersion blender if you want very smooth applesauce.

6. Spoon into jars or containers and refrigerate

Put the finished applesauce in an airtight container, such as a mason jar. and keep refrigerated. This recipe makes one pint jar of applesauce. I have also tripled this recipe and canned it.

Questions About Slow Cooker Applesauce

What is the best type of apple to use for crockpot applesauce?

Because this recipe doesn’t call for any added sugar, it’s best to use sweet apples like Fuji, Gala, and Honeycrisp. You can also add a more tart apple to the mix, such as Granny Smith.

Can I leave the peels on the apples?

Yes. The peels will soften and sort of melt into the applesauce, but you’ll still get some bits of peel in your applesauce. If you want a totally smooth sauce, use an immersion blender. I found my applesauce was darker in color when I left the peels on.

How much applesauce does this recipe make?

This recipe makes enough to fill one pint mason jar, plus a small bowl for eating. It’s approximately eight servings.

Can I add sugar to this slow cooker applesauce recipe?

Yes. This is unsweetened applesauce because I love letting the sweet flavors of the apples do the work. But if you find this recipe isn’t sweet enough for you, feel free to stir in a bit of sugar (white or brown) mid-way through cooking.

Why does the nutrition info say this recipe contains sugar?

This recipe has no added sugar–you don’t add white sugar, brown sugar, or another sweetener. But apples contain natural sugar, which is why you’ll still see sugar in the nutrition information.

More Posts About Apples

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