Want to make your own healthy crockpot applesauce? Here’s an easy recipe for making slow cooker applesauce using no added sugar!
Every fall, we pick apples at a local orchard. We always go with friends and make a day of it, stopping at the country store for kettle corn and cider, sampling the varieties as we pick, and coming home with sticky hands and chins–and $40 worth of apples that won’t fit in the refrigerator.
Luckily, one of my favorite fall projects is making homemade slow cooker applesauce. Trust me when I tell you that once you’ve had homemade applesauce, you’ll never buy another jar of that yellow stuff in the supermarket again. Homemade applesauce tastes like love and pie filling on a spoon.
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How to Make Slow Cooker Applesauce
Step 1: Wash your apples. Even if they’re organic. Even though 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. And that’s gross.
Step 2: Peel, core, and slice the apples. You can do this by hand and just cut the apples into quarters. But my kids love using this old-fashioned peeler. And I love free child labor.
Step 3: Load your apple slices into the slow cooker.
Step 4: Add your ingredients. I modified this recipe from A Year of Slow Cooking by skipping the sugar and cutting back the lemon juice. For a triple batch (12 apples), I used 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 3 tsp vanilla, 3/4 cup water, and the juice of one lemon. I set my slow cooker for 4 hours on High.
Step 5: Smash with a potato masher at the end of the cooking cycle until you get the desired consistency.
Step 6: Spoon into jars or containers and refrigerate. My triple recipe (12 apples) yielded about 2 1/2 jars.
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Easy Crockpot Applesauce
Ingredients
- 4 apples
- 1/2 lemon juiced
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions
- Peel, core, and slice apples and load into slow cooker.
- Add lemon juice, cinnamon, vanilla, and water.
- Cook on High for 4-6 hours.
- Smash with potato masher until desired consistency.
- Spoon into jars or containers and refrigerate.
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megan says
Thanks for the recipe, I’m going to try it out and see how it comes out.
Sally says
Megan–great! Let me know how it goes.
Crystal Smith says
Can I can this? If so for how long in the water bath?
Sally says
Crystal–I canned it a few years ago and honestly can’t remember how long I left it in the water bath. I’m pretty sure I used a book about canning as my guide. Sorry I can’t be more specific.
Beatriz Faria says
Hi, Sally! Thank you for sharing this recipe ! I have a question about one of its ingredients. When you talk about 1 tsp of vanilla, is it powder, stick or liquid vanilla extract. I have to see what I find here in Brazil.
Sally says
Beatriz–liquid vanilla extract. But you can also omit it entirely if you prefer–I’ve done that in some batches.
Shannon says
Any recommendation on the kind of apple to use?
🙂
Sally says
Hi Shannon–I’m sure certain apples are better for applesauce than others, but I actually use whatever apples I have on hand (though I must say I’ve never used red delicious and have heard those are not ideal for sauce).
Emily says
Made a triple batch today – yum! We used 1/2 Macintosh and 1/2 Honey Crisp – VERY tart, and needed sugar, but delicious! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Faith VanderMolen says
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. The second time I made it I used some persimmons instead of a few of the apples (I’ll be sharing that recipe on my blog). New favorite snack! Thanks!!
Erin says
can this be froEn afterward in jars?
Sally says
Erin–yes, I have frozen it and it turned out well. I have also canned it.
Michelle says
How’d you freeze it? Just put it in freezer bags or Tupperware and put it in the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge when you take it out? And it is fine and edible? Thanks for the recipe, I’m excited to try it!
Sally says
Michelle–I froze it in Pyrex dishes. Yes, mine turned out well when I defrosted–just give it a good stir before serving.
Linda says
How long does this keep in the fridge? I have a beautiful apple tree in my backyard, but I can only eat so many apple pies!
Sally says
Hi Linda–I think it would be fine in the fridge for 3-5 days. But you can also freeze it (or can it) and that works really well!
Halle says
Can you leave the skin on?
Sally says
Hi Halle–you could if you don’t mind some pieces of skin in the applesauce or if you puree it in a blender or with a handheld blender. I usually just mash it with a potato masher so there are still chunks of apple throughout, which is why I peel the apples.