Crock Pot Applesauce – Homemade apple sauce doesn’t get easier than using your slow cooker!!
Crock Pot Applesauce
Nothing beats homemade apple sauce, making it in the crock pot is easy and your house will smell divine while the apples and cinnamon simmer all day long. The hardest part about making this sauce is peeling the apples (which is not hard at all!). I love using it in my homemade Applesauce Nut Bread, or with Pork Chops and Apple Sauce, so good! And for a more concentrated sauce with a longer shelf life, you may also like this Slow Cooker Apple Butter recipe.
How Do You Make Homemade Applesauce?
Start with apples. I love using a variety of apples to make applesauce, for this recipe I used eight different apples; Honey Crisp, Fuji, Gala, Macous, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Braeburn, and Granny Smith. Gravenstein, McIntosh, Jonagold and Jonathan would also be great options.
I use just a touch of sugar, but if your apples are sweet and you wish to make apple with no sugar, it will still be delicious.
And since so many are asking, although I have and love my Instant Pot, I still love my slow cooker! I have the 6 Quart Hamilton Beach Set ‘n Forget Programmable Slow Cooker (affil link). I love it because you can adjust the time you want it to cook, and it automatically turns to warm when it’s done. It also has a probe for meat that automatically shuts off when done. I hated my old crock pot, it burnt everything and my food had a weird taste. This slow cooker is so great, I actually own several!
How To Make Applesauce
More Apple Recipes:
Crock Pot Applesauce
Ingredients
- 8 medium apples Use a combination of Golden Delicious, Honey Crisp, Fuji, Gala, etc.
- 1 strips of lemon peel - use a vegetable peeler
- 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
- 3 inch cinnamon stick
- 5 teaspoons light brown sugar unpacked (you can leave out for sugar-free)
Instructions
- Peel, core, and slice the apples.
- Place them in the slow cooker.
- Add the cinnamon stick, lemon peel, lemon juice and brown sugar.
- Set crock pot to low and cook for 6 hours.
- Stir apples occasionally, apples will slowly become a delicious applesauce.
- Remove cinnamon stick and use an immersion blender to blend until smooth or if you prefer a chunky sauce, leave sauce intact.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Notes
Nutrition
Categories:
Photo Credit: Jess Larson
Last time I made this it turned out really bitter and I was disappointed. But after reading the comments from another reader, I think it was the lemon rind. This time I left it out and oh my goodness, I am glad I gave this one another shot! It was delicious- we have it with the pork chop which were also aweomse. and I have enough left over for baby food this week! I cut the sugar in half and it still was excellent. Thanks for all you do, Gina I couldn’t live without your site!
You’re welcome Lesley! 🙂
I am wondering if this apple sauce will freeze?
Yes.
I made this yesterday & it was DELICIOUS! Super easy. I used 2 Granny Smith, 2 Gala, 2 Honey Crisp & 2 of something else :o)
How long with this applesauce last in the refrigerator?
Homemade applesauce can be refrigerated for a week to ten days; it can also be frozen or canned for longer-term storage.
I mix apples and pears – no sugar needed! I’ll be trying your bread using my applesauce. I think using a slow cooker is brilliant, so I’ll be trying that next time 🙂
I always make applesauce in the crockpot and it is the absolute best! I put mine in half pint jars and put them in the freezer. Such a treat to eat semi frozen 🙂 Putting a trip to the farm stand for apples on my list today.
Would love to try this! How long will it keep in the refrigerator?
Homemade applesauce can be refrigerated for a week to ten days; it can also be frozen or canned for longer-term storage.
Can you make this recipe in the InstaPot? Has anyone tried?
Yes, I just did. I used the pressure cooker setting on low on the Instant Pot. It cooked for 15 minutes and came out perfect. Didn’t need a blender. Just used a whisk.
Instant Pot instructions?
I really like the sound of this! If I wanted to process it in jars, does anyone know how long and how much head space for processing?
Madelyn – I was wondering the same thing, and my “best friend” Ms. Google came up with an answer. This is the link that I found – hope that it helps!
https://www.freshpreserving.com/applesauce-recipe-%7C-how-to-make-applesauce—ball-fresh-preserving-br1126.html
Cheers, El
Have you tried this in the instant pot?
No
This looks amazing and I plan on making this weekend. Can you tell me how you would suggest storing the apple sauce? Thanks so much — Your website is amazing!
You can refrigerate 2 weeks or freeze!
I use this recipe all. fall. long. Like can’t stop making it. It’s so good!!
Think I’ll make some tonight. 😉
I don’t have an immersion blender….can I use a hand mixer?
Sure
How long is this good for in the fridge? I’m planning on making this as a snack for my 1 year old. Thanks!
about 1 week.
Just made this tonight and was amazed at how simple and delicious it is. Like other commenters here, I got nervous halfway through cooking when the apple pieces still seemed so solid, but by hour 4 it was getting “saucy” at the bottom, and just now when I took it out of the slow-cooker it was perfect applesauce consistency and so tasty. So I would urge folks not to get nervous and add any liquid because there will be plenty of juice and flavor!!!
Hi Gina – I love your stuff! I want to make this with your new latke recipe. How long will this last when I make it? 1 week?
Thanks!
Pingback: Cozy for Fall - We Five Kings
Love this recipe. I skip the sugar b/c apples are naturally sweet. I use cake spice from Penzys in place of cinnamon and I do lemon zest instead of a peel. I never grab the same group of apples and it always turns out great!
Can it be frozen?
I haven’t tried. Sorry!