Homemade Applesauce Recipe (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

What is Applesauce?

While applesauce is probably a common ingredient that most of us know about, not everyone uses it, or even knows what it actually means.

Basically, applesauce (or sometimes also called “apple sauce”), is a sauce made of pureed stewed apples, which can be made with or without the apple skins, and can be sweetened or spiced.

Apple sauce, or apple puree, is commonly fed to babies when they first begin to eat, but it is also commonly served as a side dish alongside meats such as pork chops.

It is also often used as a natural sweetener in baked goods (think applesauce muffins, applesauce cake or applesauce brownies) or even as a binder in many vegan recipes.

You can even eat it on its own as a delicious snack! I mean, what’s not to love about a big spoonful of warm applesauce? So, so good!

Why Should I Make Applesauce From Scratch?

While commercial applesauce is commonplace and you can literally find it in practically any supermarket, I prefer making my own at home because it’s so darn simple to make (just 4 ingredients!) and requires only 30 minutes to make one big jar.

Not only is making your own cheaper than store-bought applesauce (especially when apples are plentiful and in season), the homemade version doesn’t have any of the nasty additives and preservatives that storebought versions come with!

I’ve been making plenty of from-scratch homemade recipes recently, and once you get the hang of it, it’s really simple.

Some of my favorite homemade basics include this easy homemade pumpkin puree (time to use up all those fresh pumpkins!), this homemade alfredo sauce, this 5-minute homemade almond milk (we literally make this once a week), and homemade almond meal (to replace almond flour in recipes).

Why This Recipe Works:

• Simple Ingredients: You’ll only need 4 basic ingredients that are easily accessible at the local grocery store to make your own applesauce (nothing fancy required!).
• Super Easy: This stovetop applesauce recipe is crazy simple to make, and it’s so foolproof that ANYONE can make it!
• Very Adaptable: A great recipe has to be flexible and easily adapted, and this is precisely it. Plus, you can adjust the consistency of this vegan applesauce according to how you like it.
• Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan: The best part if that this easy recipe is naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan, which means those with Celiac disease or have gluten or lactose intolerances can enjoy it without any worries!

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Here’s a visual overview of the ingredients required to make your own homemade applesauce recipe.

(For exact measurements, please scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.)

Ingredient Notes/Substitutions:

• Which Types of Apples : When making a homemade applesauce recipe, the kind of apples you use really depends on how sweet or tart you prefer your applesauce. However, you can basically use any type of apple that you have on hand, especially if it’s apple season and you have a whole bounty of fresh apples to use up from your trip to the apple orchard. In this case, because I prefer my applesauce to be slightly tart, I like tart apples and we’ll be going with green Granny Smith apples (but you can always use sweet apples if you prefer)!
• Sugar: I used granulated cane sugar in this recipe but you can also use light brown sugar if you prefer. If you are diabetic of insulin resistant, I highly recommend using granulated monkfruit sweetener (a 1:1 sugar substitute that is zero glycemic index and will not raise your blood sugar).
• Cinnamon: I like adding a hint of ground cinnamon (a cinnamon stick will work too) for extra fall vibes and the best flavor. Alternatively, feel free to leave out the cinnamon if you prefer (or if you don’t have cinnamon on hand).

How to Make Homemade Applesauce (Step by Step)

1. Peel, Core and Cut

Start off by peeling the apples with an apple peeler. Next, core and cut the apples into small cubes.

(It’s up to you whether you like having the skins on or not, but I prefer to peel the skins to get an extra creamy texture.)

2. Combine Ingredients in Skillet

Combine the cubed apples, sugar, cinnamon, and water in a large pot, large Dutch oven, large saucepan or skillet. Mix well and bring to a boil, before reducing heat to medium and covering the skillet or pot.

3. Cook Until Soft

Let the apples cook for approximately 20 minutes, until they are soft and translucent and can easily be mashed with a fork or a slotted spoon.

4. Mash to Get Apple Puree

At this stage, when the apples can be easily mashed with a fork, potato masher or the back of a slotted spoon, you can mash them into a puree.

5. Blend Until Smooth

Transfer the apples to a high-speed blender or food processor and blend until smooth for a smoother applesauce (skip this step if you prefer a chunkier applesauce).

Alternatively, you may also use a food mill or an immersion blender to blend the apples.

Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks

Here are a few different applesauce variations:

• Sugar-Free Applesauce: Feel free to leave out the sugar from the recipe if you prefer to make unsweetened applesauce free of added sugar. Just note that it will be slightly more tart if you leave out the sugar.
• Plain Applesauce: If you don’t want to use cinnamon, you can leave out the cinnamon stated in the recipe.
• Very Tart Applesauce: If you prefer a very tart apple sauce, feel free to use less sugar (or none at all) and add in 1 – 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice or apple cider vinegar when cooking the apples.
• Chunky Applesauce: If you like your applesauce chunky without further processing, you can certainly use it as is (especially if serving as a side dish to accompany meats).
• Extra Smooth Applesauce: However, I personally prefer a smoother consistency, so I like blending the mashed apples in my high-speed blender (or food processor) until it becomes incredibly creamy and extra-smooth. Feel free to process until you get the desired consistency.

Recipe FAQs: