Homemade Applesauce Recipe (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Making your own homemade applesauce cannot get any easier than this! All you need is 4 ingredients and 30 minutes to get smooth, tasty applesauce that’s slightly sweetened with a hint of cinnamon! Naturally gluten-free and vegan too.

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.

Applesauce, 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. It is also often used as a natural sweetener in baked goods or even as a binder in many vegan recipes.

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 (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 5-minute homemade almond milk (we literally make this once a week), and homemade almond meal (to replace almond flour in recipes).

Which Type of Apples Should I Use for Making Applesauce?

When making a homemade applesauce recipe, the type of apple you use really depends on how sweet or tart you prefer your applesauce. However, you can basically use any type of apples 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 orchard.

In this case, because I prefer my applesauce to be slightly tart, we’ll be going with green Granny Smith apples.

How to Make Homemade Applesauce

The ingredients you need are simple and few – apples, sugar, cinnamon, and water. I’m betting you might already have all of these in your kitchen, so let’s get started!

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. Once the apples are peeled, core them and cut them into small cubes.

Place the cubed apples together with the sugar, ground cinnamon, and water into a saucepan, mix well, and bring to a boil, before reducing to medium heat and covering. Let the apples cook for approximately 20 minutes until they are soft and translucent.

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

Consistency of Applesauce: Up to You

FOR CHUNKY APPLESAUCE: If you like your applesauce chunky like this, you can certainly use it as is (especially if serving as a side dish to accompany meats).

FOR 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.

How to Store Homemade Applesauce

Since homemade applesauce doesn’t contain any preservatives, it will definitely not last as long as the storebought commercial version. However, if you store it in a sterilized glass jar, it will keep for 7 to 10 days in the refrigerator.

Can I Freeze Homemade Applesauce?

Yes, of course! If you plan to make a whole lot of applesauce at once, and prefer to freeze it for later use, simple transfer the applesauce to freezer-safe containers or bags, removing as much air as possible, and freeze for up to 3 months.

When you plan to use it, make sure to defrost the applesauce before using it, and the best way to do that is to thaw it overnight in the refrigerator, which will make it last a few more days.

Other Homemade Recipes You’ll Enjoy:

• Homemade Pumpkin Puree (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Homemade Almond Milk (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Homemade Cashew Milk (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Homemade Gluten-Free Bread (Dairy-Free)
• Homemade Gluten-Free Pizza Crust (No-Rise, Dairy-Free)
• 5-Minute Homemade Sriracha Chili Sauce (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Homemade Almond Meal
• 5-Minute Homemade Cashew Flour
• Homemade Raisin and Seed Chocolate (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Easy Homemade Yogurt

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