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Homemade Applesauce Recipe (Gluten-Free, Vegan)


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5 from 1 review

Description

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, dairy-free and vegan too.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 5 medium apples, peeled, cored, and cubed (see recipe notes for types of apples to use)
  • 1/4 cup sugar (optional, leave out if you prefer unsweetened)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
  • 1 cup water, plus more if necessary

Instructions

  1. Peel, Core, Cut: Peel, core, and cut the apples into small cubes.
  2. Combine Ingredients in Skillet: Combine the cubed apples, sugar, cinnamon, and water in a large skillet. Mix well and bring to a boil, before reducing heat to medium and covering the skillet.
  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. Blend Until Smooth: Transfer the apples to a high-speed blender or food processor and blend until smooth (skip this step if you prefer a chunkier applesauce).

Notes

Types of Apples to Use: You can use any type of apple for this recipe, as it really depends on whether you prefer your applesauce slightly sweeter or a little more tart. Since I like mine to be a little more on the sour and tart side, I usually use green Granny Smith apples. 

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 for extra fall-vibes, but feel free to leave out the cinnamon if you prefer (or if you don’t have cinnamon on hand).

Sugar-Free Applesauce: If you prefer your applesauce to be completely sugar-free and unsweetened, simply leave out the sugar in the recipe.

Plain Applesauce: If you don’t want to use cinnamon, you can leave out the cinnamon stated in the recipe.

Consistency of Sauce: If you like a chunkier consistency, just mashed the cooked apples with a fork or a potato ricer or the back of a slotted spoon. For a creamier consistency, make sure you peel the apples and once the apples are cooked, process them in a high-speed blender or food processor to get an extra-smooth texture.

Freezing Homemade Applesauce: If you plan to make a whole lot of applesauce at once, and prefer to freeze it for later use, let it cool at room temperature before transferring the applesauce to freezer-safe containers or freezer 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.

Adapted from: All Recipes

  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 25 mins
  • Category: Basics
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American