Homemade Crockpot Applesauce

Crockpot applesauce made with only a few ingredients and SO delicious! Once you’ve made this homemade version, you’ll never go back to store bought. So easy and fresh!

Crockpot Cinnamon Applesauce

Fall is just around the corner! Can you believe it? I am utterly in love with all things fall, especially all the delicious apple desserts. You just can’t beat a slice of dutch apple pie or a plate full of apple cobbler.

There are so many great apple varieties for great prices at the supermarket during the fall months. One great way to use those apples is by making homemade applesauce.

Have you ever made applesauce in the slow cooker? It is so easy to do. Stick it all in the crockpot and a few short hours later, the most flavorful, delicious homemade applesauce you could ever imagine. So much better than store bought. It can double as a dessert or snack and is super family-friendly. My kids love it!

Recipe Ingredients

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

• Apples: In my opinion, the best apples to use are golden delicious. They’re sweet, firm and crisp, which makes them perfect for applesauce.
• Sugar: Although the applesauce is naturally sweet, I like to add in a small amount of sugar for an extra boost of sweetness. Feel free to add as much or as little sugar as preferred.
• Water: This is added to help give it the perfect consistency. The juices from the apples will also create some liquid, so you don’t need to add a lot of water.
• Lemon juice: This helps to brighten and balance out the flavors.
• Cinnamon: Mixing in spice is optional, but I love the flavor it adds. Cinnamon is my favorite, but feel free to mix in others like nutmeg, allspice, apple pie spice, pumpkin pie spice, cloves or cardamom.

How to Make Crockpot Applesauce

1. SLICE. Peel and core the apples. Then slice them into fourths and place in the crockpot.
2. MIX. Toss the apples in lemon juice and then add in sugar and cinnamon (if desired), stirring to combine. Pour in the water and then cover with the lid.
3. COOK. Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours, or until apples are very soft.
4. BLEND. Allow to cool slightly and then mash with a potato masher or put in the blender for a smoother texture.

Helpful Tips

• Size of apples. I used 12 medium apples, which weighed about 4 to 5 pounds total. Because the size of each apple can differ so greatly, you may want to weigh your apples to ensure you have enough. You should be able to make about 6 cups of applesauce with this amount.
• Consistency. For a smoother consistency, transfer the apples to a blender (or use an immersion blender in the crockpot). For a chunkier consistency, mash the apples with a potato masher.
• Sweetness. I like to add in a small amount of sugar to give it the perfect sweet taste. Start with about 1/4 cup, then taste and adjust as needed. If you add too much at first, it could be overly sweet for your taste and then you can’t fix it. You could also omit the sugar all together for a sugar-free version.

Storing

This applesauce will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 2 weeks if stored in a sealed container (I prefer mason jars). I like to write the date on the lid so that I know how long it will keep, although my family usually eats it right up in a couple of days!

This apple sauce can also be frozen in a ziptop bag for up to 3 months.

Favorite Ways to Use Applesauce

• Place in small cups and bring out for snack time or pack in lunches.
• Add 1/2 cup applesauce to my favorite apple cinnamon pancakes.
• I love that the applesauce replaces some of the oil in these apple muffins, morning glory muffins and chocolate chip pumpkin bread.
• Make your cookies extra soft with a 1/2 cup like I use in my oatmeal raisin cookies.

More Fresh Apple Recipes

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