Inside: Do you want to make your own healthy apple sauce? Here’s an easy recipe to make slow cooker applesauce with no added sugar.
Featured Review
This recipe is so simple but AMAZING! I made a batch last week and liked it so much I had to make it again.
Have you ever gone apple picking and been so caught up in the fall spirit that you came home with $50 worth of apples that won’t fit in your refrigerator?
That’s when you load up your slow cooker and make your own applesauce!
Believe me when I tell you that once you’ve had homemade applesauce, you may never buy another jar at the grocery store again.
Homemade applesauce tastes like love and apple pie filling in a spoon. And making it in the slow cooker means a warm, sweet aroma fills your house for hours.
Simple Ingredients You Need for Crockpot Applesauce
- Cool apples: Because this crockpot applesauce has no added sugar, choose sweet apples like Fuji, Gala, or McIntosh. I also like to use a tart apple, like Granny Smith.
- Cinnamon: You will only need 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Feel free to use more if you love the flavor.
- Lemon juice: Use juice of 1/2 large lemon or juice of 1 small lemon.
- Vanilla: I prefer pure vanilla extract but use what you have.
- Water
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How to Make Crockpot Applesauce
1. Rinse your apples
Even if they are organic. Even if you are peeling them. If you don’t wash them, dirt and germs from the skin will transfer to the flesh when you cut them.
2. Peel, core and slice the apples.
You can do this by hand and simply cut the apples into quarters. My children loved to use this old peeler. You can leave the skin on if you don’t mind small pieces of skin remaining in the sauce (or you can use an immersion blender to make it smooth).
3. Put everything in the slow cooker
Add the apples, water, cinnamon, lemon juice, and vanilla to the slow cooker insert.
4. Cook on low heat for 3-4 hours.
Check after 3 hours and see if the apples are tender enough to puree. Every slow cooker is different, so your time may vary. If your applesauce seems too thick, add a little water. If it seems too runny, continue cooking.
5. Mash with a potato masher
At the end of the cooking cycle, mash with a potato masher until you get the desired consistency, as chunky or smooth as you like. My personal preference is a chunkier applesauce, but I can also pass it through a food mill or use an immersion blender if you want a very smooth applesauce.
6. Pour into jars or containers and refrigerate.
Place the finished applesauce in an airtight container, such as a glass jar. and keep refrigerated. This recipe makes a half-liter jar of applesauce. I have also tripled this recipe and I canned it.
Questions About Slow Cooker Applesauce
What is the best type of apple to use in crockpot applesauce?
Since this recipe does not require added sugar, it is best to use sweet apples such as Fuji, Gala, and Honeycrisp. You can also add a more tart apple to the mix, like Granny Smith.
Can I leave the apple peels on?
Yes. The peels will soften and melt into the applesauce, but there will still be some pieces of peel left in the applesauce. If you want a completely smooth sauce, use an immersion blender. I found that my applesauce was darker in color when I left the peels on.
How much applesauce does this recipe make?
This recipe makes enough to fill a pint jar, plus a small eating bowl. There are approximately eight servings.
Can I add sugar to this slow cooker applesauce recipe?
Yes. This is unsweetened applesauce because I love letting the sweet flavors of the apples do the work. But if you find that this recipe is not sweet enough for you, feel free to add a little sugar (white or brown) halfway through cooking.
Why does the nutrition information say this recipe contains sugar?
This recipe has no added sugar; It does not add white sugar, brown sugar or any other sweetener. But apples contain natural sugar, so you’ll still see sugar in the nutritional information.
Easy Crockpot Applesauce
Produce:
8 servings
Preparation time:
10 minutes
Time to cook:
4 hours
Total Time:
4 hours 10 minutes
This healthy crockpot applesauce recipe uses no added sugar and is a delicious snack or side dish.
Ingredients
-
4 apples
-
1/2 large lemon, squeezed
-
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
-
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
-
1/4 cup water
Instructions
- Peel, core and slice the apples and load them into the slow cooker.
- Add the lemon juice, cinnamon, vanilla and water.
- Cook on LOW for 3-4 hours.
- Mash with a potato masher until you obtain the desired consistency.
- Pour into jars or containers and refrigerate.
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Nutritional information:
Produce: 8
Portion size: 1 serving
Amount per proportion:
Calories: fiftyTotal fat: 0gSaturated fat: 0gTrans fat: 0gUnsaturated fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 2 gSugar: 10gProtein: 0g
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