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My Easy Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce (that you’ll regret not making)!!

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In this article you will learn how to make easy homemade cinnamon applesauce that is ridiculously hard to resist! Perfect for fall, Thanksgiving, or anytime of the year!

Originally Published: October 5th, 2018

Chunky homemade cinnamon applesauce in a glass bowl with a small wood spoon slightly lifting some out, with the teal pot it was made in behind it.

Need an easy homemade applesauce recipe to impress your relatives this year at Thanksgiving?

Or, just craving the nurturing flavor of right off the stove apple sauce?

I don’t want to brag or anything, but my apple sauce is pretty good, and really simple. It calls for only 3 ingredients plus water. If you’re ready to learn my secrets then go ahead and continue reading!

I started making my own apple sauce after my first daughter was born, or maybe a year or so after. So, I’ve been using this recipe for about 4 or 5 9 or 10 years. Sure, it may not be as good as my aunts recipe (who has been making home made applesauce for every Thanksgiving since I can remember). But, it’s still pretty good!!

I honestly have to limit how much of this apple sauce my girls, and myself, have at one time to make it last past the day I make it.

It’s that good!!

How to Make Applesauce

IT ALL STARTS WITH Simple INGREDIENTS and EQUIPMENT!

applesauce ingredients

4 Simple Ingredients

Apples: Use any kind of apple you prefer for this recipe! I love using fuji, gala, pink lady, honey crisp, and more! If you’re wanting it more tart – go for green apples. As a last resort, I’d suggest red delicious or mcintosh apples- but if that’s all you have, it’s better than nothing!

Brown Sugar: You can use light or dark brown sugar. Coconut sugar, white granulated sugar, and cane sugar also work. I have not tested this recipe with maple syrup yet, but if you’re looking for a more natural sweetener, you could give it a try.

Cinnamon: This is the second star of the show for this recipe! You’ll find that this recipe only calls for a ½ teaspoon of cinnamon, this is only a suggestion, just in case you’re not a huge fan of cinnamon. I usually don’t measure the amount of cinnamon I add. Honestly, I just shake the spice jar over the applesauce until the cinnamon stops coming out of it easily! Use as much or as little as you want.

If you want to add other spices to this cinnamon, go for it! Nutmeg, cloves, and allspice (maybe even pumpkin pie spice) would all go nicely with it!

Water: This is simply to cook the apples in and to help them soften. Just make sure you’re using clean water.

Yep, that’s really it!

6 VERY Low Tech Pieces of ‘Equipment’

  • a teaspoon
  • a measuring cup
  • a pot with a lid to cook in
  • a peeler (optional)
  • a knife
  • a whisk

Yep, that’s all you need to make your future favorite recipe!

The Simple Steps to Make Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce

how to make applesauce

*Note that these instructions can be printed below

Step one: Once you have your ingredients, go ahead and peel and chop the apples.

If you don’t want to peel the apples; you don’t have to, but it may not be as smooth and delicious!

And, as you can see with the picture above, I simply break off small chunks of apples with a knife rather than truly chop it up evenly.

It makes cleaning up easier; no cutting board to wash.

Once you have the apples in the pot, add just enough water to be able to see it through the apples. I also like to add some of the cinnamon in at this point.

Step two: Cover the pot of apples with a lid and let boil until the apples are soft.

This can take up to an hour or more if you have it set to medium heat, which is what I do.

You could also add in more of the cinnamon at this time, or wait til the end. I usually add half in when the apples are boiling and the other half right before I add the brown sugar.

Step three: Remove any excess water when needed.

By this, I mean that once in awhile, maybe every 10 to 15 minutes, check the water to see if there’s too much. If you’re able to press your measuring cup into the apples and water fills the cup at all; remove that water from the pot. This will prevent runny applesauce. We want this to be nice and chunky.

This is one of the secrets I have for making delicious applesauce.

The other secret I have is to whisk the apples into applesauce with a whisk.

Step four: When the apples are soft, whisk them to see if it’ll turn into applesauce. If the apple pieces don’t separate well enough yet, keep boiling and try whisking every 5 to 10 minutes until you can get a good consistency.

It is not going to be completely smooth and that’s alright!

If you want your applesauce to be completely smooth, wait til all of the ingredients are added and the sauce is cool, then blend in a blender or food processor. I don’t personally do this, though.

Step five: Once the consistency is good; stir in the brown sugar, and the rest of the cinnamon. Let cool, and Enjoy!!

chunky homemade applesauce

Why we love this homemade applesauce recipe

This is the perfect warming healthy snack recipe for the winter ahead of us. Or, anytime of the year!

When you have it once, and have it with kids, they’ll start asking it for you all through out the year; yes, even summer!

It’s also the perfect side dish to bring to a family gathering. You may need to double or triple the recipe, though!!

It’s also: 

  • Full of flavor
  • Chunky (as it should be – just like the kind my aunt made for every Thanksgiving when I was a kid)
  • Healthy 
  • Easy
  • Creates a Fall aroma and makes your house smell amazing!

How to Serve Cinnamon Applesauce

Serve it warm!

This applesauce is great on its own as a snack (or dessert), or turn it into a warm side dish with any meal!

This recipe would go well with:

How to Store

Fridge: Store in an airtight container, such as a mason jar, in the fridge for up to 5-7 days.

Freezer: I do not know how long this applesauce will stay good in the freezer, my kids usually devour this within the week no matter how I save it! But, be sure you save it in a freezer safe container if placing it in the freezer.

FAQ’s

How long does homemade applesauce last?

5-7 days in the fridge, longer in the freezer. Do not store on the counter.

Can you use any apples for applesauce?

Absolutely! I recommend gala, fuji, and honey crisp, but others also work just as well. Just know that any green apples will make apple sauce that is a bit more sour.

Do you need lemon juice for applesauce?

You do not! You can certainly add it if you’d like, as lemon juice helps apples from going bad. But cooking the apples and adding sugar, and then keeping it in the fridge is plenty for keeping this applesauce good.

Is homemade cinnamon applesauce healthy?

Yes, well, it depends on the amount of sugar you use; the more sugar used, the less healthy it will be.
But, apples in general are quite healthy; they’re a fruit found in nature. They help with constipation, provide tons of fiber, and have antioxidants. And haven’t you heard; an apple a day keeps the doctor away!

Do you have to refrigerate homemade applesauce?

Yes, unless you know better and how to can it without refrigerating it, please refrigerate your homemade applesauce!

What makes the best applesauce?

Chunks of apples still in the sauce makes for the best applesauce, just like what you’ll find in this recipe!

Chunky homemade cinnamon applesauce in a glass bowl with a small wood spoon in the bowl, with the teal pot it was made in behind it.

See, wasn’t that simple! Make a double or triple batch to bring to a large family event; you’ll need at least that much or they’ll be begging you to make more!

More Apple Recipes You’ll Love:

Simple homemade applesauce in a small glass bowl with a teal pot and another bowl of applesauce behind it.

My Easy Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce (that you’ll regret not making)!!

Shawna Clapper
Delicious and Easy Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce that's chunky and that you and your kids will love! It will become a fall (or anytime) favorite!
5 from 4 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Appetizer, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 4 cups
Calories 342 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 10 Apples  
  • ½  tsp cinnamon
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • water enough to peek through the apples in the pot

Instructions
 

  • Add the chopped apples, water, and cinnamon to a pot and cook on medium heat, stir occasionally.
  • Cook the apples til soft and can be broken apart easily with a whisk.
  • Drain any excess water if there is any.
  •  Whisk the apples til desired consistency and then stir in sugar and rest of the cinnamon.
  •  Cool before enjoying!

Notes

*Store in fridge for 5-7 days.
*Feel free to add more or less cinnamon and sugar, as you desire.
-Nutmeg would be another good spice to add.

Nutrition

Calories: 342kcalCarbohydrates: 90gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.03gSodium: 12mgPotassium: 525mgFiber: 11gSugar: 74gVitamin A: 246IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 53mgIron: 1mg
Keyword apples, cinnamon, easy homemade applesauce, fall, homemade chunky applesauce, sugar
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6 Comments

  1. I have used your recipe and very pleased with the outcome. I’ve put up well over 2 bushels (150+ apples). The last ones I used were wine-sap apples and they do require a little more sugar than sweet apples. I also used the peeling and core fr9m the wine-sap to make jelly.

    1. I just use whichever apples I have on hand, usually fuji, gala, honey crisp. I would not recommend any green apples, they tend to be a bit too sour for this recipe.

  2. 5 stars
    I’ve made this before it is amazing!It tasted like apple pie filling.We used it as an ice cream topping it was great everyone raved about it.

    1. I’m so glad you love this recipe!! I have not tried freezing this applesauce in canning jars, so to be honest I’m not sure how it would turn out after being frozen.

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