Homemade Applesauce Recipe (No Sugar)
This easy homemade applesauce is made from scratch with fresh apples, cinnamon, lemon juice, and a little water for a naturally sweet and flavorful applesauce with no added sugar. The apples cook down until soft and can be mashed for a rustic, chunky texture or blended until perfectly smooth. Enjoy it warm or chilled as a simple snack, side dish, or naturally sweet treat, with optional maple syrup if you prefer a little extra sweetness.
Equipment
- 1 Immersion Blender optional
Ingredients
- 3 lbs apples peeled, cored and sliced
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1-2 tbsp pure maple syrup optional
Instructions
- Peel and core the apples, then cut them into roughly 1-inch pieces. To make preparation even faster, you can use an apple peeler-corer-slicer. After running the apples through it, cut the apple spirals in half or quarters so they're easier to cook.
- Add the apples, water, lemon juice, cinnamon, and sea salt to a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are very soft.If excess liquid remains, remove the lid and simmer for another 5–10 minutes or until the applesauce reaches your desired thickness.
- For chunky applesauce, mash the apples with a potato masher. For smooth applesauce, puree with an immersion blender or blender. Or you can make chunky applesauce with an immersion blender by simply not blending fully. Taste the applesauce. If additional sweetness is desired, stir in 1–2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup.
- Serve warm or allow to cool before transferring to an airtight container and refrigerating.
Notes
- Use a mix of apples: Combining sweet and tart varieties gives the applesauce a more balanced, flavorful taste.
- Start with less water: Apples release quite a bit of liquid as they cook. Start with ¼ cup and add a splash more only if needed to prevent sticking.
- Don’t drain excess liquid: If the apples are soft but there’s still liquid in the pot, remove the lid and simmer uncovered for a few minutes to let it evaporate.
- Adjust the texture: Mash with a potato masher for chunky, old-fashioned applesauce or use an immersion blender for a smooth consistency.
- Taste before sweetening: Apples become naturally sweeter as they cook, so taste the finished applesauce before adding the optional maple syrup.
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