Easy Stovetop Homemade Applesauce Recipe
Make this easy stovetop homemade applesauce with just a few simple ingredients. It is naturally sweet, perfect for a healthy snack, side dish, or for use in baking.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Total Time: 35 min
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 lbs apples (such as Gala, Fuji, or Honeycrisp)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
Instructions
- Wash the apples well. You can peel them if you prefer, but leaving the skins on adds fiber and color. Core the apples and cut them into 1-inch chunks.
- Place the apple chunks and water into a large pot or Dutch oven.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Once simmering, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- The apples are done when they are very tender and easily mash with a fork.
- Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice, if using.
- Mash the apples to your desired consistency. For smooth applesauce, use an immersion blender or transfer in batches to a regular blender. For chunky applesauce, use a potato masher.
- Serve the homemade applesauce warm, or chill it completely for a refreshing snack.
Notes
- For a naturally sweeter applesauce, choose naturally sweet apples like Fuji or Gala. You usually do not need added sugar.
- If you want a very smooth texture, you can skip peeling the apples; the skins will break down during cooking and blend away.
- This recipe makes a wonderful, cozy fall apple recipe that pairs well with pork chops or as a simple dessert.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3/4 cup
- Calories: 145
- Sugar: 23g
- Sodium: 3mg
- Fat: 0.3g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 0.5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg