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Unsweetened Applesauce

With just a few minutes of prep, you’ll have delicious Unsweetened Applesauce simmering on the stove made with fresh apples cinnamon, and no added sugar. Not only does Unsweetened Applesauce taste amazing, but it will make your house smell wonderful!

unsweetened applesauce in a clear jar with the lid open. Jar has metal latch. Bowl of applesauce to the top right.

WHY THIS UNSWEETENED APPLESAUCE RECIPE IS SO GOOD

  • It’s actually unsweetened, without any sugar or sugar-free sweeteners. We’ll rely on the sweetness of the apples to make our homemade applesauce completely delicious, and I’ll share my favorite sweet apple varieties with you too.
  • Minimal ingredients mean that it’s simple to prep this dish. Simply peel and chop the apples and toss them in a pot with some fresh lemon juice and cinnamon.
  • Made on the stovetop, so you don’t need to pull out your crockpot or any other countertop appliance. This recipe is meant to be easy!
  • Unsweetened Applesauce is versatile, and can be enjoyed in so many ways. Try it as a healthy snack, add it to yogurt or oatmeal, or serve it on the side with any of your favorite main dishes.

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR MAKING UNSWEETENED APPLESAUCE

  • Use Sweet Apples. Actually, use a combination of both sweet and tart apples. Avoid apples that don’t have much flavor. I always add some granny smith apples to my sauce because I love their bright, tart flavor, but the rest of the apples I use to make unsweetened applesauce are sweet on their own.
  • Leave the Peels if you want. If you blend the applesauce with a blender, the peels will blend in too. Peeling apples for applesauce is optional!
  • Keep an eye on the pot. It will take about 30 minutes for the apples to cook down on the stove. Stir them every so often so that the apples on the bottom don’t stick or start to burn.
  • To store: Put your applesauce in a jar or other airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to a week – it might stay fresh even longer than that too. You can freeze homemade applesauce for up to 2 months as well.
cooked puree of unsweetened applesauce in a glass container, an up close shot

MORE TASTY FALL INSPIRED RECIPES

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Unsweetened Applesauce

cooked puree of unsweetened applesauce in a glass container, an up close shot with spoon
With just a few minutes of prep, you'll have delicious Unsweetened Applesauce simmering on the stove made with fresh apples cinnamon, and no added sugar. Not only does Unsweetened Applesauce taste amazing, but it will make your house smell wonderful!
Cindy
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Serving Size 6 servings – about 5 cups total

Ingredients

  • 4 pounds apples a combination of granny smith honeycrisp, and gala. Or use other apples that you prefer.
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Peel, core and slice apples into 1-inch chunks.
    diced apples on a white and gray cutting board a bowl of apples to top right and green and white town to the left
  • Place the apples in a large saucepan with the water, lemon juice and ground cinnamon. Stir to combine.
    diced cooked apples in a white pot with a mint green spoon. Also a white and green towel to the left
  • Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the temperature to low.
    cooked brown apples in a white pot with green and white towel to the left
  • Let simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are very tender and start to break down.
    cooked brown apples in a white pot with green and white towel to the left
  • Mash with a potato masher or puree the applesauce with an immersion blender or food processor. Serve warm or chilled.
    a white pot full of brown puree unsweetened applesauce

Notes

  • You can use whatever varieties of apples that you like, but since we aren't adding any sugar to this sauce, you'll want to use some that are on the sweeter side. I prefer to use a combination of granny smith, gala, and honey crisp apples. This way I get sweet and tart notes in the finished sauce. 
  • Mashing the apples by hand will give you a chunky applesauce. For a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender or food processor. 
  • If you would prefer not to peel the apples, you can cook them with the skins on. Blend the applesauce in a blender or food processor rather than mashing so that the skins are cut into smaller pieces. 
  • Stir the applesauce occasionally as it cooks so that the apples don't stick to the bottom of the pan and burn. 
  • Store your unsweetened applesauce in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 1 week. 
  • You can also freeze the applesauce in small freezer bags for up to two months. 
cooked puree of unsweetened applesauce in a glass container, an up close shot with text overlay unsweetened applesauce delicious recipe

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