My kids are applesauce fanatics, so I knew I needed to learn to make my own, but stovetop methods take so much time and effort. This crockpot applesauce is super easy– just set it and forget it! You’ve got 4 hours to do other things while this slow cooker applesauce makes itself! All you have to do is mash it at the end. I love that I can decide how sweet to make it, and my kids surprisingly love the less sweet version.
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Made with just 4 ingredients, this slow cooker applesauce is so easy to throw together. It frees up so much time for me to multi-task, and my kids absolutely love it!
What’s in This Crockpot Applesauce Recipe?
- Apples: Choose an apple variety that works well in cooking recipes. I like Fuji, Granny Smith, or Gala.
- Apple Cider: I prefer cider over juice since it is less processed and has a stronger apple flavor, but juice also works well. Just make sure not to use apple cider vinegar!
- Sugar: Brown sugar adds depth to the sauce while also sweetening it. Feel free to adjust the amount to suit your personal tastes.
- Cinnamon: Using a whole cinnamon stick infuses the sauce with a delicate cinnamon flavor. If you can’t find sticks, use ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon instead.
Tips for Success
- Sweeten with brown sugar to taste. The sweeter your apples are, the less sugar you will need.
- Try mixing together different varieties of apples to subtly change the taste, or experiment with spices such as nutmeg, allspice, ginger, or cardamom.
- You can even add other fruits to create flavor blends like raspberry, mixed berry, strawberry, or pear applesauce.
- Depending on the varieties of apples available, I sometimes feel like this sauce needs a little something extra. If you get that same sensation, try adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. It brightens up the flavor and gives it that extra zip!
- For a smoother applesauce, transfer the mixture to a food processor and process until smooth.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover crockpot applesauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 6 days. I do not recommend freezing applesauce, as it is prone to freezer burn.
Serving Suggestions
My kids ask for this homemade crockpot applesauce with almost every meal, so I always make a big batch on Sunday for the week ahead. It pairs perfectly with ham and cheese sliders, homemade baked chicken nuggets, or fish sticks.
Applesauce also makes a great baking ingredient. It helps to boost the flavor of my favorite apple cinnamon bread and works as an egg replacer in these applesauce chocolate chip cookies.
Crockpot Applesauce Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 pounds apples peeled, cored, and cubed
- ¾ cup apple cider or apple juice (not apple cider vinegar!)
- ¼-½ cup brown sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to your crockpot. Stir, cover and cook on high for 4 hours.4 pounds apples, ¾ cup apple cider, ¼-½ cup brown sugar, 1 cinnamon stick
- Discard the cinnamon stick and use a potato masher to mash the applesauce to your desired consistency.
- Serve warm or refrigerate before serving.
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to Make Applesauce in a Crockpot Step by Step
Cook the Sauce: Add 4 pounds of peeled, cored, and cubed apples, ¾ cup of apple cider, ¼-½ cup of brown sugar, and 1 cinnamon stick to your crockpot. Stir, cover, and cook on high for 4 hours.
Mash the Sauce: Discard the cinnamon stick and use a potato masher to mash the applesauce to your desired consistency. Serve warm or refrigerate before serving.
You can leave the skin on, but it is best to run the sauce through a food mill to remove the skins after cooking, otherwise, the sauce may have an unpleasant texture. Leaving the skin on will add a pink color to the sauce.
Yes! Avoid mealy varieties, like Red Delicious. The resulting sauce will have that mealy and unpleasant texture.
While it’s not technically possible to overcook applesauce to the point where it is inedible, it is possible to overcook it such that the flavor degrades. The longer you cook the apples for, the less tart they will become, so it’s important not to cook them for too long or your sauce may turn out flavorless.
Applesauce turns brown when it’s exposed to oxygen, so make sure to store yours in an airtight container!
