Homemade Applesauce Recipe (No Sugar Added)

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Make this easy homemade applesauce recipe with no added sugar using just apples, water, and lemon juice. Includes stovetop and slow-cooker directions. A great old fashioned recipe for simple, whole food.

There is something so comforting about a pot of homemade applesauce simmering on the stove. It fills the kitchen with the cozy smell of fresh apples, uses simple ingredients, and tastes so much better than the little cups from the store.

This easy homemade applesauce recipe contains no added sugar because ripe apples are naturally sweet all on their own. It is a wonderful way to use apples from the farmers market, an orchard trip, or an especially good grocery-store sale. Serve it warm, chill it for later, pack it in lunches, or freeze a batch to enjoy throughout the year.

Why You’ll Love This No-Sugar-Added Applesauce

• It is made with just apples, water, and lemon juice.
• There is no added sugar or artificial sweetener.
• You can make it smooth, chunky, or somewhere in between.
• It is naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan.
• It is an easy recipe for children to help prepare.
• Homemade applesauce freezes beautifully.

Homemade Applesauce Recipe without Sugar

The Best Apples for Homemade Applesauce

The best applesauce usually comes from a mixture of apple varieties. Combining naturally sweet apples with one or two tart varieties gives the sauce a deeper, more balanced flavor.

Naturally sweet apples such as Gala, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Ambrosia, or Honeycrisp are especially helpful when you do not want to add sugar. For a little tartness, add Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Jonathan, or McIntosh apples.

Do not worry if you only have one kind of apple. The applesauce will still be delicious. Just taste it after cooking and adjust the flavor with a little extra lemon juice if it needs brightness.

Do You Have to Peel Apples for Applesauce?

No, you do not have to peel the apples. Leaving the peels on adds color and fiber and saves preparation time. The peels soften as the apples cook, especially when the finished applesauce is pureed with an immersion blender or regular blender.

For the smoothest, lightest-colored applesauce, peel the apples before cooking. If your family likes rustic or chunky applesauce, you can leave the peels on and mash the cooked fruit with a potato masher.

How to Make Applesauce in a Slow Cooker

Add the prepared apples, lemon juice, and 1/2 cup water to a 6-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours or LOW for 6 to 8 hours, stirring once or twice if possible. When the apples are completely tender, mash or blend the sauce to the texture you like.

Slow cookers hold in moisture, so the applesauce may be thinner than the stovetop version. If needed, remove the lid and cook on HIGH for another 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it reaches your preferred consistency.

Easy Applesauce Flavor Variations

The plain recipe is flavorful enough to enjoy as it is, but you can make each batch a little different.

• Warmly spiced: Add cinnamon, apple pie spice, or a pinch of nutmeg if those ingredients work for your family.
• Vanilla applesauce: Stir in 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract after cooking.
• Berry applesauce: Add 1 to 2 cups of strawberries, blueberries, or blackberries during the last 10 minutes of cooking.
• Pear applesauce: Replace up to half of the apples with ripe pears.
• Extra bright: Add a little finely grated lemon or orange zest.

Spices are completely optional. Leaving them out gives you a versatile applesauce that can be used in both sweet and savory recipes.

Ways to Use Homemade Applesauce

Homemade applesauce is a simple snack or side dish, but there are plenty of other ways to enjoy it.

• Spoon it over oatmeal, yogurt, pancakes, or waffles.
• Pack it in a reusable container for daycare, school, or work lunches.
• Serve it warm alongside pork chops or roasted chicken.
• Swirl it into plain Greek yogurt.
• Use it as a topping for vanilla ice cream.
• Add it to smoothies.
• Use it in muffins, snack cakes, or quick breads.

Unsweetened applesauce can sometimes replace part of the oil in baked goods, although the best amount depends on the individual recipe. For a first attempt, replace no more than half of the oil so the texture does not become gummy or overly dense.

Homemade Apple Recipes

For more ideas on using apples in old fashioned homemade recipes, check this out:

• Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp Recipe
• Slow Cooker Pork Chops with Apples and Onions
• Old Fashioned Apple Cake

Cooking With Kids

Making applesauce with kids is a wonderful fall cooking activity for young children. Children can wash the apples, count them, identify their colors, smell the cut fruit, and place prepared pieces into the pot while it is still cool. Older children can help measure the water and lemon juice or mash the cooled, cooked apples.

Adults should handle the knife, hot stove, hot fruit, and blender. While the apples cook, talk about how heat changes the fruit from firm and crisp to soft and mashable. It is a simple, hands-on way to explore food, seasons, measurement, and the five senses.

How to Store Homemade Applesauce

Let the applesauce cool, then transfer it to clean, airtight containers.

Refrigerator: Store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Freezer: Freeze it for up to 3 months, leaving room at the top of the container for expansion. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and stir before serving.

For convenient portions, freeze applesauce in a silicone muffin pan or ice cube tray. Once solid, transfer the portions to a labeled freezer-safe container.

This recipe has not been tested as a shelf-stable canning recipe. If you want to can applesauce, use a current, laboratory-tested recipe and processing instructions from a trusted food-preservation source.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my homemade applesauce watery?

Some apple varieties release more juice than others. Simmer the finished applesauce uncovered over low heat, stirring often, until the excess liquid evaporates and the sauce thickens.

Why is my applesauce too thick?

Stir in water or apple juice one tablespoon at a time until it reaches the consistency you like.

Can I make applesauce without lemon juice?

Yes. The lemon juice adds brightness and helps slow browning, but it is not necessary when you are making applesauce for the refrigerator or freezer. Leaving it out may produce a slightly sweeter, darker sauce.

Can babies eat homemade applesauce?

Plain, smoothly pureed applesauce made without added sugar can be an age-appropriate food for many babies who are ready for solids. Prepare it to a safe texture and follow the advice of the child’s pediatric healthcare professional, especially if you have questions about readiness or food allergies.

Does no sugar added mean sugar-free?

No. Apples naturally contain sugar. “No sugar added” means that no sugar, honey, syrup, or other sweetener was added to the recipe.

Can I use bruised or imperfect apples?

Yes. Slightly bruised apples are perfect for applesauce. Cut away bruised or damaged areas before cooking, and discard any apples that are moldy or spoiled.

Notes

• A combination of sweet and tart apples gives the applesauce the fullest flavor.
• Peeling the apples is optional. Leave the peels on for more color and fiber, or peel them for the smoothest texture.
• The exact yield and cooking time will vary with the apple varieties and how thick you prefer the finished sauce.
• Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
• This recipe is intended for refrigerator or freezer storage, not shelf-stable canning.