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Grow a Good Life

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in New England Recipes· Recipes

Homemade Crockpot Applesauce

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Making crockpot applesauce is so easy that you really don’t even need a recipe. Simply pile the peeled and cored apples into the crockpot with a few flavorings, and let it slow cook to a delicious homemade applesauce.

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Slow cooking the apples in a crockpot caramelizes their natural sugars in the fruit. If you start with sweet-flavored apples, you won’t need to add any sweetener.

maroon bowl of applesauce on a table

I was happy to find freshly fallen apples after heavy wind and rain rolled through the area the previous evening. We had picked all the apples that we could reach, but there were still a lot on the upper branches. Thanks to the windstorm, these were now scattered beneath the trees. I gleefully gathered all I could to make a batch of applesauce.

Our apple trees are not treated, and as you can see the apples are not perfect. However, once peeled and the bad areas trimmed out they are ideal for making applesauce.

overhead photo of windfall apples in a basket

My time was limited, so I thought I’d let the crockpot to cook the apples for me while I worked on other things. I am glad I gave slow cooker applesauce a shot because after tasting the results I will never make applesauce on the stove again.

How to Make Applesauce in a Slow Cooker

Making applesauce in a crockpot is so easy that you really don’t even need a recipe. Simply pile the peeled and cored apples into the crock with a few flavorings, and let it slow cook to a delicious homemade applesauce.

Choosing Apples for Applesauce

Choose sweet tasting cooking apples for a naturally sweetened applesauce that won’t need any sugar. Sweet apples include Fuji, Golden Delicious, and Honeycrisp. Moderately sweet apples include Braeburn, Jonagold, and McIntosh. You want to use softer apples that will cook down and mash well to create a flavorful sauce.

Also consider adding a tart apple, such as Cortland, Granny Smith, and Jonathan to the applesauce. Each apple variety has a distinct flavor and texture, so using a mix of apple varieties for a well-rounded flavored applesauce. If all you have are tart apples, you can add a bit of sweetener to balance the flavor.

You can find a printable recipe at the bottom of this article, but here are the illustrated steps to making homemade applesauce in a crockpot:

Step 1: Prepare Your Apples

Wash your apples under clean running water. Peel, core, and cut the apples into pieces. Trim out bad areas, insect damage, and bruises.

Place the apples into the slow cooker crock filling to the very top. Add a little water, add the cover, and set to cook on high.

sliced and peeled apples in a blue slow cooker crock

Step 2: Add Flavorings

After the delicious aroma of apples fills the house for a few hours, lift the lid and give the apples a stir. As your spoon hits the apples, they should dissolve into a thick and chunky mash.

If you use sweet flavored apples, you shouldn’t need added sugar. Slow cooking caramelizes the sugars in the fruit, sweetening the applesauce naturally. Taste the applesauce after cooking and add a bit of sugar, brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup to sweeten if desired. Start with a small amount and add more to taste.

Sprinkle the cinnamon on top, stir again, cover, and continue slow cooking on low to let the flavors mingle for several more hours.

partially cooked applesauce in a blue crockpot

Step 3: Mash the Applesauce

Your applesauce is finished once the apples dissolve into a thick and chunky mash when stirred with a spoon. It will smell wonderful. At this point, all you really need to do is mash the applesauce to your desired consistency with a spoon or potato masher. Keep it chunky if you like, or purée the applesauce in a food processor, immersion blender, or food mill for a smoother sauce.

closeup of applesauce in a maroon bowl on a table

Makes about 4 cups. Refrigerate the applesauce and enjoy within a week, freeze for up to 3 months, or can for longer storage.

If you want to can applesauce, double the recipe to 6 pounds of apples, and follow the canning directions here: Homemade Applesauce for Canning. Makes 2 quarts or 4 pints.

maroon bowl of applesauce on a table
Print Pin
5 from 2 votes

Homemade Crockpot Applesauce

Making crockpot applesauce is so easy that you really don't even need a recipe. Simply pile the peeled and cored apples into the crockpot with a few flavorings, and let it slow cook to a delicious homemade applesauce.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword crockpot applesauce
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Servings 8 half cups
Calories 55kcal
Author Grow a Good Life

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds of Apples peeled, cored and sliced
  • 1/2 cup of water
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon or to taste
  • sugar, brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup to sweeten if desired

Instructions

  • Add apples and water to the crockpot, cover, and cook on high until apples are fragrant and soft, about 1 hour.
  • Taste the apples and add sweetener, if desired.
  • Add cinnamon and stir to combine. Cover and turn crockpot to low and continue to cook for several hours.
  • Roughly mash with a potato masher and keep it chunky, or purée the applesauce in a food processor, immersion blender, or food mill for a smoother sauce.
  • Makes about 4 cups. Refrigerate the applesauce and enjoy within a week, freeze for up to 3 months, or water bath can for longer storage.

Nutrition

Calories: 55kcal

You May Also Like

  • Spiced Apple Jelly Recipe (No Added Pectin)
  • Homemade Applesauce for Canning
  • Crabapple Jelly Recipe
  • How to Dehydrate Apples for Food Storage

Good planning is key to a successful vegetable garden

Whether you are new to growing your own food or have been growing a vegetable garden for years, you will benefit from some planning each year. You will find everything you need to organize and plan your vegetable garden in my PDF eBook, Grow a Good Life Guide to Planning Your Vegetable Garden.

Grow a Good Life Guide to Planning Your Vegetable Garden

closeup of a bowl of homemade applesauce

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Comments

  1. Angie Runyan says

    November 6, 2015 at 2:02 pm

    My crock pot has, literally, been sitting on my counter next to a peck of apples, we picked at a pick your own orchard, for about a week. It has been just waiting for me to try this idea. So glad I saw your post because now the crock pot apple sauce idea is happening here, today!

    Reply
  2. FeathersInTheWoods (@la_murano) says

    September 24, 2015 at 1:01 pm

    I need to try this! I just got a new crockpot (mine had 2 settings, off and boil. lol) and this would be a great way to break it n!

    Thanks for linking up with Green Thumb Thursday. I hope to see you back this week.

    Lisa

    Reply
  3. Jennifer A says

    September 22, 2015 at 10:35 pm

    I messed up one year and left the peels on our apples (I read in a recipe to leave the, that we wouldn’t notice). I think I’ll try again using your method, this sound so good the way you describe the smells and texture! And the crock pot would be so easy. Thanks for sharing on the Homestead Blog Hop! I’ll be pinning!

    Reply
    • ©Rachel Arsenault says

      September 24, 2015 at 7:54 am

      Jennifer, Some people like the peels and like a chunkier applesauce. I prefer mine smooth.

      Reply
  4. Deborah Smikle-Davis (@debsmikdav1) says

    September 21, 2015 at 11:18 pm

    So simple and natural. This is truly one of my favorite kinds of desserts! I could eat it every day! In fact, tonight’s dinner was quite similar. Thank you for sharing this healthy and delicious Homemade Crockpot Applesauce recipe with us at the Healthy Happy Green and Natural Party Blog Hop! I’m pinning and sharing. I can’t wait to see what you share with us next!

    Reply
  5. Angela @ Setting My Intention says

    September 17, 2015 at 10:51 pm

    Love this! I might buy a bushel of apples from the local farm by us to make apple sauce and apple butter. My kids loved it when I did one year. Visiting from Let’s Get Real

    Reply
  6. humblelittlehomestead says

    September 16, 2015 at 1:09 pm

    Looks good and so easy! I’m going to have to try that next year. Our apple tree got apple cedar fungus and didn’t produce many apples this year…. miss making apple sauce!

    Reply
  7. Karen says

    September 15, 2015 at 8:58 pm

    Apples don’t grow very well where we live, but pears certainly do and I’ve made pearsauce quite a few times – but never in the crockpot. I imagine the smell is divine, and the effort much easier. Yet another reason to love the crockpot!

    Reply
    • ©Rachel Arsenault says

      September 16, 2015 at 8:02 am

      Karen, Pear sauce would work wonderfully in the crock pot. 🙂

      Reply
  8. Deborah Smikle-Davis says

    September 29, 2014 at 10:45 pm

    It’s apple-pickin’ season and what better way to use up a lot of those apples! Thank you for sharing this lhealthy and delicious crockpot applesauce at the Healthy, Happy, Green and Natural Party Blog Hop. I appreciate it!

    Reply
  9. Sami says

    September 23, 2014 at 9:09 pm

    Yum and from your own apple tree! I love it! I love homemade apple sauce!

    Reply
    • Rachel says

      September 25, 2014 at 6:35 pm

      Sami, it is pretty amazing to gather apples from our property.

      Reply
  10. Joanne from Co. says

    September 21, 2014 at 12:22 pm

    I just got a new crock pot & going to try it. When I make A.S instead of sugar I put raisin in.

    Reply
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