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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.

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
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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

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closeup of a bowl of homemade applesauce

24 Comments

  1. We like our applesauce thick and chunky.
    I made my first batch yesterday (just 4 pints) but I am not sure the jars sealed properly and there. I put them in the refrigerator for safe keeping. There appears to be air spaces here and there. How do I make sure all the air bubbles are out once in the jar ?
    Thank you for any advice you offer!

  2. 5 stars
    Making applesauce in a crockpot is so easy
    and delicious. When cool, I put a cup or so in
    a quart freezer bag, flatten and let the air
    out before closing. I freeze it and enjoy it
    all year!

    1. Kassie, There are no exact times in this recipe because there are so many variations from the type of apples you are using to the size of the apple pieces. Larger chunks will take longer to soften, as will some firmer varieties of apples. Plan on about four hours in the crockpot. Cook on high for two hours, add cinnamon and stir in well, and cook for two hours more on low.

      1. 5 stars
        Thanks! I didn’t get this until after I made it, but I was just wanting to make sure it didn’t scorch or dry out if I left it to cook and went out. Made it for an event yesterday and it was a HUGE HIT! One comment was: “It tastes like FALL!” Thanks for the recipe. Definitely a repeater! 🙂 ANd healthy TOO!

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