With only 3 simple ingredients, minimal prep work, and no added sugars, this applesauce recipe will be your new fall favorite!
What You’ll Need
All you really need for this recipe is a slow cooker, paring knife, apples, cinnamon, and water. A vegetable peeler and apple slicer can also be used to remove the skin and slice the apples, but I personally prefer to use the paring knife for each of these tasks. Experiment with all 3 kitchen tools to see what works best for you!
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
- Paring Knife
- Optional: vegetable peeler and/or apple slicer
Ingredients
- Apples
- Ground cinnamon
- Water
What Type of Apples to Use
Any type of apple can be used to make applesauce, but since we’re not adding any sugar to the recipe, you may want to use apples that are naturally sweeter such as Fuji, Honey Crisp, Gala, or Golden Delicious.
If you prefer tart applesauce, McIntosh and Granny Smith are good options. These apples also contain less natural sugar than the sweet varieties, which means they’re lower in carbohydrates as well.
I used apples from a tree in our yard that were semi-sweet (more on the tart side), and my applesauce turned out great!
How to Make
- Peel, core, and cut the apples.
- Add the apples, cinnamon, and water to your slow cooker.
- Cook on high for 3 hours and enjoy!
How to Store
One perk of making a crock pot full of applesauce is that you’ll have extra to use for later!
Once the applesauce has cooled, transfer into glass jars, storage containers, or freezer bags and store in the refrigerator for up to 7 days, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
I love to freeze homemade applesauce in 1-cup portions and enjoy it all winter long.
Serving Suggestions
Applesauce can be enjoyed on its own as a healthy snack, or warmed up with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert.
You can also use applesauce as a substitute for oil and butter in baking recipes. This reduces the total fat and calorie content, while adding fiber and natural sweetness.
Slow Cooker Applesauce Recipe (Unsweetened)
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 20 Apples About 9 cups cut
- 1 Tbsp. Ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup Water
Instructions
- Using a paring knife or vegetable peeler, peel the apples.
- Cut the apples into quarters, then remove the cores using a paring knife. Or, use an apple slicer to cut and core your apples. Cut the apples into chunks.
- Add the cut apples, ground cinnamon, and water to the slow cooker. Cook on high for 3 hours, or on low for 5-6. If desired, use a food processor, whisk, or immersion blender for a smoother, less chunky applesauce.
- Allow applesauce to cool before transferring into storage containers or jars. Enjoy!