Delicious & Easy Crockpot Cinnamon Applesauce (No Added Sugar!)
Discover the joy of homemade goodness with our **Crockpot Cinnamon Applesauce recipe**. This incredibly simple yet profoundly flavorful sauce is made quickly and effortlessly in your slow cooker, requiring no added sugar and just a handful of wholesome ingredients. Picture this: sweet, cinnamon-spiced applesauce, simmering gently until perfectly tender, filling your home with an irresistible aroma. All you need are your favorite apples, a fresh lemon, and a few cinnamon sticks, and in just a few hours, you’ll be savoring warm, comforting homemade applesauce. Whether you prefer a rustic, chunky texture or a velvety smooth puree, this recipe is guaranteed to become a family favorite.
I’ve been perfecting this slow cooker applesauce recipe for many years, and it truly stands out. Homemade applesauce offers numerous advantages over its store-bought counterparts. For starters, it contains significantly less sugar (or none at all, relying purely on the fruit’s natural sweetness), boasts fresher, more vibrant flavors, and allows you the freedom to customize it with your preferred apple varieties. Craving a delightfully tart applesauce? Granny Smiths are your best bet. If a classic sweet profile is what you desire, Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, or Golden Delicious apples will yield perfect results. This recipe is my absolute go-to whenever I find myself with an abundance of fresh apples.
The Magic of Making Slow Cooker Cinnamon Applesauce
Making **crockpot cinnamon applesauce** harnesses the incredible convenience of slow cooking. This method allows the natural sugars within the apples to slowly caramelize, intensifying their sweetness and depth of flavor. The key benefit? Slow cooker applesauce actually tastes like pure apples, without being overly sweet or artificial. You’ll find the preparation minimal, and the best part is, no extra sugar is necessary! You also have complete control over the intensity of the cinnamon flavor, allowing you to dial it up or down to suit your taste. This hands-off approach makes it an ideal recipe for busy days or for simply enjoying a stress-free cooking experience.
Choosing the Best Apples for Your Easy Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce
Crafting delicious, sugar-free crockpot applesauce hinges entirely on the quality and type of apples you select. Since we’re not adding any extra sweeteners, the natural sweetness of the fruit is paramount. You have a spectrum of choices, from tart varieties like Granny Smith, which offer a zesty kick, to inherently sweet apples such as Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, or Golden Delicious, which provide a mellow, sugary flavor. A fantastic approach is to use a blend of both tart and sweet apples. This combination creates a beautifully balanced flavor profile, adding complexity and depth to your applesauce. Always look for apples that are firm and fresh, avoiding any that feel overly soft or bruised, as these can affect the final texture and taste. Personally, I almost always opt for a mixture of both tart and sweet apples to achieve that perfect equilibrium.
To Peel or Not to Peel: A Question of Preference for Applesauce
A common question when making homemade applesauce is whether peeling the apples is truly necessary. In truth, peeling apples for applesauce is entirely optional. While I personally prefer to peel them first for a smoother texture, leaving the skins on doesn’t negatively impact the flavor or the nutritional value. Many people choose to keep the skins on to save time and retain extra fiber and nutrients. It really comes down to a matter of personal preference regarding texture.
If you decide to leave the skins on, keep in mind that some apple varieties, like Red Delicious and Granny Smith, have thicker skins compared to others. These thicker skins will require a bit more cooking time to soften sufficiently and integrate smoothly into the sauce. Regardless of whether you peel them or not, it is absolutely crucial to core the apples for your **crockpot applesauce**. You definitely want to avoid any unpleasant surprises like seeds or the woody stem end in your delicious, homemade sauce!
Essential Ingredients for Wholesome Crockpot Cinnamon Applesauce
You’ll be delighted by how few ingredients are needed to create this incredible homemade slow cooker applesauce. It’s wonderfully simple to make and requires an easy trip to the grocery store. Just ensure your apples are fresh, nice, and ripe, but not overly soft, for the best results.
- Apples: The star of our show! Your choice of apples will directly influence the final flavor profile of your sauce. Remember, tart apples will result in a zippier sauce, while sweet varieties will yield a milder, naturally sugary product. A mix often creates the most balanced and complex flavor.
- Cinnamon Sticks: These aromatic sticks are crucial for infusing a deep, warm cinnamon flavor without overwhelming the delicate apple taste. While ground cinnamon can be used, sticks provide a more subtle and authentic spice. You can typically find them in the spice aisle of any local market.
- Lemon Peel & Juice: Think of the lemon peel and juice as nature’s “fruit fresh” for your applesauce! The acidity of the lemon not only prevents the apples from browning during the cooking process, maintaining their lovely color, but it also brightens the overall flavor. Don’t worry, it won’t make your sauce too tart; it simply enhances the natural apple goodness.
How to Make Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce in a Crockpot: A Simple Guide
Making homemade crockpot applesauce requires only a minimal amount of prep work, making it perfect for even the busiest schedules. If you choose to leave the skins on your apples, your prep time will be even shorter, essentially as fast as you can core and slice your apples.
Begin by preparing your apples. Peel, core, and slice them into roughly 1-inch pieces. The size doesn’t need to be exact, as they will break down significantly during cooking. Once prepped, add your sliced apples, lemon peels, lemon juice, and cinnamon sticks directly into your slow cooker. This is where you can truly customize the cinnamon intensity; feel free to adjust the number of sticks according to your personal preference.
Over the years, I’ve experimented with the amount of cinnamon. Initially, I used four sticks, which I found to be a bit too overpowering, masking the natural apple flavor. These days, I typically find that two cinnamon sticks provide the perfect accent – enough to taste the warm spice without it dominating the apples. Ultimately, the “right” amount of cinnamon in your applesauce is entirely a matter of personal taste. Don’t be afraid to experiment!
Once all your ingredients are in the crockpot, let your slow cooker work its magic. Set it to low and allow the apples to cook for approximately 5-6 hours. During this time, the apples will soften beautifully, breaking down into a saucy consistency. Make sure to give it a stir occasionally, and most importantly, taste it as it cooks. This allows you to monitor both the texture and the flavor. Once the apples reach your desired consistency and the flavor is just right, turn off the heat.
Can You Overcook Applesauce in a Slow Cooker?
One of the great advantages of using a slow cooker or Crock-Pot for applesauce is that you are highly unlikely to risk burning the apples. The low, consistent heat ensures a gentle cooking process. However, you can certainly lose some of that vibrant, fresh apple flavor if they overcook significantly. This is precisely where most store-bought applesauce falls short – it’s often cooked “to death,” resulting in a bland, one-dimensional product.
With **crockpot apple sauce**, the key is to perform a couple of taste tests along the way, especially towards the end of the cooking time. This allows you to achieve that perfect balance of texture and maximum flavor, ensuring your homemade applesauce is nothing short of delicious. You’ll notice the apples will naturally turn a beautiful brown as they caramelize, a wonderful sign that the flavors are deepening and developing beautifully!
Once your apples are wonderfully soft and tender, you have the option to achieve your preferred consistency. For a smooth applesauce, an immersion stick blender is incredibly convenient, allowing you to blend directly in the crockpot. Alternatively, you can transfer the apples to a regular blender or food processor. You might prefer a slightly chunky applesauce, leaving some texture from the cooked apple pieces, or a perfectly velvety smooth puree. Either way, the flavor will be fantastic!
Always remember to taste your homemade apple sauce one last time after blending to check for doneness and adjust anything if necessary. This final check ensures that both the texture and the taste are absolutely perfect before serving.
Note: If you are making homemade applesauce for baby food, ensure it is blended until it’s exceptionally smooth and, for safety, it’s best to omit the cinnamon.
This image showcases the delightful, rustic texture of the applesauce after simply stirring it with a spoon, perfect for those who enjoy a bit of chunkiness.
And here’s how velvety smooth my sauce became after being pureed using my emulsion blender. The versatility allows you to cater to everyone’s preference!
How Long Does Homemade Applesauce Keep?
Proper storage is key to enjoying your homemade applesauce for longer. Once cooled, transfer your applesauce to airtight jars with lids and store it in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh and delicious for up to ten days. For longer preservation, this sauce freezes beautifully! Simply transfer cooled applesauce into freezer-safe bags or containers, leaving a little headspace for expansion, and freeze. For optimal flavor and texture, consume your frozen applesauce within 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight or gently reheat it on the stovetop when you’re ready to enjoy.
Love It? Pin It for Later!
Don’t want to forget this super easy and incredibly tasty cinnamon applesauce recipe for your slow cooker? Make sure to pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go, so you can easily find it whenever a craving strikes!
Delightful Recipes That Use Applesauce
While this crockpot cinnamon applesauce is utterly delicious enjoyed simply with a spoon, its versatility extends far beyond that! It’s a fantastic ingredient that adds moisture, natural sweetness, and a lovely apple flavor to a variety of baked goods and dishes. Here are some wonderful recipes where you can put your homemade applesauce to good use:
- Applesauce Bread with Chocolate Chips (as pictured above – a comforting, sweet treat!)
- Banana Applesauce Oatmeal Bread (a healthy, hearty breakfast or snack option)
- Applesauce Coffee Cake (perfect for brunch or an afternoon pick-me-up)
- Applesauce Oatmeal Bread (another wholesome bread packed with flavor)
- Double Chocolate Banana Muffins (applesauce can often be a great fat substitute in muffins!)
Got Extra Apples? Don’t Let Them Go to Waste! Try These Amazing Recipes!
If you’ve stocked up on apples and find yourself with more than you need for this delicious applesauce, fear not! There are countless ways to transform those extra apples into other delightful treats. Here are some fantastic recipes that celebrate the humble apple in all its glory:
- Fresh Apple Cake (pictured above – a moist and flavorful dessert featuring chunks of real apple)
- Homemade Caramel Apples (a classic, fun, and indulgent treat reminiscent of your favorite candy store)
- Crockpot Apple Butter (another slow cooker gem, perfect for spreading on toast or pairing with pork)
- Apple Pie Spice (create your own custom spice blend for all your apple baking needs)
- Apple Pecan Bread Pudding (a warm, comforting dessert with rich flavors)
- Slow Cooker Peanut Butter Caramel Apples (an intriguing twist on classic caramel apples)
- Caramel Apple Dip (perfect for sharing, an easy and delicious party appetizer)
- Caramel Apple Tea Cake (a sophisticated and flavorful cake, ideal for any occasion)
So, gather your apples – it’s time to create some truly exceptional homemade applesauce! Enjoy the process and the delightful taste of this simple, wholesome treat.
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Print Recipe
Crock Pot Applesauce
Equipment
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12-Piece Black Sharp Knife Set with Covers, Cutting Board and Sharpener
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Vegetable Peeler
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Cast Magnesium Apple/Potato Peeler Corer by Spiralizer
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Crock-Pot Cook & Carry 6-Quart Oval Portable Manual Slow Cooker
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Stainless Steel Apple Corer
Ingredients
- 10-12 apples peeled, cored and sliced (your preferred variety or a mix)
- 2-3 cinnamon sticks I personally think that two is plenty for a balanced flavor!
- 1/4 of a lemon’s peel (from a fresh lemon)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
Instructions
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Peel, core, and slice 10-12 apples into roughly 1-inch pieces. If your apples are particularly small, you may want to use a few more to ensure a good yield.
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Carefully place the prepared apples, cinnamon sticks, and lemon peel into your slow cooker.
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Drizzle the fresh lemon juice over the apples, ensuring it’s distributed evenly to prevent browning.
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Cover the crock pot and set it to the LOW setting. Cook for approximately 5-6 hours, or until the apples are very soft and easily mashed. Stir occasionally, especially after 3-4 hours, to ensure even cooking.
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Once the apples are tender, carefully remove the cinnamon sticks and lemon peel from the pot.
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Using a hand blender (also known as an immersion blender) directly in the crock pot, or by transferring the apples to a regular blender or food processor, blend the apples to your desired consistency – whether you prefer it chunky or perfectly smooth.
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Taste and adjust if needed. Serve warm for a comforting treat. I personally love it warm, while my kids often prefer it chilled. Enjoy your homemade, naturally sweet cinnamon applesauce!
Notes
Nutrition
