Learn how to make homemade applesauce. This recipe is made without any added sugar and can be frozen for the future.
More Yummy Apple Recipes:
Dutch Apple Pie, Homemade Apple Dumplings
It's the final Tuesdays in The Garden for the year, and today we are talking about preserving. I remember my mother making homemade applesauce from an old apple tree that grew in the back of our property. That's what I'm making today.
Don't forget to check out the other great preserving ideas at the bottom of this post.
I don't have any apples growing on my property but we do have a fabulous farmer's market nearby that carries tons of great farm fresh produce. One of them is Dawson's Orchards. Recently we picked up a delicious box of stone-free peaches and this box of apples.
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Yes, it takes a while to peel and chop the apples, but then you can easily make the applesauce by cooking it on the stove. Sort of like mashed potatoes but with much less water.
I was able to fill 12 pint mason jars
Freezing Homemade Applesauce?
Yes, you can freeze the applesauce in mason jars or freezer bags. Just remember to leave space at the top for expansion.
According to the National Center for Home Food Preparation, you can freeze applesauce for 8 - 10 months.
So why does my label say 3 months? Well, I know that in my house anything frozen for a long time is less likely to ever get eaten.
If you would like to use these cute apple labels for the top of the jars just click on the image for a pdf page of labels.
This homemade applesauce is a good source of vitamin C and provides a decent amount of fiber for your diet.
Also, did you know that you can substitute applesauce for oil in when baking things like brownies?
Just another good reason to make a big batch of your own, no sugar added applesauce this season.
Homemade Applesauce with No Added Sugar
Ingredients
- 24 apples peeled and chopped
- 1 cup water
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Instructions
- Place apples and water in a large heavy bottom pot.
- Cook on medium heat covered for about 10 minutes.
- Remove lid and stir.
- Continue cooking for another 10 minutes or until the apples are soft.
- Remove from heat let cool.
- Stir in cinnamon.
- Fill pint jars leaving 1/2 inch open at the top for expansion if you are going to freeze them.
- Makes about 1 dozen pint jars.
- Keep refrigerated an eat within one week. Otherwise, freeze for up to 3 months.
Now let's see what my fellow Tuesdays in the Garden friends are sharing this week.
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Pear Freezer Jam Tutorial @ Frugal Family Home
Homemade Marinara Sauce @ Homemade Food Junkie
Michelle Marine
Homemade applesauce is the best and your labels are so cute, Patti! Thanks for sharing. I have a loaded apple tree - just waiting for a light frost and then I'll be making applesauce too. 🙂
Diane Williams
This recipe is going on my stove soon! Our trees are LOADED with ripening apples.
It's a great idea to use applesauce in recipes. I need to do this more often. What a great natural sweetener!
Thanks for the great recipe and useful tips.
Jami
Oh I love applesauce, though we don't eat it as much now with the kids grown. 🙂
And your labels are so cute!
Judy Ewing
BEEN MAKING APPLESAUCE FOR YEARS. I can some and freeze it in plastic peanut butter jars. I use a Foley food mill for the fine mesh applesauce that I put in recipes that call for a lot of oil, and I like the chunck style to eat with meats and dessert. You can add other fruits to it too, like strawberries and blueberries , the kids like to guess what other fruit I put into it. I need to make more every year. When you want to use some sugar, try brown sugar, it gives it a different flavor. Sometimes I use apple pie spice too.
Patti Estep
Thanks for the input Judy. I particularly love the idea of adding other fruit. So simple but such a great idea. Thanks for sharing.
Shelly
Oh yum! We love homemade applesauce. I usually can my applesauce but I should try freezing a few jars this year too.
I make applesauce each year because we eat so much of it. Seeing yours make me think I need to get ours made for this year too.
I love this chunky version of applesauce, I rarely make it chunky since my kids don't eat it good. But I'm going to make a few jars for my hubby and myself chunky this year.
Carole West
Such a beautiful presentation and love how simple you made this. I use to make applesauce with my grandmother and still have her cone shaped applesauce strainer. This makes it so you don't have to peel the apples. It was always fun and when the kids were younger I trained them how to do it also. Love those labels! Applesauce and toast, we use to call it breakfast at our house.
Patti Estep
Applesauce and toast for breakfast! I love it. And thanks for the tip about the strainer. That would be a huge help.