How to Make Applesauce
Learn how to make delicious homemade applesauce! This easy applesauce recipe can be chunky or smooth. It's naturally sweetened with maple syrup or honey.
Updated by Kathryne Taylor on September 5, 2024
Forget everything you’ve ever disliked about store-bought applesauce. This homemade applesauce recipe tastes like the inside of an apple pie!
Applesauce is very easy to make and requires just a few basic ingredients. In its most basic form, you’ll need apples, water and sweetener.
I add cinnamon for some autumnal spice, but you could leave it out and/or add other warming spices like ginger, nutmeg, or clove. Then, add a tiny splash of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice to liven it up. Ta da! Meet the best applesauce you’ve ever had.
I use maple syrup (or honey) instead of plain sugar to naturally sweeten my applesauce. Bonus? With liquid sweetener, you can easily add more to taste at the end, so you won’t risk ending up with too-sweet applesauce.
If you’re a fan of tart applesauce or if you’re using particularly sweet apples, you can leave out the sweetener altogether for no-sugar-added applesauce.
Uses for Homemade Applesauce
Homemade applesauce is a healthy and delicious snack on its own. What else can you do with applesauce?
- Serve it on ice cream like it’s an apple crisp.
- Pile homemade applesauce onto toast with almond or peanut butter.
- Swirl it into your oatmeal.
- Layer applesauce between yogurt and granola for an apple parfait and people go wild. The apple crisp parfaits in my cookbook were a favorite with my recipe testers.
Chunky or Smooth Applesauce, you pick!
I love the texture of chunky homemade applesauce, but you can blend it smooth if you prefer. Since this applesauce is thick, you’ll have better luck with your food processor than an immersion blender.
Bottom line, this applesauce is a fun and easy recipe to make. It’s apple season, so let’s get to it!
Please let me know how it turns out for you in the comments. Your feedback is so important to me.
Extra apples? Check out my apple steel-cut oatmeal, apple muffins, gluten-free apple crisp, and favorite green salad.
Watch How to Make Applesauce
Homemade Applesauce
Learn how to make delicious homemade applesauce! This easy applesauce recipe can be chunky or smooth. It’s also naturally sweetened with maple syrup or honey, to taste. Recipe yields about 4 cups.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds Gala apples (or any other variety of sweet red apple, about 4 medium)
- 1 ½ pounds Granny Smith apples (or Golden Delicious, about 4 medium)
- ⅓ cup water
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey, more to taste
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar or 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Peel, core and chop the apples into 2″ chunks. In a medium Dutch oven or large stainless steel saucepan, combine the apple chunks, water, maple syrup and cinnamon. Cover and bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Continue simmering, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender and falling apart, about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Remove the pot from the heat. For chunky applesauce, use a potato masher or the back of a sturdy spatula or wooden spoon to break it up to your desired consistency. For smooth applesauce, blend it in your food processor.
- Stir in the vinegar. Adjust to taste as necessary—for sweeter applesauce, stir in more maple syrup (I usually add 2 tablespoons); for more spice, add more cinnamon; for more complexity, add another teaspoon of vinegar.
- Serve warm or chilled; let it cool to room temperature before covering leftover applesauce and storing it in the fridge. Leftover applesauce will keep well in the refrigerator for about 1 week, or for months in the freezer.
Notes
Recipe adapted from the applesauce in my cookbook’s apple crisp breakfast parfaits.
Make it vegan: Use maple syrup, not honey.
Make it sugar free: Just omit the maple syrup for unsweetened applesauce.
Canning applesauce: From what I’ve read, applesauce is inherently safe to can in a water bath due to apple’s high acidity and sugar content. That said, this recipe has not been validated for safety. Here’s a canned applesauce recipe and applesauce FAQ’s from my friend Marisa.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
It’s so easy, and so much better, and gives you control over the sugar that I don’t understand why shop bought exists at all. With you all the way on this, so versatile too.
I am happy you think so, Deborah! I like being able to sweeten to each liking. Enjoy!
Kate, I like to cook my apples with skins on and cores in. Then I put them through a chinois to stran out apple skins and cores and seeds. You really get a stronger apple flavor.
Sounds like a great recipe. Have you ever tried a food mill? You don’t have to peel or core the apples, just cut them in quarters. Cook the apples with a small amount of water (only enough water so they don’t burn) until they are mushy. Put them through the mill in small batches. I like to do it after they have cooled a little, but still are warm. Scrape the bottom of the mill periodically with a spatula . Add spices when you are finished. I use cinnamon and nutmeg to taste. I find that apples are so sweet they require no sweetener of any kind.
Thanks, Christine! No, I don’t have a food mill. If I get one someday, I will try that!
I’ve been making my own applesauce this fall. It makes such a perfect addition to my lunch each day!
YESSS! I love this—it’s SO fall!
Thanks, Gaby!
In the last year, I’ve really gone back to “basics” and try to eliminate as many processed foods from our pantry as possible! I just was just looking for a comforting sweet recipe and then you posted this!
I tried this recipe this afternoon only with half pear/half apple because I didn’t have enough. It is so surprising how simple and inexpensive it is to create so many recipes like this!
Thank you so much! x
I never make homemade applesauce enough, but I need to! I always tend to take my apple haul from the year and make pies, but these would be a perfect part of my fall breakfasts :)
I’m very curious about the additional of the vinegar and what that does to the flavor – need to try. I’ve made homemade applesauce before but I’m lazy because I don’t peel the apples! What is nice is that if you use apples with any red in the peel, you get a beautiful pink sauce :)
Hey,
It is very good and tasty recipe, i would like to try it soon
Thank you for sharing
Thank you!
I love a lot of your recipes and ideas. This applesauce is great for when you want the apple pie flavor, but I have a suggestion for you to try. My mother always made applesauce that tasted like the best of the crisp apples fresh from the tree. We mixed varieties for best flavor. Golden delicious, Fuji make a great combo. Any sweet, crisp, tart apple works well. We cook down sliced apples leaving it slightly chunky–adding just enough sugar for flavor and preservation needs. Then just enough lemon juice to keep the color bright. We can it in pints or quarts. My nieces and nephews beg for it all the time!
Thanks for your comment, Suzanne! Homemade applesauce allows for variety that is for sure!
This was delicious – thank you so much! I had a bunch of leftover apples after going apple picking last week, and this was a perfect solution. So easy, and so tasty. I did 2 tsp of cinnamon and 1 tsp of ginger, since I love warming autumnal flavours, and the extra tsp of ACV. Delicious!
Sounds delicious, Sam! I am a fan of those spices myself. Thanks for sharing and for your review!
So tasty and simple… Your recipe is very similar to mine, except that I do not add cider vinegar / lemon juice. Does it allow you to keep it longer?
It definitely amps up the flavor a bit, and might help the recipe keep a little longer. I haven’t done any scientific testing to be sure. :)
Thanks. I will try it next time I make apple sauce
this is perfect timing! i have a bunch of apples picked from my parents’ orchard and i was wondering about making applesauce with them. i love how your recipes are so delicious but inviting & approachable. thanks for sharing!
Apple season it is! The best is when you pick the apples yourself. Enjoy and let me know what you think, Amy :)
Sounds Good! What a Lovely Recipe. I love apple but can’t have any experience to eat applesauce. I think it’s different from other Recipe. I need to try at my kitchen!
Thanks, Rakib for your review!
This recipe is so simple and delicious, I just made this and your favorite granola and I can’t wait for my breakfast tomorrow morning! I like how you can adjust to recipe to your own liking. And it smells divine!
Two great recipes! Thanks for your comment, Ana. I really appreciate the review. Hope your breakfast was fantastic!
I make applesauce every year with crabapples from my tree. It’s delicious. We prefer it silky smooth so I use my blender. Next time I’m going to add Apple cider vinegar- never seen that suggested before so I’m curious to see how it tastes. For a twist I sometimes add fresh ginger which is good too.
Sherry, your applesauce sounds incredible! Do try adding a tiny splash of apple cider vinegar next time; I think you’ll like it!
I won a bag of apples from the farmer’s market last week, so decided to make this applesauce! It turned out a little more watery than I expected, but tastes wonderful. I didn’t peel my apples, and did whir them in the food processor to make it a little smoother. I also added cinnamon to the apples. Made my morning oatmeal very delicious. :)
I am glad it tasted great! The watery could be due to the type of apple used and the extra moisture that can be found in the skin. A great and welcome addition to oatmeal for sure!
I just made this applesauce this morning, a Saturday morning, and it smelled so good I immediately invited friends over and we made pancakes to go with it! I’ve never made homemade applesauce before and now I’m smacking my head wondering why – such a delicious, easy recipe and it tastes like a treat without adding too much sugar (I just drizzled some honey in without measuring, maybe a tablespoon, and it was perfect). I used my immersion blender to blend it up a bit and left some chunks in there, and I loved the texture. I can’t wait for summer when Michigan honeycrisp apples go on sale so I can make a whole batch of those into applesauce – they’re my favorite kind!
Now I just need to learn how to make ice cream (like Michael Pollan says, “eat all the junk food you want as long as you cook it yourself!”) and I’ll be all set for desserts this summer! :)
P.S. In your recipe, you say to “cover and bring the mixture to a simmer,” but then don’t say when to take the lid off. I know to take it off after a while so the liquid will reduce and you’ll get thick applesauce, but other people might not – that might be the culprit behind any watery applesauce questions.
Thanks for sharing, Mary! As for your question, after it has simmered for roughly 15 minutes (see end of step one) you are to remove pot from heat (step 2) and use the method you would like for your desired consistency. Hope this helps!
Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe and i will try to make this at my Home!
Regards
Thank you!
I’ve been looking for a good applesauce recipe – thanks – I am sure my kids will love t his so much!!
I hope they love it too! Let me know what you think, Bec.
Kate I made your applesauce w/honey & cider vinegar & it was SO DELICIOUS I ended up making it again a week later as I had bragged about it so much & gave small jars of it to many neighbors who also loved it as it does taste like apple pie filling. I also cooked the apple slices In my microwave for 10 minutes as I tripled the recipe, but did not triple the cinnamon, maybe 2-1/2 times & also added nutmeg. I prefer chunky, so mashed it. I have made applesauce for many years, but this recipe is by far the ABSOLUTE BEST! So am sticking to it with now & then small additions just for variety.Thank you for sharing this awesome recipe!
You’re welcome, Marge! I’m glad you like it so much. Thanks so much for your review.
Could I double the recipe following the same measurements and cook times?
If you double, of course double all ingredients equally. Since you will have a larger volume, the cook time will likely be longer. Use the base recipe as a guide and then slowly increase from there.
Have not made it yet but was looking for something I could tweet for low points on my Weight Watcher plan. Thank you,
Let me know what you think, Jenny!
This is a great applesauce recipe! I make it to add to my Overnight oats all the time now. I mix it up occasionally by changing the amount of apple cider vinegar and changing the honey out for ginger.
Oh ginger would be interesting. Thanks for sharing, Madison!
Thank you very much for introducing this recipe. I did not add any sweetener including The maypole syrup. But the sauce came out so sweet!
Thank you for sharing!
I have made your applesauce many times now. It is sooo yummy, I will never go back to store bought applesauce. Thank you for your recipe!
You’re welcome! I’m glad you love it, Francesca.
I’m a new fan of your website! So far every recipe I’ve tried is a winner!! I added 1/4c of chia seeds when it was done cooking to make it even more nutritious! My 87yr old Dad loved it!!! Thank you
Hello, my step father is deathly allergic to all citrus, I want to make some canned apple sauce for him and my mother since it is there 50th anniversary. My mom loves my home made applesauce but I always used lemon or lime juice in it. Is it safe to use just plain white vinegar? My understanding is it would be half of the amount of lemon juice I use. I of course can’t ask her as it is a surprise for both of them.
Hi Robert, I haven’t tried it with vinegar. But you could try it. Just be careful how much you use. You could also try apple cider vinegar.
I made this today with apples i picked from the tree it was so delicious …i used a whipped honey infused with cinnamon and gingerand i sure will make it again..thankyou for sharing…
What a great recipe, I just make it and it’s delicious. Thank you
This applesauce was so good! I like store-bought applesauce but it’s very watery compared to homemade. I will definitely be making this again :)
Great, Jennifer! Thanks for your review.
Delicious!!! A pleasure to make on a fall day and then to eat!!! Thanks Kate!
You’re welcome, Marisa!
Delicious! My daughter said it was so much better than store-bought. Will definitely be making this again.
I found this recipe last year and loved it. It’s easy and delicious! I forgot to write it down so I’m really glad I was able to find it again this year. Thank you
Delicious and so easy! Used a mix of late fall NY apples (filled a bag at an orchard last week with whatever was left on the trees!), omitted the added sweetener, added a little bit of ginger, nutmeg and cloves – now trying not to just eat the whole thing right out of the pan! Will try topping it with a crumble topping and baking for dessert tonight.
Thank you for your review, Lindsey!
I made this tonight and of my is it good! I got major points with my husband, especially when I put it on top of banana caramel ice cream!
Hi there I only cut up two red apples(dark red) and right off the bat I can tell you it’s more than a third cup of water needed.i put the maple syrup in and cinnamon sugar. Halfway thru I had to add more water, like a half a cup- (ish), and it took more than 20min. If I would’ve chose to cook any further it would’ve taken yet more water…The apples never did look like they were about to fall apart. I mashed them. Ehh- they were alright ,but nothing special. A little disapointed all n all. Do you think it’s because the dark red apples are not the best choice to use? This was my first attempt at making applesauce, so maybe that explains it right thereha! (so sorry guys..)
Hi Angela, I’m sorry you didn’t have confidence in this recipe. Did you cover it? That will help steam it too so you don’t need as much water. I have made it several times and know the recipe is correct. If your apples are harder, it may impact how long you need to cook.
Hiii! This looks great!
A little question, can I use normal sugar if I don’t have either honey or maple syrup?
When I make applesauce, I make a lot, using a bag and a half. Since my mother is diabetic, I use Stevia for the sweetener. Nobody can tell. Lastly, I just mix with a hand blender, still leaving it on the chunky side. My personal favorite is a slice of Cinnamon Rasin toast topped with this applesauce
I had a small handful of blueberries which I added to the recipe and ended with a deep magenta colored sauce.
Looks like a good recipe. Only 4 stars bc I already make mine from my own Mott’s recipe. Yes, I am a Mott. But I don’t commercially market or sell mine. Of course, like yours, homemade is much more delicious and healthy.
More power to you!
Can I freeze this?
Hi Kyle, I haven’t tried it. But, my assumption it should be fine in the freezer. Let me know what you think!
We are making them right now. :) So it wouldn’t need lemon juice because of the apple cider vinegar, right? I tried looking it up and couldn’t find the answer to this one.
Correct! I hope you love it.
Nevermind! It is simmering on the stovetop as I write this and the smell is out of this world!!!! Wow!!! The 5 yr old made it with me, much to her delight. We know it will taste delicious as the delicious smell is absolutely filling the kitchen. I was concerned about it browning strangely due to not lemon juice or not freezing well but I agree it will be fine. Thank you on another fabulous recipe Kate!
I used all gala apples and honey. And only 1 teaspoon apple
cider vinegar. Amazing!!! Will definitely make this again, and again!
Made this for the second time today. First time a few weeks ago, I sweetened with maple syrup which I should have left out since I was making it for my baby. It was so good and she loved it. This time, I made it unsweetened and it’s even better!! Recipe is simple and product is perfect. Thank you
Omg this was the best applesauce I’ve ever had!!!! What a great way to use all the uneaten apples I get from Panera!
Thanks for sharing! I love the no food waste approach. :)
Hi there! I have been reading your blog for a while and I am finally taking a moment to thank you! I made this apple sauce tonight in prep for the Bircher muesli (in the fridge now) and my husband LOVED it. I left the peels on by accident and it only added to the texture! I used to live on the German/Swiss border and have not had Bircher muesli in over 5 years so when I stumbled across your recipe, I just HAD to make it! I will let you know in the morning how it goes by commenting on the other recipe! Thank you for an exceptionally well done & well researched cooking blog :)
Very easy to make and SOOO much better than store bought. Best apple sauce recipe I have found. Thanks for this
Delicious, easy, and cheaper than store bought! I had all gala apples, maple syrup and apple cider vinegar. It filled 1 quart jar in the end, and I’m much happier to feed this to my toddler than something store bought. Thank you!
Is the vinegar necessary?
Hi! The vinegar helps with the flavor to help liven up recipe. Or, you could use lemon juice instead.
Absolutely delicious! I doubled the recipe, used the maple syrup, and the amount of water the recipe called for, but ended up pouring off about half of the water the blending the cooked apple chunks. I used less cinnamon than the recipe called for, too, because I was making it for my daughter who had just had her tonsils out and was keeping it mild. I also left out the vinegar for the same reason. I blended it smooth. Best applesauce I have ever had!