I like apples. But I LOVE applesauce! Homemade unsweetened applesauce is easy to make and makes a wonderful last minute side dish in the winter, when fruit is less plentiful in the store! Want to try it? You will easily be able to make homemade unsweetened applesauce with this simple recipe. Best part? No peeling involved.
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In the fall, the apples are in abundance! And it is the perfect time to try out a new apple recipe or to can homemade applesauce. You will be so glad you did in the middle of winter when your family is craving the natural sweetness of fruit.
Ask for Seconds, Apple Seconds for Applesauce!
We like to purchase our apples at our local apple orchard. You can pick your own apples, smell cider being made and just enjoy being outside.
But I’ll let you in on a secret! Apple orchards also have something called “seconds”! At our apple orchard they are typically in bags off to the side. You may need to ask for them if you don’t see them. Second apples are apples that are still good, but they may have a bruise on them or be slightly less than perfect in some way.
While you still want apples that are in their prime when cooking, seconds, though less than perfect, are typically still good apples. And second apples are perfect for making applesauce since you will be cutting them up and cooking them anyway. Seconds are marked down in price, making them a bargain!
What Apples are Best for Applesauce
I prefer to get a mixture of apples when making applesauce, a sweet and a more tart baking apple. But I haven’t really had an apple that made applesauce that I didn’t like. So don’t fret too much over finding the perfect apples.
But here are some suggestions on apples you may want to try!
Sweet
- Honey Crisp
- Golden Delicious
- Fuji
- Gala
- Ida Red (makes pink applesauce:)
Sweet with a Bite
- Mcintosh
- Empire
- Cortland
Tart
- Braeburn
- Ida Red
- Jonathan
- Granny Smith
- Rome
How to Make Applesauce for Canning Step by Step
Once you have your apples, it is time to make applesauce. You have a couple methods that you can use. I prefer to use a method where I do not peel the apples.
If you are going to peel your apples, then by all that your Granny held dear, please, buy this apple/vegetable peeler! Once you try it you will wonder how you ever managed life without it! True story.
Homemade Unsweetened Applesauce Recipe
Here are the specific steps to making homemade applesauce! Find the printable recipe down below. Or WATCH my video on making applesauce here.
- Rinse off your apples. Check for any bruises or bad spots, cutting out with a small pairing knife.
- Slice your apples with an apple slicer. If the apple slicer did not take out all the core, make sure to trim out the rest of the core.
- Put your apples into the biggest stew pot you have. You can fill apples up to the top as the apples will cook down. Place on stovetop. Add a little water (1/4-1/3 cup). You don’t need much, as the juices in the apple will begin to flow. You just want a little water in the bottom of the pot so the apples will not burn before they start to cook.
- Sprinkle cinnamon over the apples. Start with about 2 tbls. Stir. Adjust to your taste as you cook.
If using water canning method and not pressure canning method, then juice from 1 lemon is suggested for proper acidic level. Most of the time the applesauce will be acidic enough but to be on the safe side, you can add a little lemon juice.
Cook apples till they are all cooked down. You will probably see some chunks, but most of the apples should be of applesauce consistency.
- Take apples off the stove and allow to cool for a few minutes.
- Run the apples and apple peels through a cone strainer like this one (great for using for jams too). Use the wooden pestle to smash the softened apples separating the applesauce and the peels. Place a bowl under the strainer to catch all of the applesauce.
- Once all the applesauce has been collected, ladle the applesauce into cleaned and sterilized pint jars. If you have a bigger family you may wish to use quart jars.
- Wipe down the lip of the jar with a clean wet paper towel, removing any food from the lip. Place a new lid on the top of jars and tighten down with cleaned ring.
- Place jars in hot water canning bath (you can use a canner and fill with water). Make sure water is about 1 inch over the top of the jars. Bring water to slow boil and cook for 20 minutes.
- Once finished, remove and make sure that all the lids are sealed within 12 hours.
What Can Homemade Unsweetened Applesauce Be Used For?
Now that you have your lovely jars of applesauce, try out a few new recipes using your homemade applesauce. You can use your applesauce to make:
- Muffins. Homemade applesauce is perfect for muffin recipes, like this apple muffin recipe.
- Cookies. Try this Healthy Oatmeal Cookie recipe here.
- Pancakes. These Cinnamon Applesauce Pancakes here look delicious!
Don’t forget to print out your recipe below!
Unsweetened Homemade Applesauce Recipe
Equipment
- Pressure Canner or Large Pot
- Canning lids
- Canning rings
- canning jars
- Cone colander
- Apple corer/ slicer
Ingredients
- 1/2 bushel Apples
- 2-3 tbsp Cinnamon
- 1/4 cup Water
- 1 Lemon, squeezed (optional)
Instructions
- Wash apples.
- Slice unpeeled apples with an apple corer or slicer.
- Place cored, sliced apples in large pot over medium heat on stovetop.
- Add water to pot with apples.
- Sprinkle apples with cinnamon.
- Stir apples as they cook. Cook about 1/2 hr or until apples are all softened.
- Place cooked apples in colander. Place colander over a mixing bowl. Use wood pestle to smash apples.
- Pour applesauce in clean, sterilized jars. Wipe off rim of jars. Put lids and rings on jars.
- Place jars in hot water canner. Fill with water over 1 inch of the tops of the jars. Place lid loosely on the canner. Heat til gently boiling. Process for 20 minutes.
- Take jars out of hot water bath. Make sure jars are sealed within the next several hours. If you have one that does not seal, you can simple put it in the fridge.
- Enjoy!
