Easy Stovetop Homemade Applesauce Recipe
Make this simple homemade applesauce on the stovetop. It is naturally sweet, requires minimal ingredients, and is ready quickly, perfect as a healthy snack or side dish.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Total Time: 30 min
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 lbs apples (such as Gala, Fuji, or a mix)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
Instructions
- Wash the apples. You can peel them if you prefer, but peeling is not required for this recipe. Core the apples and cut them into 1-inch chunks.
- Place the apple chunks, water, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice (if using) into a large saucepan or pot.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- The apples are done when they are very tender and easily mashable with a fork.
- Remove the pot from the heat. Use an immersion blender or potato masher to reach your desired consistency. For smooth applesauce, blend thoroughly. For chunky applesauce, mash lightly.
- Taste the applesauce. If you desire more sweetness, add a small amount of maple syrup or sugar, though the natural apple sweetness is often enough.
- Serve the homemade applesauce warm or chill it completely for a cold snack.
Notes
- For a cozy fall aroma, use apples like Honeycrisp or McIntosh.
- This recipe makes a great natural sweetener snack for baking applications.
- If you prefer a slow cooker applesauce method, transfer the ingredients to a slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 105
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 2mg
- Fat: 0.2g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 0.3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg