Delicious homemade applesauce just got easier, made in the instant pot or slow cooker. This Instant Pot applesauce recipe has no added sugar and can be made in just 15 minutes.
Did you know that not all applesauce is created equal? That’s the truth.
Any time I’m forced to buy store-bought applesauce it’s a strugggggle. It’s like buying store-bought jam. Every single brand and type has so much sugar, and most of them don’t even taste very good.
Am I sounding like a total applesauce snob? I’m sorry, but homemade applesauce is just so easy and so GOOD, especially if you have an instant pot.
The first time I made applesauce in the instant pot I was blown away. That machine just continues to amaze me! (I have this 6qt instant pot). It was so incredibly easy and turned out perfect, with very little time or effort on my part. Learn how to get the most out of your instant pot!
How to make applesauce in the instant pot:
First, you choose your apples. I like a blend of sweet and tart apples to make really great flavor for the applesauce, without having to add extra sweetener. Granny Smith and Honey Crisp combination is definitely my favorite.
Peel, core and slice the apples. I use a johnny apple peeler to peel, core and slice the apples super quickly.
Add your apples to the instant pot. Toss the apples in water, cinnamon and lemon juice, and cook them on manual or high pressure for 8 minutes.
After a controlled quick release, open up the lid and the apples have literally turned to applesauce! You don’t need to do anything but give them a little stir.
The taste is AMAZING–perfectly sweet, especially with a little extra cinnamon on top. If you used different apples, and feel that it needs to be sweeter, you could add some white or brown sugar.
I love applesauce that I can feel good about feeding my kids. I know exactly what’s in it, and everyone LOVES it! It’s its own type of delicious comfort food, don’t you think?
If you don’t have an instant pot you can make this applesauce in the slow cooker!
How to make applesauce in your slow cooker:
Add the peeled and sliced apples to your slow cooker. Toss in lemon juice and cinnamon (no water needed)!
Cook on LOW for 4 hours. Pour into blender and blend until smooth, or desired consistency.
Store applesauce in the fridge for 7-10 days.
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Recipe
Instant Pot Applesauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 large Granny Smith apples , peeled, cored and roughly chopped (or Golden Delicious apples )
- 4 large Honeycrisp apples , peeled, cored and roughly chopped
- 1 cup water
- 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice (from about ½ a lemon)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Peel and core apples. I use a johhny apple peeler to do all three steps at once (peel, spice and core).
- Add water, lemon juice and cinnamon to instant pot and stir to combine. Add apples and toss to mix.
- Secure lid and cook on manual (high pressure) for 8 minutes. Do a controlled quick release or allow the pressure to naturally release.
- Mash the apple mixture a few times with a potato masher, if desired. (If you like a smoother texture you could pulse it in the blender.)
- Transfer contents to a bowl and allow to cool completely. Stir in more cinnamon, if desired, to taste.
- Enjoy warm or cold. Store in the fridge for up to 7-10 days.
Notes
Nutrition
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This is amazing! Yes, it is watery after venting. Strain that into a glass for THEEE BEST APPLE CIDER of your life, and then immersion blender those apples. Glorious!!!!! Thanks for the easy recipe with clean ingredients!!!
If you can find Mutsu/Crispin apples, it’s worth the hunt! Peel, cut in quarters, put in a Dutch oven or similar with cinnamon sticks to taste, low heat, check and stir occasionally. They will quickly start to break down into perfect applesauce texture. Much less work.
My daughter, granddaughter, brother, and I went apple picking. By the time we went to process our apples, I’d forgotten which apple was which. I just mixed and matched, threw in an extra apple or two to account for different sizes, used your recipe, and voila! Wonderful applesauce. Thank you so much. This is so much easier than the “olden days” of peeling, coring, slicing, dicing, simmering, and testing the apples FOREVER to see when we’ve achieved applesauce.
Note: Thanks for the tip on the “controlled” quick release when venting. I didn’t catch that on my first use of recipe and I had a massive mess!