Naturally Sweet Applesauce

Why Make Your Own No Sugar Applesauce?

Choosing to make your own applesauce, especially without added sugar, offers a multitude of benefits that extend beyond just taste. Here’s why this recipe should be a staple in your kitchen:

• **Healthier Option:** By foregoing added sugars, you create a naturally sweet condiment that aligns with a healthy lifestyle, ideal for those managing sugar intake or simply seeking cleaner eating options. The sweetness comes purely from the apples themselves.
• **Pure Apple Flavor:** Without competing sugars, the true, vibrant taste of fresh apples shines through. You’ll experience the nuanced flavors of the varieties you choose, offering a depth that industrial applesauce often lacks.
• **Versatile & Thoughtful Gift:** Pack your homemade applesauce in a charming jar, tie a ribbon around it, and you have a delightful, personal hostess gift or a thoughtful present for friends and family. It’s a gift from the heart that everyone can appreciate.
• **Effortless & Adaptable:** This recipe is incredibly easy, requiring minimal active cooking time. Plus, you have the flexibility to choose the cooking method that best suits your kitchen equipment and schedule, whether it’s the speed of an Instant Pot, the hands-off approach of a slow cooker, or the classic stovetop simmer.
• **Economical & Batch-Friendly:** Apple season is the perfect time to make a double (or triple) batch. Homemade applesauce is often more cost-effective than store-bought, especially when you buy apples in bulk. Freeze portions for healthy snacks, quick desserts, or baking ingredients throughout the year.
• **Embrace Apple Season:** It’s a delicious excuse to go apple picking at a local orchard, connect with nature, and enjoy the bounty of fall. Selecting your own apples adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the entire process.

Choosing the Best Apples for Applesauce

The secret to a truly exceptional applesauce lies in selecting the right variety (or, even better, a mix) of apples. Combining different types creates a more complex and flavorful sauce. While you can certainly use whatever apples you have on hand, if you’re heading to your local farm stand, farmers market, or grocery store, prioritize local, organic apples and aim for a diverse selection rather than sticking to just one kind. This blend ensures a perfect balance of sweetness, tartness, and texture.

• Firm Baking Apples: These varieties hold their shape better when cooked, contributing to a delightful, chunkier applesauce. They are also excellent for adding structural integrity if you prefer a less uniform texture. My top recommendations include Cortland, Fuji, Braeburn, Sugar Bee, and Granny Smith.
• Sweet Eating Apples: Perfect for boosting the natural sweetness of your applesauce without needing any added sugar. These apples offer a pleasant flavor profile that enhances the overall taste. Consider Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, or Pinata for their delightful sweetness.
• Softer Cooking Apples: If you desire a silky-smooth applesauce that practically melts in your mouth, incorporate softer varieties. These apples break down easily during cooking. Golden Delicious and McIntosh are fantastic choices for a smooth consistency.
• Tart Apples: A touch of tartness is essential to balance the sweetness and prevent the applesauce from becoming cloying. Tart apples add a refreshing zing. Great options include Empire, Granny Smith, Pink Lady (which also has a nice balance of sweet), Sugar Bee, and Braeburn.
• Naturally Sweet Apples: For a truly sugar-free experience, apples like Gala are naturally sweet and cook down beautifully, providing a rich, inherent sweetness to your sauce.
• **The Perfect Blend:** Don’t underestimate the power of variety! The best applesauce comes from a thoughtful mix of apples from each category. Aim for a combination of sweet and tart, firm and soft, to create a complex and perfectly balanced flavor profile that will keep you coming back for more.

The Remarkable Health Benefits of Apples

Beyond their delicious taste, apples are nutritional powerhouses, packed with compounds that contribute significantly to overall health. Incorporating homemade no-sugar applesauce into your diet is a simple and enjoyable way to reap these benefits:

• **Rich in Fiber and Vitamin C:** Apples are an excellent source of dietary fiber, crucial for digestive health, and a good dose of Vitamin C, an essential antioxidant that supports immune function.
• **Aids in Weight Management:** Thanks to their high fiber and water content, apples are incredibly filling. This satiety can help reduce overall calorie intake, making them a smart choice for weight loss and maintenance.
• **Cardiovascular Health Support:** Apples are loaded with flavonoids, powerful plant compounds known for their antioxidant properties. Studies suggest that these flavonoids can contribute to lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of heart disease.
• **May Combat Asthma:** Research indicates that compounds found in apples can play a role in fighting asthma symptoms and promoting lung health, making them a beneficial addition for individuals with respiratory concerns.
• **Promotes a Healthy Gut Microbiome:** The pectin fiber in apples acts as a prebiotic, feeding beneficial bacteria in your gut. A thriving gut microbiome is linked to numerous health advantages, including protection against obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

Minimal Ingredients, Maximum Flavor

One of the beauties of this no-sugar applesauce is its simplicity. You only need three core ingredients to create a truly spectacular product:

• Apples: As discussed, a blend of sweet and tart varieties is ideal for the richest flavor and best texture. Refer to the “Best Apples for Applesauce” section above to help you choose the perfect mix for your healthier applesauce.
• Lemon: Fresh lemon juice is a crucial ingredient. Its natural acidity brightens the apple flavor, preventing the sauce from tasting flat. More importantly, the lemon’s citric acid helps to inhibit oxidation, keeping your applesauce from turning brown and maintaining its appealing color. A piece of lemon peel during cooking also adds a subtle, fragrant zest.
• Cinnamon Stick: A whole cinnamon stick infuses the entire batch of applesauce with a warm, inviting aroma and flavor. Unlike ground cinnamon, which can sometimes make applesauce cloudy or grainy, a stick offers a cleaner, more profound spice note that complements the apples beautifully. For raw applesauce, a touch of ground cinnamon is suitable.

Optional additions: While not essential for this no-sugar recipe, you can experiment with a pinch of nutmeg, a few cloves, or a vanilla bean pod for different flavor dimensions, especially during colder months.

How to Prepare Your Apples

Proper apple preparation is the first step to delicious applesauce, regardless of your chosen cooking method. Here’s how to get them ready:

• **Wash Thoroughly:** Even if you’re using organic apples, always wash them well under cool running water to remove any dirt, wax, or residues.
• **Halve and Core:** Cut each apple in half lengthwise, passing through the stem and core. This makes coring much easier.
• **Remove Core, Seeds, and Stem:** Carefully remove the tough core, all seeds, and the stem. I find that a small melon baller is excellent for scooping out the core, while a small paring knife works well for any remaining bits.
• **To Peel or Not to Peel:** This is a matter of preference. Leave the skins on if you prefer a chunkier applesauce with added fiber and a rosy hue. For a super smooth texture, peel the apples. If you do peel, save one long strand of red skin to add to the pot during cooking; it will impart a lovely natural color to your finished sauce and is easy to retrieve later.
• **Chunk Size:** Cut each apple half into 2-3 uniform chunks. Consistent sizing ensures even cooking.
• **Prepare Lemon Peel:** Wash the lemon and cut a thick piece of the peel, ensuring it’s large enough to easily retrieve after cooking.

Instant Pot Applesauce: Fast and Flavorful

For those short on time but unwilling to compromise on flavor, the Instant Pot is your best friend. This method delivers tender, delicious applesauce in record time.

After prepping your apples, place the apple pieces, the saved apple peel (if using), and cinnamon sticks into the Instant Pot. Wash your lemon and add a large piece of its peel to the pot, then squeeze the juice from the lemon directly over the apples. Finally, add ¼ cup of water.

Secure the Instant Pot lid and set it to cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. Once the cooking cycle is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally. This natural release ensures the apples finish cooking gently and absorb all the flavors. After the pressure has fully released, carefully remove the cinnamon sticks, apple peel, and lemon peel. For a chunky applesauce, simply mash the apples with the back of a spoon. If you prefer a smoother texture, use an immersion blender to puree the mixture until it reaches your desired consistency.

Slow Cooker Applesauce: Effortless and Aromatic

For a hands-off approach that fills your home with the most delightful aromas, the slow cooker is an excellent choice. This method allows the flavors to meld beautifully over several hours, resulting in a deeply rich and tender applesauce.

• **Load the Crockpot:** Prepare your apples as described above (washed, cored, cut, and with or without peel). Place them into your slow cooker along with the saved apple peel (if using) and cinnamon sticks.
• **Add Lemon:** Wash the lemon, add a large piece of its peel to the pot, and then squeeze the fresh lemon juice directly over the apples.
• **No Water Needed:** Crucially, unlike the Instant Pot or stovetop methods, **do not add any water** when making applesauce in the slow cooker. Apples release a significant amount of liquid during the long cooking process, and adding water would result in a thin, watery sauce.
• **Cook:** Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours, until the apples are incredibly tender and easily mashable.
• **Finish:** Once cooked, remove the cinnamon sticks, apple peel, and lemon peel. Use the back of a spoon or a potato masher to break down any larger chunks for a rustic, chunky sauce. For a perfectly smooth applesauce, use an immersion blender to puree it to your preferred consistency.

5-Minute Raw Applesauce: Fresh and Nutritious

If you’re seeking the freshest possible applesauce that retains maximum nutrients and vibrant flavor, the raw method is for you. It’s incredibly quick and requires no cooking at all!

Embrace the skins for this method—they contribute not only beautiful color but also extra fiber and beneficial nutrients. Why miss out?

After thoroughly washing your apples, remove the core, seeds, and stem. You do not need to peel them for raw applesauce. Cut the apples into chunks and place them into a high-speed blender or food processor. Add the juice from one lemon and ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon (instead of a stick). Blend on high until your desired consistency is achieved. If using a high-powered blender like a Vitamix, use the tamper to help process, and if needed, add 1-2 tablespoons of water to get it moving. If using a food processor, use the pulse button to control the texture and avoid over-processing into a complete liquid. Raw applesauce is best enjoyed immediately for the freshest taste and texture.

How to Store Your Homemade Applesauce

Proper storage ensures your delicious homemade applesauce stays fresh and tasty for as long as possible.

• **Container Choice:** Always use an airtight container, whether it’s glass jars or plastic containers, to prevent air exposure and maintain freshness.
• **Cool Completely:** Before sealing and storing, make sure any cooked applesauce has cooled completely to room temperature. Sealing warm applesauce can create condensation, leading to spoilage.
• **Refrigeration:** Cooked applesauce will remain fresh in the refrigerator for up to one week.
• **Freezing:** For longer storage, freeze your applesauce. It can be stored in the freezer for up to three months without significant loss of quality. Consider using ½ cup Souper Cubes or similar silicone molds to freeze perfect portions, making it easy to grab exactly what you need for baking or snacks.
• **Raw Applesauce Storage:** Raw applesauce has a shorter shelf life. It will stay good in the fridge for up to 3 days, though you might notice some browning after 24 hours due to oxidation. For best results, consume it fresh.

Can You Freeze Applesauce? Absolutely!

Freezing homemade applesauce is a fantastic way to preserve your batch and enjoy the taste of fresh applesauce long after apple season has ended. Not only does it help reduce food waste, but it also means you’ll always have a healthy, ready-to-use ingredient on hand for various culinary needs.

When freezing, be sure to use freezer-safe containers and leave about an inch of headspace at the top. This allows for expansion as the applesauce freezes, preventing your containers from cracking. Using ½ cup silicone freezer molds is particularly convenient, as it creates perfectly portioned blocks that can be easily popped out and stored in a freezer bag. This way, you’ll have the right amount of applesauce handy to include in recipes like moist zucchini muffins, naturally sweetened banana bread, or a flavorful apple bundt cake. Simply thaw in the refrigerator overnight or use the defrost setting on your microwave when ready to use.

No Sugar Applesauce Recipe

This no sugar applesauce recipe tastes incredible and uses just 3 simple ingredients. I’ll show you how easy it is to make applesauce in your Instant Pot or slow cooker, on the stovetop, or make raw applesauce in your blender without cooking in just 5 minutes.

Equipment

• Instant Pot
• Crock Pot (Slow Cooker)
• Vitamix Blender (or other high-speed blender/food processor)
• OXO Good Grips Melon Baller
• Paring Knife

Ingredients

• 3 lbs apples (a mix of sweet and tart varieties recommended)
• 3 cinnamon sticks (or ½ tsp ground cinnamon for raw applesauce)
• 1 lemon

Instructions

Notes

Nutritional Information is based on one recipe making 5 cups of applesauce and one serving being ½ cup.

Storage: For any of the cooked applesauce methods, store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Alternatively, use freezer-safe containers or ½ cup silicone molds to freeze for up to 3 months. This allows you to defrost just the amount needed for various vegan baked goods or snacks.

Nutrition