Small Batch Homemade Applesauce
Easy small batch homemade applesauce made with fresh apples, a slice of lemon, and hint of cinnamon will leave you wondering why you buy it from the store.
I had no intention of posting this Homemade Applesauce recipe, but it’s so ridiculously easy, I couldn’t not blog it. I’m pretty sure I’ve made it at least five times now, mainly because I needed a (healthy) snack for my lunch at work. Out of carrots? Made applesauce. Ate all the cauliflower last night? Made applesauce. Nothing to dip in the hummus? Made applesauce. You’d think by now I would make a giant batch, but I just make a small batch of one or two apple’s worth at a time. With a little bit of prep and a little bit of cooking, you, too, can have fresh homemade applesauce for healthy snacking.
One of the benefits of making homemade applesauce is control. You don’t have to worry about preservatives or the amount of sugar. Sweetness depends on your apples, so it’s hard to say how much sugar to add. Using tart, Granny Smith apples may require more sugar than say Honeycrisp apples, for example. I love the naturalness of the apples, so I only use about 1-2 teaspoons of sugar. However, Dad said it needed more when I gave him a bowl.
I smash my apples using my adjustable potato ricer. I didn’t realize how versatile this tool is. Not only do I use it to make applesauce, I also use it to squeeze out excess liquid out of shredded apples, shredded squash, and cooked spinach. I leave the peels on my apples because they get left behind in the ricer, but if you need to smash the apples by hand, then you’ll need to peel them first.
As far as which apples to use, I say it’s preference. Sometimes I’ll use two or three kinds of apples. So far I’ve used Golden Delicious, Gala, Jonagold, and McIntosh, some mixed; some not. If you do mix red and green apples, your applesauce will be a bit on the pink side. Do you like your applesauce warm or cold? Although I love eating it both ways, I prefer it right after cooking while it’s still warm. Probably because it reminds me of hot apple cider that warms you up on a chilly afternoon outside.
Equipment I used for this recipe (Amazon Affiliate links):
Small Batch Homemade Applesauce
Easy small batch homemade applesauce made with fresh apples, a slice of lemon, and hint of cinnamon will leave you wondering why you buy it from the store.
Ingredients
- 2 cups chopped apples (peeling optional*)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 lemon slice (seeds removed)
- Sugar, to taste
- Cinnamon, to taste
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, combine the apples, water, and lemon slice. Bring to a boil then cook for 10-15 minutes or until the apples are soft.
- Remove from the heat and press through a food mill, potato ricer, or smash by hand (discard the lemon slice and any apple peel that may have snuck through).
- Taste then add some sugar (I use 1-2 teaspoons) and some cinnamon (I use a few shakes). Adjust as necessary. Serve warm or cold.
Notes
*I use a potato ricer to smash my apples, so I leave the peels on and discard after pressing the apples through. If you are smashing by hand, peel the apples first.
Source: Adapted from Long Grove Apple Haus Apple Cook Book (Amazon affiliate link)
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If you liked this Homemade Applesauce recipe, you may also like these:
From me:
- Apple Walnut Upside Down Spice Cake
- Apple Dumpling Cobbler
- Apple Crisp Cupcakes with Apple Butter Frosting
From other bloggers:
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchase.
This is the second applesauce recipe I’ve seen in the past few days- I guess that means I really should start making my own! I love that this only makes two servings; there’s no need to worry about it getting lost in the back of the fridge and going bad!
I think it’s a sign ;) and yes, no need to make a HUGE batch then get tired of eating it after day three.
Homemade applesauce is SUCH a lifechanger! Yours looks phenom!
I realized this morning I didn’t have applesauce for a cookie recipe. I had one fresh apple on hand and discovered your recipe….YUM! It was quite difficult setting some aside after I took a taste!:)
I am a person who likes to try new things.
Yes Now that doesn’t mean I have never made applesauce. My family was very large!
so I make a lot of things.
Today I tried cloves instead of cinnamon—delicious!
If you try this, be very careful with the amount of cloves.
Love the use of clove! And yes it’s a strong spice, so it’s best to use in small doses.
got ONE gigantic apple from a relative that I really wanted to use to make cupcakes for the fall. The recipe I found required applesauce and EVERYTHING online is a recipe for making applesauce for like a town. This was just the recipe I needed to make a small amount and simple enough to follow! Thanks so much!
Glad this recipe made the right amount for you! Thanks for sharing your experience.
This is delicious. I don’t think I’ve ever had applesauce so good. Thank you for sharing a small batch.
Happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe!
thanks for sharing this! I used two gala apples & 1/4 cup water, but after 15 mins they still weren’t cooked down so I added 1/4 cup more…and more and more…they cooked after about 40 mins with total 1 cup of water! I pressed them with a potato masher – not sure if I did something wrong. Worked fine for me anyway, but it’d be cool if anyone knows how to get the job done faster!
Hmm how many cups of chopped apple did your 2 apples make?
3/4 cup :) I made this again last Wednesday though and figured for me 1 apple needs 1/2 cup of water. Lid on it took about 10-15 mins, perfect. Thanks again!
Glad you made it work for you!
I wonder how this would do in a mini rice cooker Has anyone tried?
I haven’t personally tried it yet. Let me know if you figure it out!
I absolutely love this recipe. I’ve made it many times over the years and only changed one thing.
I add Penzeys Spices Apple Pie Spice instead of cinnamon.
Once the apples are peeled I cut them into squares and add to boiling water.
Don’t be afraid to add more water or apple pie spice to boiling water.
Use a potato masher to crush apples.
This recipe is so good you will never buy applesauce in a jar again.
Glad you love the recipe!