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This homemade apple sauce is one of my number one go to recipes. It tastes fabulous with the combination of apples, brown sugar, cinnamon and butter.

homemade apple sauce in a mason jar with two different types of apples sitting to the side of it on a brown counter top

This is a perfect fall recipe for all of those extra apples from the tree. I don’t have an apple tree yet, but I do get some apples from locals. I always get excited when I get freshly picked apples because I can make this homemade apple sauce!

You can use store bought apples as well. You can also look and see if there are any you picks near you to pick your own!

homemade apple sauce sitting in a mason jar with the lid off of it next to a floral hand towel on a bamboo mat — Apple sauce that was mashed with the potato masher

Why you will love this recipe

This is a perfect snack for school which makes it an easy recipe to love. Our daughter is obsessed with this apple sauce and so am I! One thing I love about it is that it contains no additives. It is also inexpensive to make, yields a large quantity, and can easily be frozen.

two mason jars containing homemade apple sauce with two fresh apples to the side of them

What Can Apple Sauce Be Used For?

You can make apple sauce cake
Apple sauce cookies
Use it as a substitute for oil in baking
Make apple sauce muffins
Make apple sauce bars
Make apple sauce pancakes
You can stir it into your oatmeal
You can have it with pork chops
Use it to top pancakes or French toast
Spoon it over ice cream or yogurt
You can also eat it by itself, warm or cold

With so many ways to eat it, it makes it an ideal recipe!

A large pile of freshly picked apples sitting in a large glass white bowl on a brown counter top

Ingredients

A variety of different types of apples
Water
Lemon juice, fresh or bottled
Dark brown sugar
Cinnamon
Un-salted butter
Vanilla extract, pure or artificial
Salt

How do you make homemade apple sauce?

Wash, peel, core and slice the apples
Add the apples to a large pot with a lid.
Add in the water, lemon juice, sugar and cinnamon. Mix well and turn the stove to medium heat.
Bring to a boil.
Once it starts to boil turn down the heat to medium low and allow it to simmer for 30 minutes with the lid on.
Make sure to stir occasionally during that time.
Remove the pot from the heat and mash with the potato masher into desired texture.
Stir in the butter, vanilla and salt. Mix well.
Add it to a mason jar or an airtight container and store it in the fridge.
If you want a smooth apple sauce, let it cool in the fridge after it is mashed and then blend it in the blender.

apples sitting on a cutting board — Apple sauce that was blended in the blender

sliced apples sitting in a pot — Apple sauce that was blended in the blender

How do you store homemade apple sauce?

After cooling the apple sauce you can store it in the fridge for up to 6 days. You can also freeze it in resealable freezer bags or in freezer safe containers for up to 6 months.

Homemade Apple Sauce

A delicious and quick recipe for a perfect autumn snack

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 40

Total Time 1 10

Serving Size 4 servings

Ingredients

5 lbs. apples, a variety of kinds tastes better but you can use just what you have as well
1 cup water
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1/4-1/2 cup dark brown sugar
3/4 tsp cinnamon, more or less to taste
2 Tbsp. un-salted butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
salt to taste

Instructions

Wash, peel, core and slice the apples
Add the apples to a large pot with a lid
Add in the water, lemon juice, sugar and cinnamon. Mix well and turn the stove to medium heat and bring to a boil
Once it starts to boil, turn down the heat to medium low and simmer for 30 minutes with the lid on. Make sure to stir occasionally
Remove the pot from the heat and mash with the potato masher into desired texture
Stir in the butter, vanilla and salt. Mix well
Add to a mason jar or airtight container and store in the fridge
If you want a smooth apple sauce, blend it in the blender once it has cooled.