Bookmark and Share August 10, 2009 - Kristy

Recipe: Homemade Applesauce

Homemade applesauce is relatively super easy to make.  As a bonus, it tastes 50 million times better than store-bought applesauce.

Ingredients:  Apples, sugar, cinnamon.  That’s it.

The type of apples you buy will greatly affect the outcome of your applesauce.  If you choose tart apples, you will have to add more sugar; sweeter apples will need less sugar added.  Certain types of apples also make a better sauce than others (according to various websites, Fuji and Gala work well for applesauce).  Also, if you are making a big batch to store for the winter, try spicing it up with several different types of apples.

There are several different ways to make a homemade applesauce:

Method #1:  Wash and core apples.  Slice them (skin on) into a pot with a little water added.  Boil on medium to medium-low heat until apples are mushy/soft.  Use a food strainer to separate the skins out of the sauce.  Add sugar and cinnamon to taste.  This can make a pink-colored sauce (if you are using red apples) and a very smooth texture.

Method #2:  Wash and core apples.  Peel the skin off.  Slice them into a pot with a little water added.  Boil on medium to medium-low heat until apples are mushy/soft.  Use a potato masher to mash down any bigger chunks of apples that are left.  Add sugar and cinnamon to taste.  This makes a white/tan-ish colored sauce and yields a chunkier texture.

My preferred method is the second one, as I do not own a food strainer (and I just happen to like the flavor and texture).

This applesauce (processed either way) is great to can & store for the winter.  Go ahead & spend an afternoon this coming fall canning a bushel or two of locally grown apples and enjoy them all winter long!