This Homemade Unsweetened Applesauce Recipe is loaded with cinnamon and bursting with natural sweetness. No sugar is added so it makes a delicious, healthy snack!
Are you ready for this? This unsweetened Applesauce Recipe literally tastes like apple pie in a jar!
My kids had never tasted warm, freshly made applesauce before and I had them all try it directly from the bowl. My 14 year old said “MOM – this tastes exactly like apple pie filling”. Yes, son, you are correct!
Little did he know I had been eating the apples while cooking and all I had to do was make a crust and BAM – apple pie! In fact, that is going on my list since at the moment I don’t have an apple pie recipe on the blog.
In all seriousness though, this homemade cinnamon applesauce is amazing. My husband gave it a 10 and could not stop gushing about it (or eating it)!
It is simple and quick too which is a major bonus!
How to Make This Unsweetened Applesauce Recipe
The first thing you need is a bunch of apples! I like to pick them fresh from my apple trees on my property. BUT if you don’t have your own apple trees, then pick some up at the store.
My favorite is the green apples that are slightly tart, but truly, this will work with any apples.
Wash the apples well with cold water. I have one of those colanders (this one on Amazon) that goes over my sink and it works really well for big batches of apples.
Peel the apples by hand or using an apple peeler. I do it by hand and it actually goes pretty quick. You don’t need to worry about getting every bit of peel off. A small amount remaining is fine.
Then you’ll want to slice the apples. I use this apple slicer from Amazon.
Add the water, lemon juice, cinnamon and low carb brown sweetener.
Heat to a boil and then simmer. Stir often.
Transfer to a bowl and using an immersion blender, blend it all up!
Can You Freeze Homemade Applesauce?
You sure can freeze applesauce! This is precisely what I do! I make a big batch, let the kids each some warm, store some in the fridge and then freeze the rest.
You simply can put the applesauce in mason jars and freeze them. Or if you have other storage containers that you are familiar with, then whatever works!
I do not overfill the mason jars, though, just in case!
Is It OK That My Apples Turn Brown?
In my experience, apples fresh from the yard will brown almost immediately. Like this:
These are just the cores, but they browned almost instantly. Now, if you have “treated” apples from the store, they might not brown as quickly.
This is nature. It is all good! I wouldn’t let them sit out for hours, but if they start to brown while you are working on this homemade unsweetened applesauce recipe, don’t fret.
Is This Homemade Applesauce Chunky?
It can be as chunky or smooth as you like it to be! That is the beauty of this recipe.
There are 2 main things that control the chunk factor:
- How long you cook the apples for. If you want it chunky, allow the apples to be a little harder when done cooking. If you want smooth applesauce, wait until they are quite mushy. Mine is partway in between.
- How thoroughly you blend with the immersion blender. You can blend it for a long time or a short time and this will also determine the chunk factor!
Other Fun “How To” Recipes You Might Like
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Unsweetened Applesauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 pounds apples (I prefer green)
- 1 1/2 cups of water
- 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2/3 cup low carb brown sweetener (I use Swerve
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
Instructions
Wash and peel the apples.
Then core and slice them into small wedges. If they are freshly picked from your garden, they will turn brown pretty quickly and that is OK!
Add apples, water, lemon juice, sweetener and cinnamon to a large saucepan.
Bring to a boil, reduce temperature and simmer for 30 minutes. Stir OFTEN and add water as needed. I will add water if I notice there is no liquid. A little at a time will do great.
Once apples are soft, remove from heat and add to a large bowl.
Using an immersion blender, blend the apples until desired consistency.
Eat right away warm (YUM), store in the refrigerator or freeze!