Applesauce Recipe (Unsweetened)
Made with just two ingredients, my unsweetened Applesauce Recipe is ridiculously easy to make! With just 5 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cook time, making homemade applesauce has never been simpler. Make your own applesauce to make various goodies like cakes, muffins and cookies and I also share some more ideas below.
About Applesauce Recipe
Stop wasting money at the store with this quick and simple recipe for homemade applesauce! All you need are 2 ingredients and about 20 minutes to get this lovely, sweet snack on the table.
Making this basic applesauce recipe is so easy. All you need are just need apples and water! Adding sugar is optional, and I generally do not add sugar because the apples are usually sweet enough on their own. As an added bonus, making applesauce without sugar means that it is diabetic-friendly!
Making your own applesauce also means you can make it just the way you like. I am sharing a basic method to make applesauce, leaving you free to make any adjustments you like.
You can feel free to use any combination of apple varieties you might have on hand; make it chunky or smooth; add lemon juice, spices, and/or sugar to taste. Once you see how easy it is, I have a feeling you’ll never go back to the jarred stuff again.
I usually make a small batch of applesauce, refrigerate it, and use it as required. This batch was stored for about 15 days in the refrigerator. You can also freeze the applesauce to make it last even longer.
How To Make Homemade Applesauce
1. Rinse 3 medium-sliced apples first in water for a couple of times.
Peel, and chop the apples. Remove the seeds and the pith while chopping apples.
Place chopped apples in a saucepan or pan. I used 3 medium-sized Kinnaur apples, but feel free to use any variety of sweet apples you prefer.
2. Add ½ to ⅔ cup water. The water should just about cover the apples.
3. Bring this mixture to a simmer on a low to medium heat.
You can add sugar if you want. If the apples are very sweet, then you don’t need to add sugar. If they are not particularly sweet, then add sugar as required.
You can also add spices like cinnamon or nutmeg at this step. Quantities are mentioned in the recipe card below.
4. Simmer till the apples are softened. Keep stirring occasionally while they cook. If the water dries out and the apples start sticking to the pan, then add more water.
I cooked mine for about 17 minutes on a low heat. Turn off the heat when apples are softened.
5. Once the mixture becomes warm, you can either mash the apples or puree them in a blender. Mashing gives a slight chunky texture. Blending will give you a smooth consistency.
The final color of the applesauce depends on the variety of apples used.
Note: The final pictures are of applesauce made from another variety of apples and hence the difference in color.
6. Pour applesauce in jars. Once cooled, refrigerate them for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 1 to 2 months.
Serving Suggestions
If you are wondering what to do with your homemade applesauce, not to worry. It is so good, you can eat it all by itself!
Applesauce makes for a good egg substitute in cakes, sweetbreads, and muffins. Use ¼ cup of unsweetened applesauce for each egg called for in a recipe. Here is the link for Applesauce Cake.
You can also use applesauce:
- as an ice cream topping,
- to make smoothies or milk shakes,
- to layer in parfaits and pies,
- as an accompaniment to latkes (Jewish potato pancakes),
- as a good weaning food for babies
Did you come up with a delicious way to enjoy your unsweetened applesauce? Let us know in the comments below!
FAQs
Can I freeze homemade applesauce?
Sure! Frozen applesauce will stay good for up to 6 months in the freezer. Make sure to leave at least ½ inch of clearance between the lid of your container and the top of the applesauce, though. It will expand as it freezes.
Can I make this unsweetened applesauce shelf stable?
I don’t recommend using this applesauce recipe for canning unless you are familiar with how to pressure can. This recipe doesn’t have enough acid for regular water bath canning.
What are the best apples for making applesauce?
I’ve found that any apple that I enjoy eating has made for a tasty applesauce. Feel free to experiment until you find your favorite, then let us know in the comments below!
Step by Step Photo Guide Above
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 3 apples – medium-sized
- ½ to ⅔ cup water
- sugar add as required, according to your taste and preferred sweetness, optional
Flavorings – optional ingredients, add only one
- ¼ inch ground cinnamon or cinnamon powder
- ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg or nutmeg powder
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Rinse, peel and chop the apples. While chopping, make sure to remove the seeds and pith from the center of the apples.
- Place them in a sauce pan or pan.
- Add water. The water should just about cover the apples.
- Bring this mixture to a simmer on a low to medium heat. You can add sugar if you prefer. If the apples are very sweet, then you don't need to add sugar. If they are less sweet or not sweet, then add sugar as needed.
- You can also add spices like cinnamon or nutmeg at this step. Quantities are mentioned in the ingredient list above. Add only one of the flavoring ingredient from the three listed above.
- Simmer till the apples are softened. Keep stirring occasionally when the apples are getting cooked.
- If the water dries out and the apples start sticking to the pan, then add more water.
- Once the mixture becomes warm, you can either mash the apples or puree them in a blender.
- Mashing gives a slight chunky texture. Blending them will give a smooth texture.
- The final color of the applesauce depends on the variety of apples used.
- Pour applesauce in bottles or bowls. Once cooled refrigerate them for about a week or freeze for 1 to 2 months.
Applesauce Uses
- Applesauce makes for a good egg substitute in cakes, sweetbreads, and muffins.
- Use ¼ cup of unsweetened applesauce for each egg called for in a recipe. You can find our favorite Applesauce Cake here.
- You can also use applesauce, as an ice cream topping, to make smoothies or milk shakes, to layer in parfaits and pies.
- You could also serve it as accompaniment to latkes (Jewish potato pancakes),or as a good weaning food for babies.
Nutrition
This Applesauce Recipe from the archives first published on February 2015 has been republished and updated in January 2023.
Hi, can we pressure cook or steam cook the apple?
Yes you could.
Can you recommend some recipes for healing intestinal inflammation?
Thanks.
Will try to.
Just made this recently and it tastes so mild and delicious!
Nice to know and thanks.
Looks brilliant… going try soon. Thanks.
Thanks and welcome.
Best recipe. Exactly what I needed to know 🙂
Thank you.
Amazing replacement for eggs???
I assume this is made with eating apples rather than cooking ones, or doesn’t it matter?
both can be used.
can we cook it in pressure cooker instead of simmering for such a long time?
yes you can make in the pressure cooker. just give one whistle.
Hi Dassana,
Trying your dishes everyday. Thanks a lot for your detailed methods. As requested by many, even I need some more dishes for my toddler. Keep going with your lovely recipes.
welcome nancy. yes, i will try to add more recipes for toddlers.
Hi Dasanna, thank u very much for ur valuable and tasty recipes I had 6months old baby,I want some more baby recipes for my child.can we store this applesauce?
welcome swapna. i will add more baby food recipes slowly over a period of time. i stored the applesauce for about 15 days in the refrigerator. i never freeze it. but you can even freeze them.
Hi dasanna,
Thank u very my baby loves to eat this apple sauce.plz add some more baby recipes.
Thank u.
welcome swapna. i will add some more baby recipes.
Nice for children
this is awesome and definitely making this. its a good sub for sugar in baking and also once I start fruits for my baby, will be a quick snack food to pack in jars.
thanks manasa. i agree with you.
Yum! I make mine exactly the same way, when in a hurry I also cheat by zapping in the microwave.
I also change it up regularly by adding some thinly sliced ginger while cooking or a cinnamon stick (used cassia bark when low on cinnamon). We also flavour with cardamon and star anise. My mum adds nutmeg to hers (but she even adds a bit of nutmeg to steamed cabbage). My children like to plop into into homemade yoghurt.
thanks natalie for sharing your version. good to know this.
wow…thank u so much going to make for my 8 month son…ur recipes are so easy to make….
welcome hina. thanks for your positive feedback.
Homemade is the best. would be great for baking
lovely….delicious recipe…i would like to know how this sauce replaces egg in cake .
i keep browsing thru vegrecipes……. i am loving it!
thanks sneha. its a simple replacement. instead of eggs add applesauce.
Thx dasana, but my query is can we add this to any cake recipe or only the apple cake… Will it not give appley taste….
welcome sneha. you can add to any cake replacing eggs. 1 egg = 1/4 cup of apple sauce. recently i made a sponge cake with apple sauce and i will be adding the recipe also. the cakes do not have the taste and aroma of apples.
Thanks a lot… Dasana I greatly appreciate ur prompt reply… Cleared all my doubts…. Thank u once again…
welcome sneha.
Hi Dasanna, I am going to try this simple and nutritious recipe soon. Hey I have been following your blog since the past one year and have tried numerous recipes. Most of them were a hit!! Now whenever my husband tastes something different during meals he asks “Dasanna”? Being a doc, I appreciate your skill in making the recipes nutritious and healthy. We are expecting our baby this month end and I was glad to see this apple sauce as it will be a very good weaning food. Kindly post more baby recipes, whenever you get time. It would be a great boon for people like us who are far away from India and have no luxury of getting homemade baby food made by Grannies.
Thanks a ton
welcome dhanya. congratulations and all the best. thanks again for the positive feedback. i will add some more recipes for babies and toddlers. applesauce is available in stores but they have lot of preservatives. so its better to make your own.