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

This Applesauce Recipe from the archives first published on February 2015 has been republished and updated in January 2023.