Homemade Slow Cooker Applesauce
Slow cooker apple sauce made naturally sweet, smooth, and flavorful. An easy homemade classic that fills your kitchen with cozy aroma.
Ingredients
- 4 pounds apples (about 10–12 medium; a mix of sweet and tart like Fuji, Honeycrisp, Gala, and Granny Smith works best)
- ½ cup water (or apple cider for extra flavor)
- 1–3 tablespoons sugar, honey, or maple syrup (optional, to taste)
- 1–2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (optional)
- Pinch of salt (enhances flavor)
- Optional add-ins: 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, a splash of lemon juice, or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prep the apples: Peel, core, and chop apples into roughly 1-inch pieces. Uniform pieces cook evenly.
- Load the slow cooker: Add apples, water (or cider), salt, and cinnamon if using. Stir to combine.
- Cook low and slow: Cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the apples are very soft.
- Adjust sweetness: Taste. If you want it sweeter, stir in sugar, honey, or maple in small amounts. Start with 1 tablespoon, then adjust.
- Choose your texture: For chunky sauce, mash with a potato masher. For smooth sauce, use an immersion blender right in the slow cooker or transfer to a blender and blend carefully.
- Finish and cool: Add optional vanilla or lemon juice if you like. Let the applesauce cool before transferring to jars or containers.
