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A delicious blend of Honeycrisp apples, apple pie spice and brown sugar are combined to create Crockpot Applesauce. You’re just three ingredients away from the easiest homemade applesauce!
If you caught my post earlier this week for homemade apple pie spice, you know that I am in total apple mode right now.
Trust me, I’m definitely not over pumpkin pie spice, I’m just taking a little appreciate all the apple recipes!
From whipping up favorites like Snickers Caramel Apple Salad, Apple Pie Bread, Caramel Apple Poke Cake and this Crockpot Applesauce, I’m thoroughly enjoying apple season!
THE EASIEST HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE
Eric has an odd applesauce eating habit – he drinks, or shall I say slurps it out of the little plastic cups. Weird, right?
I even went as far as purchasing the little applesauce pouches that you basically drink – you know, the ones you give to toddlers – but they just weren’t the same.
In his defense, the reasoning behind the slurp is quite simple – why dirty a spoon? Um, because that’s the unwritten applesauce consumption rule.
So when I decided to make some homemade applesauce in an effort to use up the overabundance of Honeycrisp apples that had taken over our refrigerator, I figured I had nothing to lose if I made it in the slow cooker.
Because the recipe was so easy, I certainly wouldn’t have put much energy into it if he decided it wasn’t the same as what he gets in his beloved plastic cups.
The result was the most delicious applesauce that we’ve ever tasted. Not too sweet, enthusiastically spiced, with just the right amount of texture.
And yes, he totally found a way to drink it out of the little white serving dishes.
HOW TO MAKE APPLESAUCE IN THE CROCKPOT
Are you ready for how easy this recipe is?
Seriously: 3 ingredients and basically 1 step. That’s it.
All you need are apples, apple pie spice and brown sugar. Toss everything into your slow cooker and cook for about 5 hours.
THAT’S IT.
Once it’s cooked, you can decide how chunky or smooth you like your applesauce and mash or puree it to your personal liking.
We happen to like ours with a little texture, so I leave some chunks in it.
If this method seems familiar to you, it’s because it’s essentially the first half of making slow cooker apple butter. That’s right, you pass right by homemade applesauce on your way to apple butter!
WHAT APPLES ARE BEST FOR HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE?
I happen to like using Honeycrisp apples to make my Crockpot Applesauce. I think they’re just the right balance of sweet and tart.
Other crisp apples that have a bit of tartness to them would work well here, though. Golden delicious, jonagold, cortland and braeburn apples would all be great.
So head to the apple orchard, pick to your heart’s content, and pop a batch of Crockpot Applesauce in your slow cooker!
Serve it slightly warm with a dollop of whipped cream, spooned over vanilla ice cream, drizzled over vanilla bean waffles or mascarpone pancakes, or straight from the fridge.
Or, you know, drink it from the serving dish. Whatever floats your boat.
Crockpot Applesauce
Ingredients
- 3 pounds Honeycrisp apples peeled, cored and cut into thick slices (about 12 medium apples)
- ⅓ cup lightly packed light brown sugar
- 1 ¼ teaspoon apple pie spice
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on high for 5 hours.
- If you prefer a slightly chunky applesauce as pictured simply stir and mash the apples with a large spoon.
- If you prefer smooth applesauce, transfer the cooled applesauce to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth.
- Store applesauce in an airtight container within the refrigerator or freeze for up to 6 months.
Notes
- The amount of sugar you use will depend on the type of apples you use. I recommend tasting the applesauce about an hour before it's done and adjusting the spices and sugar to meet your taste. My apples were quite sweet, so 1/3 cup was perfect.
- I am not a canner, so I have not attempted to can this recipe. Plus, it was gone in 2 days!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I am going to try recipe
Awesome! Let me know what you think!
-Jamie
Hi I made the crockpot applesauce recipe and it was so easy! I have some boiled cider that I had from Kaf and added about 2 tsps and that was the only change I made to the recipe. It tastes great! Thank you so much for the recipe!
So happy to hear you enjoyed the applesauce, Suzanne! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your feedback!
-Jamie
I am going to try this I live applesauce An I live it sweet but not to sweet Thank you Been wanting to try to make home made applesauce for years
Thanks so much for stopping by, Angel! I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Happy Baking!
-Jamie
Found your site and recipe two years ago, and make this every fall. I mainly make it with honeycrsip, but am trying it with Jonagolds this weekend. It is because of this recipe that I got into waterbath canning. For anyone interested this works great with waterbath canning. Thanks for all the wonderful times of applesauce days.
I’m so glad you like it, Katie! I’m sure the Jonagolds will be wonderful. All the best to you!
Jamie,
Thanks for this recipe. I found it thanks to a Google search shortly after you posted it. I’ve made this recipe countless times already and everyone loves it! I use Honeycrip when they go on sale but have found that mixing several varieties together make for a great sauce as well. I always thought that an apple was an apple, but after mixing the different varieties together, and sampling each one, I’ve found they are totally unique and in flavor and texture and the difference make for a better whole. Anywho thanks for the fantastic recipe!
Andrew
Andrew-
You’re very welcome! Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!
-Jamie
This looks Amazing!! I made Several Apple Pies last week and was looking for recipes for apples and found this site. I’m so happy I did, I can’t wait to try this recipe. I have quite a few left over apples from Apple picking.
Thanks, Julie
Julie-
Thanks for visiting!
-Jamie
Just those three ingredients no water?
Gregory-
No water is necessary. I hope this helps.
-Jamie
eric is not weird. I drink my applesauce too.
Sheila-
Thanks for visiting.
-Jamie
I made this yesterday, and it was AWESOME! Not sure if I’ll ever make applesauce any other way from now on :) I made it with more apples (closer to 4 lbs.) and still used just the 1/3 cup of brown sugar, which was perfect. I also added a small amount (maybe 1/4 cup) of apple cider. Awesome recipe – thank you!
I’m so glad the recipe was a success for you. Thanks for visiting!
-Jamie
Can you cook it on low instead of high? I was going to have it cooking while I was at work?
Thanks!
Tina-
Yes, that works well too! You’ll just have to cook it a bit longer.
-Jamie