Unsweetened Applesauce

How to make the best and delicious homemade unsweetened applesauce recipe with only 2 ingredients and no sugar added. This applesauce recipe is very quick and easy to make, perfect for all your tart and sweet homemade baked goods or for a healthy snack.

Homemade applesauce recipe

Definitely the easiest homemade recipe ever! Nothing is easier than making your own homemade applesauce and it is so much better nutritional than what you usually buy in the store.

Yes, as easy as it only takes 2 ingredients to make this simple unsweetened applesauce recipe! You need just apples and water for this recipe and even my 2 optional ingredients that I like to add for flavor, vanilla extract and cinnamon ground.

Babies love it and not only, do grown-ups also like this unsweetened applesauce, eaten with a spoon or with some plain yogurt, it is a delight.

>> It's apple season! So if you love apples here are some of my favorite recipes from my blog with apples!

Homemade Unsweetened Applesauce

You're the boss! Make your own applesauce, it's gluten free and made with no added sugar, unlike store-bought applesauce which is often too sweet or contains preservatives.

The fruit already has all the sugar needed to make a sweet and delicious compote. You can add cinnamon ground or pumpkin pie spices to give more flavor to your applesauce and of course, some vanilla flavoring is a must.

But if your choice is for sweeter cinnamon applesauce, then choose a natural unrefined sugar, such as honey or maple syrup to add rather at the end of the recipe's preparation.

Ingredients

Best apples for applesauce

To make delicious unsweetened applesauce with a sweet and tart flavor, prefer organic and ripe sweet apples with a juicy and sweet taste like Gala apples, Golden Delicious, or Pink Lady for a natural sweetness.

These varieties of apples are more suitable for cooking and they have a juicy flesh that makes a delicious applesauce. Avoid green or underripe apples like Granny smith apples which are a bit too acidic in taste which are much better eaten raw in salads or desserts.

Optional:

• Sugar : Although the recipe is delicious without added sugar, you can still add a little for a more sweet applesauce. I recommend using a natural sugar like maple syrup, honey or a flavored sugar like brown sugar.
• Vanilla: I recommend adding liquid vanilla extract or the seeds of a vanilla bean to flavor the recipe.
• Spices: Cinnamon goes well with apples, you can add a little cinnamon ground to flavor the compote or add a cinnamon stick while apples cook. The pumpkin spice blend is also perfect for flavoring the compote.
• Lemon juice: Optional, but the lemon juice contains ascorbic acid (vitamin C) which prevents the degradation of the fruits and allows to keep their color and a better conservation.

You will find the quantities and complete instructions in the recipe card at the end of the page.

How to make applesauce recipe

1. Peel apples, remove the core and seeds, and cut them into small pieces.
2. Place the water and lemon juice (optional), cinnamon ground, vanilla, and apple pieces in a saucepan.
3. First, bring to a boil, then reduce to medium heat and gently cook the apples for about 20 to 30 minutes, occasionally stirring, until the apples are softened.
4. Remove from heat when apples are mashed.
5. Blend the cooked apples into a smooth compote with an immersion blender a food processor or with a simple potato masher.
6. Let applesauce cool to room temperature.
7. Transfer apple mixture to a large pot with a lid and place in the refrigerator.

Tip: Cook the apples to the desired consistency, the more they are cooked the smoother the compote will be, if you want a more chunky applesauce, then stop cooking before and do not put the preparation in the blender.

How to eat applesauce

• In the bottom of a pie, as in this old-fashioned rustic apple galette or this puff pastry apple tart.
• In a dessert, a glass, as a filling.
• To replace sugar in your cakes.
• To sweeten homemade granola
• To replace jam on your morning toast

Storage and Freeze

Room temperature

It should only be kept in the fridge unless you use a sterilized method of storage then you can leave it at room temperature. But make sure you know the complete method to do it correctly.

Tip: You can add 1 tbsp of lemon juice during the preparation. The acidity of the lemon juice will allow better conservation of your apple sauce.

Can I freeze applesauce ?

Yes it is also possible to freeze the applesauce. When the applesauce has completely cooled down you can put it in a container with a lid or separate it by portion in storage bags and put them in the freezer for 3 months.

To defrost, place in the refrigerator or leave at room temperature for a while.

Questions about applesauce

More filling recipes

• Raw almond butter
• Brown butter
• Salted caramel sauce
• Raw peanut butter
• Chocolate hazelnut spread
• Praline paste

More apple recipes

• Puff pastry apple tart
• Classic French apple tart
• Apple galette rustic tart
• Dutch apple pie

Did you like this recipe? Don't forget to rate it and leave me a review in the comments! And to not miss any recipes follow @sweetlycakes on Instagram and tag me to share it if you make this recipe 😊!

Print