Make this delicious two-ingredient homemade applesauce with just apples and water - for a sugar-free, fresh and delicious, easy apple sauce or puree that's way more delicious than store-bought!
Core and chop the apples. I always leave the peel on my apples so I skip peeling them. Depending on the size of the apple, I'll chop between 4-8 pieces per apple
Transfer your apples to a large pot and pour in the water (I use around 1/2 cup water per 5 apples). The water will help to steam and simmer the apples as they cook, softening them. Heat the apples over medium-low heat and simmer for approximately 15 minutes, until the apples are very soft and starting to break up, stirring occasionally *
Mash the applesauce. If you want to make a puree then you can transfer the apples to a blender and blend until smooth. For chunky applesauce, then use either a fork, potato masher, or other tools like an immersion blender to lightly mash the apples until the desired consistency.
Leave it to cool down to room temperature before placing it in the fridge or freezer.
How To Store:
Homemade applesauce will store well in an airtight container in the fridge for between 7-10 days. It is also extremely freezer-friendly and can be individually portioned into an ice-cube tray or freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.
Just make sure that you keep it tightly sealed, as it has the tendency to absorb odors from surrounding food - not so great if you have a garlic-heavy dish next to it in the fridge/freezer. Also, do not re-freeze applesauce once it has thawed.
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Notes
*You can also remove the lid after around 12 minutes, stir and allow any excess liquid to leave the apples if the mixture seems very wet.
Read notes of choice of apple variety in the blog post.
For apple pie vibes then add some cinnamon to the apples. You could also add nutmeg, ginger, vanilla, cloves, and other spices, to further flavor the mixture.
If you like, you can add some lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to the homemade applesauce. This should be added once the apples have been removed from the heat and will add another layer of 'freshness' to the flavor.
If using a crockpot/slow cooker then add the ingredients and set on low heat for between 3-4 hours (I've heard, as I don't own one). For an Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker then you'll need just 10 minutes of high pressure.
Adding chia seeds to my apple puree is something I love to do when using it for breakfast dishes such as yogurt bowls, overnight oats, porridge, etc. for additional nutrients.
Although I've never tried it, a friend told me how they make a 'microwave version' of easy apple sauce by heating their cored and chopped apples in a large microwave-safe dish with some water and covering with clingfilm (with a few poked holes). Heat for between 7-10 minutes and then mash to the desired consistency.