Tool

• Large pot

• Blender or potato masher

Ingredients

• 4 pounds apples, peeled, cored, and quartered (Honeycrisp, McIntosh, Golden Delicious, or Gala recommended)

• ½ cup water

• ⅓ cup white or brown sugar

• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Direction

1. Add apples, water, sugar, and cinnamon to a large pot. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.

2. Cover and cook for 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are very soft.

3. Stir in the lemon juice and remove from heat.

4. Transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor. Remove the center of the lid and cover with a dish towel.

5. Blend to your desired consistency — smooth or chunky.

   • For chunky applesauce: mash by hand with a potato masher.

   • For smooth applesauce: use a blender or immersion blender.

6. Cool completely, then refrigerate in airtight containers for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.

Notes

• Use any apples you have: Great for soft apples or large batches of fruit.

• Flavor variations: Add cardamom, apple pie spice, pumpkin spice, ginger, nutmeg, or clove.

• Don’t oversweeten: Start with less sugar and adjust after cooking.

• Watery apples: Drain excess liquid before blending to avoid runny applesauce.

• Uniform chopping: Evenly sized apple pieces cook more consistently.

• Remove all seeds: Apple seeds make the sauce bitter.

Nutrition

Calories: 302 • Carbs: 80g • Protein: 1g • Fat: 1g • Saturated Fat: 0.1g • Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g • Monounsaturated Fat: 0.03g • Sodium: 6mg • Potassium: 494mg • Fiber: 11g • Sugar: 64g • Vitamin A: 246IU • Vitamin C: 24mg • Calcium: 31mg • Iron: 1mg