By Laurel Perry
Published Nov 6, 2024
My kids are applesauce fanatics, so I knew I needed to learn to make my own, but stovetop methods take so much time and effort. This crockpot applesauce is super easy– just set it and forget it! You’ve got 4 hours to do other things while this slow cooker applesauce makes itself! All you have to do is mash it at the end. I love that I can decide how sweet to make it, and my kids surprisingly love the less sweet version.
Made with just 4 ingredients, this slow cooker applesauce is so easy to throw together. It frees up so much time for me to multi-task, and my kids absolutely love it!
What’s in This Crockpot Applesauce Recipe?
- Apples: Choose an apple variety that works well in cooking recipes. I like Fuji, Granny Smith, or Gala.
- Apple Cider: I prefer cider over juice since it is less processed and has a stronger apple flavor, but juice also works well. Just make sure not to use apple cider vinegar!
- Sugar: Brown sugar adds depth to the sauce while also sweetening it. Feel free to adjust the amount to suit your personal tastes.
- Cinnamon: Using a whole cinnamon stick infuses the sauce with a delicate cinnamon flavor. If you can’t find sticks, use ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon instead.
Tips for Success
- Sweeten with brown sugar to taste. The sweeter your apples are, the less sugar you will need.
- Try mixing together different varieties of apples to subtly change the taste, or experiment with spices such as nutmeg, allspice, ginger, or cardamom.
- You can even add other fruits to create flavor blends like raspberry, mixed berry, strawberry, or pear applesauce.
- Depending on the varieties of apples available, I sometimes feel like this sauce needs a little something extra. If you get that same sensation, try adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. It brightens up the flavor and gives it that extra zip!
- For a smoother applesauce, transfer the mixture to a food processor and process until smooth.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover crockpot applesauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 6 days. I do not recommend freezing applesauce, as it is prone to freezer burn.
Serving Suggestions
My kids ask for this homemade crockpot applesauce with almost every meal, so I always make a big batch on Sunday for the week ahead. It pairs perfectly with ham and cheese sliders , homemade baked chicken nuggets , or fish sticks .
Applesauce also makes a great baking ingredient. It helps to boost the flavor of my favorite apple cinnamon bread and works as an egg replacer in these applesauce chocolate chip cookies .
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 4 pounds apples peeled, cored, and cubed
- ▢ ¾ cup apple cider or apple juice (not apple cider vinegar!)
- ▢ ¼-½ cup brown sugar
- ▢ 1 cinnamon stick
Video
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to your crockpot. Stir, cover and cook on high for 4 hours. 4 pounds apples, ¾ cup apple cider, ¼-½ cup brown sugar, 1 cinnamon stick
- Discard the cinnamon stick and use a potato masher to mash the applesauce to your desired consistency.
- Serve warm or refrigerate before serving.
Equipment
- Crockpot
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Applesauce in a Crockpot Step by Step
Cook the Sauce: Add 4 pounds of peeled, cored, and cubed apples, ¾ cup of apple cider, ¼-½ cup of brown sugar, and 1 cinnamon stick to your crockpot. Stir, cover, and cook on high for 4 hours.
Mash the Sauce: Discard the cinnamon stick and use a potato masher to mash the applesauce to your desired consistency. Serve warm or refrigerate before serving.
You can leave the skin on, but it is best to run the sauce through a food mill to remove the skins after cooking, otherwise, the sauce may have an unpleasant texture. Leaving the skin on will add a pink color to the sauce.
Yes! Avoid mealy varieties, like Red Delicious. The resulting sauce will have that mealy and unpleasant texture.
While it’s not technically possible to overcook applesauce to the point where it is inedible, it is possible to overcook it such that the flavor degrades. The longer you cook the apples for, the less tart they will become, so it’s important not to cook them for too long or your sauce may turn out flavorless.
Applesauce turns brown when it’s exposed to oxygen, so make sure to store yours in an airtight container!
More Sauce Recipes To Try
- Homemade Nacho Cheese Sauce
- Mustard Cream Sauce
- Fry Sauce
- Homemade Alfredo Sauce
- Homemade BBQ Sauce
- Bang Bang Sauce
- Burger Sauce
- Homemade Buffalo Sauce
Crockpot Applesauce Recipe
Equipment
- Crockpot
Ingredients
- 4 pounds apples peeled, cored, and cubed
- ¾ cup apple cider or apple juice (not apple cider vinegar!)
- ¼-½ cup brown sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to your crockpot. Stir, cover and cook on high for 4 hours. 4 pounds apples, ¾ cup apple cider, ¼-½ cup brown sugar, 1 cinnamon stick
- Discard the cinnamon stick and use a potato masher to mash the applesauce to your desired consistency.
- Serve warm or refrigerate before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
