How to Make Homemade Applesauce (Easy Recipe with Only 4 Ingredients!)
If you’ve ever wondered how to make homemade applesauce, you’ll love this simple and delicious recipe. With just a few ingredients and less than 45 minutes, you can create a cozy, flavorful applesauce that’s perfect as a healthy snack, a side dish with your favorite meals, or even for baking.
There’s nothing better than warm, fresh homemade applesauce—and it’s easier than you might think. Every fall, we always have an abundance of apples, and instead of letting them go to waste, we whip up a batch of easy applesauce from scratch.
With only 4 ingredients, you can make it smooth or chunky, sweetened or unsweetened, depending on your preference.
Looking for easy snacks? Try my 4-Ingredient Mason Jar Ice Cream Hack Recipe, or these No-Bake Peanut Butter Protein Balls.
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- What you'll love about this recipe:
- Equipment You’ll Need
- Recipe Ingredients
- Ingredient Notes
- How to Make Homemade Applesauce Step-by-Step
- Best Apples for Applesauce
- Make-Ahead Tip
- When storing your homemade applesauce in mason jars, remember that 1 quart equals 4 cups. This makes it easy to measure batches and know exactly how much you’re making or saving!
- Storage Recommendation
- Uses for Homemade Applesauce
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- More Recipes You'll Love
- How to Make Homemade Applesauce (Easy Recipe with Only 4 Ingredients!)
- Looking for Delicious breakfast recipes?
What you’ll love about this recipe:
Equipment You’ll Need
- Large pot
- Wooden spoon
- Peeler
- Potato masher
- Mason jars (1 quart size)
- Food processor, blender, or food mill (optional for smooth texture)
Recipe Ingredients
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this homemade applesauce:
- Apples (see notes below for the best apples for applesauce)
- Water
- Lemon juice (optional, but helps balance tartness)
- Sugar (optional, adjust to taste)
Pro Tip: For extra flavor, add your favorite spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice.
Ingredient Notes
One of the best ways to make flavorful homemade applesauce is to start with the freshest apples you can find. Local farmers’ markets are a great place to shop for seasonal varieties, often fresher and more flavorful than store-bought apples.
You’ll also find unique heirloom varieties that add depth and natural sweetness to your applesauce recipe. Plus, buying from local farmers supports your community while ensuring your apples are picked at peak ripeness for the best taste.
How to Make Homemade Applesauce Step-by-Step
Here are quick visual instructions for making homemade applesauce step-by-step. Remember, the full instructions will be in the printable recipe card below.
- Peel, core, and chop the apples
- Add apples, water, and lemon juice to a large pot.
- Reduce the heat and simmer.
- Mash or blend the apples.
- Taste and adjust the sweetness.
- Cool and store.
Best Apples for Applesauce
The great thing about making applesauce is that you can use almost any variety of apples. You can also mix apple varieties for a more complex flavor. Popular choices include:
- Honeycrisp
- Fuji
- Granny Smith (for tartness)
- McIntosh
- Gala
- Red Delicious
Make-Ahead Tip
When storing your homemade applesauce in mason jars, remember that 1 quart equals 4 cups. This makes it easy to measure batches and know exactly how much you’re making or saving!
Storage Recommendation
If you’re not canning your applesauce, store it in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed container, such as a mason jar. Properly stored, it will last about 1–2 weeks. For longer storage, you can also freeze applesauce in freezer-safe containers.
Uses for Homemade Applesauce
Homemade applesauce is versatile and delicious! Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy it:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Yes! You can can applesauce for long-term storage using a water bath canner. Just make sure to follow safe canning practices to prevent contamination and ensure freshness.
Peeling is optional when making homemade applesauce. If you prefer a smooth applesauce, peeling the apples first is best. However, if you like a chunky, rustic texture (and want to keep extra nutrients), you can leave the skins on and blend or mill the applesauce after cooking.
Yes! Homemade applesauce freezes beautifully. Simply let it cool completely, then transfer to freezer-safe containers or bags, leaving a little space for expansion. It will keep in the freezer for up to 6 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
Looking for Delicious breakfast recipes?
Grab your 5 breakfast recipes now!
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I hope you love the homemade applesauce recipe. If you make it, please be sure to leave a comment and a rating, so I know how you like it. Enjoy, Xo
How to Make Homemade Applesauce (Easy Recipe with Only 4 Ingredients!)
Equipment
- Food processor, blender, or food mill (optional for smooth texture)
- Large pot
- Wooden spoon
- Peeler
- Potato masher
- Mason jars (1 quart size)
Ingredients
- 3 pounds Apples
- 1 cup Water
- 2 tsp Lemon Juice
- Sugar too taste-optional
Instructions
- Peel, core, and chop the apples into chunks.Add apples, water, and lemon juice to a large pot. Bring to a boil.Reduce heat and simmer for 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally until the apples are soft.Mash or blend the apples using a potato masher for a chunky texture, or a blender/food mill forsmooth applesauce.Taste and adjust sweetness. Add sugar or spices if desired.Cool and store in jars or airtight containers.That’s it! Your homemade applesauce is ready to enjoy warm or chilled.
Notes
- Honeycrisp
- Fuji
- Granny Smith (for tartness)
- McIntosh
- Gala
- Red Delicious
Nutrition
Nutrition is only an estimate based on the Very Well Fit Nutrition Calculator.
Making your own homemade applesauce recipe is simple, budget-friendly, and incredibly rewarding. Whether you enjoy it plain, spiced, chunky, or smooth, this classic recipe is a staple you’ll want to make again and again.
Now that September is almost upon us, I’m starting to think of all my favorite fall foods. Home made apple sauce is so yummy and I cannot wait to go apple picking in my favorite spot in the Berkshires. Thanks for sharing this fantastic recipe. The applesauce was so delicious.
Love this recipe, super easy and adaptable. When I make apple sauce I love to use a few different types of apples to change up the flavors. Beautiful photographs!
Perfect timing! Our apples are ripening and we will need all the recipes we can get. Thank you!
I absolutely love this homemade applesauce recipe! It’s so easy to make with just a few ingredients, and the result is perfectly sweet, cozy, and full of apple flavor.
What I love most is how versatile it is—perfect as a healthy snack, paired with pork chops, or even stirred into oatmeal or muffins. It’s also simple to store in mason jars or freeze for later. Whether you’re new to making applesauce or a seasoned pro, this recipe is foolproof and absolutely delicious.