Go Back
+ servings
Logo of The Forked Spoon featuring a blue spork.
Overhead view of a round white ceramic bowl filled with smooth golden-brown applesauce, with a hammered gold-colored spoon lifting applesauce from the right side. A whole red apple, red apple wedges, a white bowl of ground cinnamon, and cinnamon sticks tied with twine surround the bowl on a pale stone surface.
4.83 from 340 votes

Applesauce Recipe

Easy recipe for delicious Homemade Applesauce. Ready in about 40 minutes, it makes the perfect sweet snack or healthy dessert.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 225kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 lb apples - approx. 6 medium apples, peeled, cored, quartered and chopped into smaller chunks.
  • ½ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ cup white sugar - (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Place the peeled, cored, quartered and chopped apples in a large pot.  Stir in the 1/2 cup of water, lemon juice, sugar (if using), 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat.
  • Once simmering, reduce heat to low and cover pot with a tight-fitting lid.  Maintain a low simmer for 30 minutes or until the apples are completely soft and cooked through.
  • Once fully cooked, remove from heat.  For chunky applesauce, mash the apples directly in the pot using a potato masher. For smooth applesauce, add the apples to a food processor or blender and blend until smooth (if using a blender, work in batches and allow time to cool), or use a hand-held immersion blender and blend directly in the pot.
  • This applesauce is delicious served warm or cold.

Notes

I used Pink Lady apples for this recipe because that is what I had laying around.  Other recommended apples are Granny Smith, Mcintosh, Fuji, Gravenstein, Jonagold, and Golden Delicious. Or, even better, you can always mix and match!
Easily turn this recipe into unsweetened applesauce by adjusting the sugar amount according to personal preference. 
Feel free to add additional cinnamon or even a pinch of nutmeg, if desired.
Makes approx. 1.5 quarts

Nutrition

Calories: 225kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Sodium: 152mg | Potassium: 364mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 47g | Vitamin A: 185IU | Vitamin C: 15.7mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @theforkedspoon and hashtag it #theforkedspoon and please leave your star rating in the comment section on this post.

Copyright © 2026 The Forked Spoon

QR Code linking back to recipe