Slow Cooker Applesauce
It’s easy to pick up a jar of applesauce at the store…but it’s almost as easy to make it from scratch! The slow cooker is a wonderful method – it does all the work for you. Plus, this recipe has no added sugar (trust us, you won’t miss it)! Member’s Mark™ Cinnamon Sticks and Ground Cinnamon add the perfect warm and aromatic touch.
What Types of Apples to Use for Slow Cooker Applesauce
For applesauce, you can use just one variety or mix a few for more depth of flavor. Here’s a breakdown of good choices:
Sweet apples (for natural sweetness, less sugar needed):
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Fuji
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Gala
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Golden Delicious
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Honeycrisp
Tart apples (for brightness and tang):
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Granny Smith
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McIntosh (also breaks down very easily)
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Cortland
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Jonathan
Well-balanced / classic sauce apples:
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Braeburn
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Jonagold
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Empire
Tip: Mixing sweet and tart apples gives the best flavor. For example, try Fuji + Granny Smith or Gala + McIntosh.
You Can Make Applesauce in the Instant Pot, Too!
Ingredients
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3–4 lbs apples (peeled, cored, and chopped — mix sweet & tart for best flavor)
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½ cup water (or apple juice/cider for richer taste)
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1–2 Tbsp lemon juice (to brighten flavor, helps preserve color)
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1–2 tsp cinnamon (optional)
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1–3 Tbsp sugar, honey, or maple syrup (optional — taste your apples first, you may not need it)
Instructions
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Prep the apples: Peel, core, and chop into chunks. (If you like rustic/chunky sauce, you can leave skins on and blend later.)
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Load Instant Pot: Add apples, water (or juice), and lemon juice. Stir in cinnamon and sweetener if using.
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Pressure cook:
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Close lid, set vent to Sealing.
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Cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes.
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Let pressure naturally release for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.
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Mash or blend:
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For chunky applesauce, use a potato masher right in the pot.
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For smooth applesauce, use an immersion blender (or transfer to a blender).
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Adjust taste: Add more cinnamon, sweetener, or a pinch of salt if needed.
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Store: Cool completely, then refrigerate up to 7–10 days or freeze up to 6 months.
Tip: If you like your applesauce unsweetened, you can skip the sugar entirely and just use apples + water + lemon juice.
Slow Cooker Applesauce
Equipment
- 1 Slow cooker
Ingredients
- 5-6 lbs Apples
- ¼ cup Water
- ¼ tsp Ground nutmeg
- 1 pinch Ground cloves
- 1 pinch Member's Mark™ Sea Salt
- 1-2 sticks Member's Mark™ Cinnamon Sticks
- Member's Mark™ Ground Cinnamon as desired
Instructions
- Add apples, water, nutmeg, ground cloves, and Member's Mark™ Sea Salt, and Member's Mark™ Cinnamon Sticks to slow cooker. Place the lid on top.
- Cook on the high setting for 3 hours. Remove the cinnamon sticks.
- Mix with a spoon to combine. Use an immersion blender to blend until smooth. To serve, place in a bowl and sprinkle with Member's Mark™ Ground Cinnamon.