I’m not a big fan of store bought applesauce. In my opinion, it is very gritty and has a kind of weird flavor. I don’t say that to tell anyone that enjoys jarred applesauce that they are wrong for it, but merely to explain why I take the time to make my own DIY applesauce. Since I was a child, steaming hot applesauce covered in cinnamon was a favorite at the dinner table.
My mom most often made this anytime she cooked a ham. It is now something that my children enjoy during dinner when we are eating ham. You might be really surprised at how easy it is to make homemade applesauce.
Ingredients For Homemade Applesauce
4-5 Pounds of apples (red, green, or a mixture)
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 of water
How to Make Applesauce
You can make as little or as much as you desire, but I think 4-5 pounds of apples is enough to feed a family of 5. They will cook down substantially in the process.
First thing you will need to do is peel and core the apples. After they are peeled and cored, then cut them in about one inch cubes. Place them in a pot and sprinkle with the lemon juice and add the water. Cover the pot with a lid. Bring them to a boil and then take the heat down to medium for about 30 minutes or until tender. Once they are fully cooked, remove from heat and use a hand masher or fork to mash the apples. This is the same process you would use for hand mashed potatoes.
When the apples are mashed as much as you desire, cut a few pieces of butter and lay on top. Then sprinkle the top with cinnamon.
A Few Pointers
One thing you need to be careful about when making DIY applesauce is that it can scorch to the bottom of the pan if you are not careful. You need to watch the pot and make sure that it is not cooking faster than what the apples can produce liquid. The reason you start with 1/2 cup of water at the bottom of the pan is to give the apples the time to create their own juices as they cook down.
The lemon juice is an optional addition, and if you do not have this in your refrigerator, I wouldn’t make a special trip for it. The lemon juice can act as a preservative and give the sauce a little bit more of a tart flavor. I’ve made this recipe plenty of times without it.
Personally, my applesauce turns out sweet enough without sugar. If you have made yours with all green apples, you might consider skipping the lemon juice and adding a bit of sugar to taste. I suggest wait until it is cooked completely and try it out before adding sugar.
I like to add cinnamon to my recipe, but that is also another optional ingredient.
Hope you all enjoy this simple recipe for homemade sauce. Please feel free to ask me any questions in the comment section and I’ll be sure to get back to you.
