Crockpot Applesauce With Brown Sugar Recipe

This crockpot applesauce with brown sugar is the perfect fall treat. Not only is it so easy to make your own applesauce, but it’s ideal for everything from a simple snack to the perfect weeknight or holiday dinner side dish. Let your slow cooker do the work so you can get on with your life! Bonus: your house will smell amazing!

Original post: September 2014 | Updated: September 2020 and October 2024

Why This Recipe Works

• Great way to use leftover apples or if you have an abundance of apples.
• I make this delicious applesauce at least a dozen times each fall. The recipe has literally never failed me.
• So much better than store-bought. (It’s not even close.)
• Super easy to make.
• Great use for juicy fall apples (especially if you enjoy apple picking at your local apple orchard)
• Perfect snack, breakfast, or dessert topping for ice cream.
• The amazing aroma that will fill your house as this cooks cannot be beat.

I should start by saying that I am mildly obsessed with apples. Maybe mildly is putting it mildly. Every year when apple season rolls around, I’m baking and cooking with apples, swirling them through streams of delicious caramel and of course, making this crock pot applesauce by the truckload.

Even my teen, who has been eating this very recipe for years, told me recently that it is the “best applesauce he has ever eaten in his life.” High praise indeed from a teenager. And I know it’s true, because every time I make a big batch of this, it lasts two days in my fridge. Two. Days.

And the best part is this recipe is as simple as it is tasty. Just let the slow cooker do all the work for you! This delicious homemade applesauce is as perfect for a weeknight dinner as it is at a holiday dinner.

I love to get this crockpot applesauce with brown sugar started on Thanksgiving or Christmas morning so the whole house smells amazing when guests arrive.

Slow Cooker Applesauce Recipe Ingredients

This simple recipe uses fresh ingredients for the absolute best results every time.

Apples – Use medium baking apples such as honeycrisp apples, gala, pink lady, jonagold or granny smith. A mix of sweet and tart apples will bring a lot of dimension to the flavor of the applesauce.

Brown sugar – If you prefer, you can use more naturally sweet apples and reduce the amount of brown sugar you add. Other sugar substitutes that would be great are maple syrup, coconut sugar, agave nectar, honey or stevia.

Cinnamon – Double the amount of cinnamon if you really love cinnamon-y applesauce.

Lemon juice – Or any citrus juice. This is going to keep your apples from turning brown.

How to Make Crockpot Applesauce with Brown Sugar

Making this delicious, homemade apple sauce is as easy as 1, 2, 3. Actually, it’s even easier than that.

Step 1

Combine all ingredients in a crockpot. 

Step 2

Cook on high for 5 hours, stirring occasionally. 

Step 3

Store in airtight containers, refrigerate, and use within 2 weeks.

Best Types of Apples for Applesauce    

There is such a wide variety of apples, and everyone has a different personal preference! When making applesauce you want a variety of flavors, but also consider that you want them to be softer so they cook down well into the sauce you desire.

Here are some suggestions to mix together:

Sweet/Softer Apple Brands

• Fuji Apples
• Cortland
• Red Delicious
• Golden Delicious

Tart (or a little Sour) Apple Brands

• Granny Smith Apples 
• McIntosh
• Ida Red
• Braeburn

How To Peel and Core an Apple

• The easiest way to peel, core and slice a lot of apples is to use this magical apple peeler corer and slicer.
• You can also use a sharp paring knife to get the job done.

How To Keep Apples From Turning Brown

Fill a large bowl half full with cool water and squirt the juice from a lemon into it.

As you peel, core and slice the apples, toss them into the citrus water to keep them from turning brown. Make sure all white parts of the apple pieces are submerged in the citrus water.

Recipe Notes & Tips

• If you love more complex flavors, you could add a little of each of the following (no more than 1/2 teaspoon each): nutmeg, pumpkin spice, allspice and cloves.
• I use a potato masher to make the mixture a little less chunky after it’s done cooking down. An immersion blender or food processor can be used for a really smooth applesauce.
• If you like chunky applesauce, just don’t mash the cooked apples as much.
• Harder apple varieties will take longer to cook down than softer ones.
• Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract or almond extract for an additional boost of great flavor.
• Use an extra teaspoon of cinnamon if you enjoy cinnamon applesauce.
• Omit the sugar for unsweetened applesauce.

Apple Butter vs Applesauce

Apple butter is somewhat similar to applesauce in ingredients and cooking methods, but that’s about where the similarities end. It is a thicker, preserve-like spread that can be chunky or smooth, like peanut butter.

It’s great for spreading on toast or pancakes or waffles, or just eating with a spoon. You can learn more by checking out my Apple Butter recipe.

How To Use Applesauce In Baking

You can use applesauce as a replacement for oil, butter, sugar, or eggs in baking. Applesauce works best in sweet baked goods and not so much in savory ones.

• For oil or butter, use applesauce in a one to one ratio for the subbed ingredient
• As an egg replacement, use 1/4 – 1/3 cup of applesauce.
• Use applesauce in a 1:1 ratio to replace sugar. You will need to slightly lessen the amount of other wet ingredients for the recipe to accommodate.

How to Serve Homemade Applesauce 

There’s almost no limit to the delicious ways to serve this easy applesauce. These are just a few of my family’s favorites.

• Of course it’s perfect with Slow Cooker Pork Loin, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, and of course Classic Pan-Fried Pork Chops.
• I also recommend it as a simple side for Marinated Steak Bites and Baked Potato
• It’s great alongside Hamburgers or Sloppy Joes and French Fries
• We love it with Chicken Tenders or Grilled Jerk Chicken
• Serve it alongside your Holiday Ham or Thanksgiving Turkey
• It also makes a great topping for vanilla ice cream

How To Store Homemade Applesauce

Once the applesauce has cooled, ladle into an airtight container or mason jars. Store in the fridge for up to 10 days.

To extend the shelf life, store extra applesauce in freezer-safe container bags in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Favorite Apple Recipes

• Caramel Apples are the perfect fall or Halloween treat. They are SO easy to make using a few ingredients and done in minutes.
• Instant Pot Pork and Apples is the perfect fall dinner. It requires only a few ingredients and it is finished in 30 minutes!
• Make Apple Pie Filling in your Instant Pot quickly and easily! Throw this delicious sweet pie filling into your next apple pie for a perfect holiday or any time dessert. Having a batch in your freezer makes pie-making SO EASY!
• Apple Carrot Cake Muffins – Apples and carrots create the most delicious little muffin you could ever imagine. Great as a snack, breakfast or dessert!
• The only thing better than salted caramel apples is Salted Caramel Apple Cheesecake! This is the perfect fall treat and a great way to use up any type of apples.

Even More Apple Recipes

• Apple Pie Bars
• Apple Streusel Coffee Cake
• Instant Pot Apple Cider
• Apple Snickerdoodle Cookies

Will you help add value to Pip and Ebby?
If you make this recipe and love it, stop back and give it a 5-star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a comment. THANK YOU!