Easy Crockpot Applesauce Recipe

Crockpot Applesauce is the perfect fall treat. Let your slow cooker do the work so kids and adults can enjoy a healthy snack!

Original post: September 2014 | Updated: September 2020

Apple season is here, people, it’s HERE! If you have followed my blog for long, you know that I am mildly obsessed with apples. Every year when September rolls around, I bake and cook with apples and swirl them through streams of delicious caramel and make crockpot applesauce by the truckload.

This homemade applesauce is THE BEST. My 13-year-old, who has been eating this very recipe for years, just yesterday told me that it is the “best applesauce he has ever eaten in his life.” Every time I make a huge batch, it lasts two days in my fridge. Two. Days.

Did I mention how incredible my house smells while it’s cooking? Better than any scented candle.

HOW TO MAKE CROCKPOT APPLESAUCE

Make this simple better-than-store bought crock pot applesauce recipe for a healthy snack!

STEP 1

Peel, core and slice 10-12 medium apples. Throw them into a crockpot along with brown sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice and water. Cook for 5 hours on high heat. Stir occasionally.

STEP 2

Cover and refrigerate. The sauce should be placed in a mason jar or airtight container. It stays in the fridge for up to 2 weeks (but won’t last that long, I promise).

RECIPE NOTES FOR CROCKPOT APPLESAUCE

• 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 blender would make the consistency even smoother.
• If you like this, then you’ll also love Apple Butter!

HOW TO STORE AND FREEZE HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE

Once the applesauce has cooled and you have ensured its perfection, ladle into an airtight container or mason jars. They will hold more than you think!

If you prefer to freeze it, it’s easy peasy! Ladle into an air-tight container such as doubled freezer bags or plastic storage containers. Freeze for up to 6 months!

BEST APPLES TO USE FOR APPLESAUCE

There are so many brands of apples and everyone has a different favorite! But 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’s some suggestions to mix together:

Sweet/Softer Apple Brands

• Fuji
• Red Delicious
• Golden Delicious
• Cortland

Tart (or a little Sour) Apple Brands

• Granny Smith
• McIntosh
• Ida Red
• Braeburn

CROCKPOT APPLESAUCE: A GREAT GIFT IDEA!

Do you know anyone who loves apples? Share applesauce with loved ones, a neighbor or a teacher. It makes a great fall gift!

HOW MANY CALORIES IN AN APPLE

One medium apple contains approximately 95 calories.

HOW MANY CARBS IN AN APPLE

One medium apple contains approximately 25 grams of carbohydrates.

ARE APPLES GOOD FOR YOU

Good news! The recommendation is that you enjoy an apple in the morning hours. Apples are high in dietary fiber and pectin, which helps digestion. Fruit can help your stomach to empty more slowly, helping you to stay feeling full longer and not prone to snack between meals.

I just had to include this oldie of my boys from years ago that makes my heart swoon..

OTHER GREAT APPLE RECIPES

Apples aren’t just for picking from a tree – there’s so many great ways to enjoy a sweet apple treat, don’t limit yourself to just one recipe!

• Appledoodles are a fun twist on the classic snickerdoodles! Great way to use up apples in the fall!
• Make Apple Pie Jam this fall! Great, DELICIOUS way to use up extra apples in the fall!
• Salted Chocolate Caramel Apples – A sprinkling of sea salt and a bit of chocolate turns Caramel Apples into an extravagant dessert: Salted Chocolate Caramel Apples!
• 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.
• Transform classic French Toast into an appley indulgence! Prepare this easy Apple French Toast Bake recipe the night before to avoid morning prep!

HEALTHY FOODS FOR PICKY KIDS

Knowing you can help your kids get the nutrients they need in more than one form is what we want to help you accomplish!

• Healthy Breakfast Cookies – These cookies aren’t just for breakfast and they are deceptively delicious. Kids will never know how healthy they are!
• Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups – Eliminate artificial and unknown ingredients by making your own homemade fruit roll-ups! This is the ultimate snack food for kids. Great for lunch boxes, too!
• Healthy Breakfast Muffins – Enjoy breakfast the healthy way! Whip up a batch of these muffins as a perfect on-the-go meal or a snack to stay on track with healthy eating.
• No Bake Granola Bars are the perfect snack for little ones. Filled with dried fruit and chocolate, peanut butter and honey, you will satisfy your sweet tooth with a snack you can feel good about eating.
• These Healthy Snack Bites take less than 10 minutes to make and you probably have all of the ingredients sitting in your pantry. Great after school or anytime snack with no preservatives or unknown ingredients.