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Crockpot Applesauce With Brown Sugar (Whole Apples)

Make crockpot applesauce with brown sugar using peeled, cored apples without chopping them into pieces. Cook for about 5 hours without stirring, then mash right in the slow cooker for sweet, cinnamon-spiced applesauce with your favorite texture.
5 from 2 votes
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Course: Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours
Servings: 12
Calories: 128.94kcal
Author: Megan Porta

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 10-12 medium apples peeled and cored, left whole
  • 1/2 lemon juiced
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Place the peeled, cored apples in the slow cooker without chopping them into pieces. Drizzle the lemon juice over the apples.
    10-12 medium apples, 1/2 lemon
  • Pour in the water, then sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon over the apples. Do not stir. Cover with the lid.
    1 cup water, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • Cook on high for about 5 hours, until the apples are very soft and collapse easily when pressed with a potato masher. If any apples remain firm, cover and continue cooking until tender.
  • Mash directly in the slow cooker, stirring to distribute the brown sugar and cinnamon. Mash lightly for chunky applesauce or more thoroughly for a smoother texture.
  • Taste and adjust the sweetness or cinnamon if desired. Serve warm or refrigerate to enjoy chilled.

Video

Notes

Optional no-waste peel variation: If using an apple peeler, corer and slicer, reserve the spiral peels and place them over the apples before cooking. Once everything is tender, briefly mash the mixture to loosen it, then use an immersion blender to blend the peels into the applesauce. This adds extra fiber, deeper color and richer apple flavor.
  • Apple quantity: No exact weight is necessary. A little variation in apple size or quantity is fine.
  • Apple prep: A peeler that makes spiral cuts works great. Leave each apple together rather than chopping it into separate pieces.
  • Apple varieties: Use one variety or a mix of sweet and tart apples. Size and variety can affect cooking time, so check tenderness before mashing.
  • Citrus alternative: A squirt or two of fresh orange juice can replace the lemon juice.
  • Less-sweet applesauce: Reduce or omit the brown sugar. Taste after cooking before adding more.
  • Smooth applesauce: Carefully use an immersion blender with the blade submerged to prevent hot splashes.
  • Optional flavors: Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla after cooking, or try ¼ teaspoon nutmeg or allspice.
  • Storage: Divide into small, shallow containers and refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking. Store covered for up to 1 week. Once chilled, freeze in freezer-safe containers or bags for up to 4 months for best quality. Leave room for expansion and thaw in the refrigerator.
    Skip the chopping and stirring. Let the apples cook until they collapse easily, then mash them directly in the crockpot.

Nutrition

Calories: 128.94kcal | Carbohydrates: 33.95g | Protein: 0.53g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.05g | Sodium: 16.77mg | Fiber: 4.47g | Sugar: 27.2g
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