Homemade Applesauce
Made with cinnamon, sugar, and New England's favorite apple, my Homemade Applesauce is flavorful and comforting. It's one of my favorite fall recipes, and perfect for the fresh apples we pick at the orchard.
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 246kcal
Ingredients
- 7 McIntosh apples about 4 to 5 ounces each, washed
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup water
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
Prepare the apples:
- Preheat the oven to 375° F. Have an 8-inch square baking dish and a large bowl ready.
- Peel the 7 McIntosh apples HOLD THE PEELS ASIDE. Remove and discard the cores from the apples.
- Cut the apples into ½-inch thick slices. and place the slices into the bowl.
Add the sugars and spices:
- Add to the bowl the ½ cup packed brown sugar, ½ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup water, 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg, ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves, and 1 pinch salt. Stir the apples until they're thoroughly coated with the sugar and spices.
Chop the peels:
- Place the reserved apple peels into a food processor or mini chopper, and finely chop them. Add the chopped peels to the apples and stir to combine everything. Pour the mixture into the baking pan.
Bake:
- Bake the apples for about 30 to 35 minutes—stir the apples every 10 minutes to keep them moist. Once the apples are soft and mashable, remove the pan from the oven.
Mash them:
- Mash the apples with a potato masher until you get a thick and hearty sauce.
Serve:
- Stir the sauce through before serving. You can serve the sauce warm, at room temperature, or chilled.
- The cooled applesauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Makes about 3 cups.
Notes
- McIntosh apples are my favorite for making applesauce, but you can also experiment with your preferred varieties. McIntosh apples have a nice tartness... if you decide to go with a sweeter variety, adjust the sugar to suit your taste.
- To freeze Homemade Applesauce, spoon it into a freezer-proof container and seal tightly. Store your applesauce in the freezer for up to three months. It can be thawed overnight in the fridge, or slowly over low heat on the stovetop.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 246kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.5g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 15mg | Potassium: 255mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 57g | Vitamin A: 116IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 0.4mg
