Nothing compares to the sweet and fresh taste of homemade applesauce. This easy recipe makes homemade applesauce possible for every household.
It’s apple season!
Have you ever heard of eating seasonally? I came across this style of food consumption just recently but it just makes sense. Eating fruits and vegetables that are ripe in each season can provide you with so many vital vitamins and nutrients. As I am writing this, it’s fall here in Missouri and the apples are ripe for the picking.
What to do with all those apples you just picked?
There are so many apple recipes and our family is loving trying all of them. Some of our favorites so far are:
- Applesauce
- Apple Jelly
- Apple Scrap Vinegar
- Apple Pie Filling
- Apple Butter
- Freeze Dried Apples
- Caramel Apples
- Apple Crisp
- Dehydrated Apple Chips
- Apple Cider
Lets start at the top and make some homemade applesauce from scratch!
So.. what are we going to need:
- apples
- sugar
- lemon juice
- water
- water bath pot
- canning jars and lids
- immersion blender
To start, we peel and core all of our apples. We have this fun apple corer we purchased at our local Orschlen’s (a farm supply store here in Missouri) and it makes all the difference. Prepping apples is so much faster with it. If you don’t have one of these fun tools, no worry. Prepping them with a knife and peeler will work just fine.
Once they are peeled and cored, place 6 lbs of apples in a large stock pot with a lid. We use a 10 quart stockpot. If you have more or less than 6lbs you’ll need to adjust your recipe.
In your stockpot you’ll add 5tsp lemon juice, 2/3 cup sugar, and 1/2 cup water. ( Be sure to adjust these totals if you are cooking more/less than 6 lbs of prepared apples). No need to stir or mix. Place the lid on your stockpot and cook on medium high heat for 25 minutes.
Once your apples are cooked they will be soft and easy to mash. We use an immersion blender to make the applesauce a smooth consistency. You could also use a potato masher or similar tool. Blend or mash until you reach your desired consistency. The immersion blender we use can be found here.
What to do with your homemade applesauce?
At this point you can enjoy your applesauce as is, or you can can it to save for later. If you’re going to can it you can follow a few simple steps.
A couple things to keep in mind with canning applesauce.
- you can do this successfully with a water bath- there is enough acidity in the applesauce to avoid a pressure canner
- You need to can it while it’s still hot into hot jars and a hot water bath
We can our applesauce in both quart and pint size jars. There isn’t a right or wrong size. Just pick the size that suites your family’s needs best.
To can it you are going to:
- clean and sanitize your jars and lids
- start warming the water in the water bath canner
- ladle the hot applesauce into hot sterilized jars leaving 1/2 inch headspace
- wipe the rim of the jar to remove any debris
- place a band on the jar to secure it finger tight
- place into your water bath canner
- process at a rolling boil for 20 minutes (adjust for altitude)
My favorite canning book and guide is this Ball Canning book.
The Best Homemade Applesauce
This easy to follow recipe makes the sweetest homemade applesauce without all the fluff.
Ingredients
- 6 lbs apples
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 5 tsp lemon juice
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- peel and core your apples
- pour lemon juice, sugar, and water over apples
- place lid on stockpot and cook on medium high for 25 minutes
- Remove lid and blend (immersion blender or masher) until desired conistency
- Water bath can to preserve or serve immediately
Obviously I would love to see and hear about your results with this recipe. Be sure to comment below and tell me how you like it.
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