Instant Pot Applesauce Recipe

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Instant Pot Applesauce is the best way to make homemade applesauce – 15 minutes is all you need! Also easy to make in a crockpot or on the stovetop, this applesauce recipe is one that everyone will love.

 

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This instant pot applesauce is going to be your new FAVORITE thing to make.

If you’ve got an abundance of apples, or just love this classic side dish/snack – this easy recipe is for you

I’ve made my own applesauce for years, and every time I make it, I’m reminded of how delicious it is. Don’t get me wrong, store-bought is good too.. but homemade applesauce is infinitely better!

PLUS, there is no added sugar!

It’s also SO easy to make! Whether you use an Instant pot/pressure cooker, a slow cooker or your stove – it requires minimal effort.

Ingredients for Applesauce Instant Pot:

To make applesauce you’ll need:

• apples
• water
• ground cinnamon. Ground ginger and nutmeg are optional, but delicious!

You can find substitutions for all of these ingredients below in the green shaded substitutions box. 

How to make applesauce in the instant pot:

Making applesauce in the instant pot is SO simple to use. Here’s exactly how to make it:

1. Peel + core your apples. Get this peeler, it’s the BEST!
2. Add your apples and spices to the instant pot.
3. Stir apples so spices evenly coat. Add water.
4. Add water, cover instant pot and set to sealing, high for 7 minutes.
5. This is what your apples will look like when you take it out of the instant pot.
6. Mash your apples with a fork or potato masher or pulse in a blender or with an immersion blender!

How to make applesauce in slow cooker:

If you don’t have an instant pot, don’t worry. You can easily make it in your slow cooker too! Follow the same instructions and cook on low for 8 hours. Then mash with a potato masher or blend with an immersion blender.

Can you use frozen apples in instant pot applesauce?

I haven’t tried this recipe with frozen apples, but I’m sure it would work. I would increase the cook time by 1 minute and maybe cut down the amount of water by a few tablespoons. As the frozen apples cook they will give off additional water.

What apples are best for applesauce?

ANY apple will work for applesauce, but different apples have different tastes. However, I usually use up whatever apples are bruised/on their way out on my counter.

If you prefer sweeter applesauce, Cortland or Fuji are a good choice. Gala apples are typically a more mild flavor. For more tart applesauce, just use tart apples like Braeburn or McIntosh.

This post lists all of the different apples and flavors they bring to a dish. Check it out for the best apples for applesauce!

I have also mix/matched apples and it has always come out delicious – there are no ‘bad’ apples when it comes to applesauce 🙂

How to serve applesauce:

Applesauce is delicious on it’s own, but here are a few other ways to use it:

• Applesauce goes great with pork. I like to serve it with Apple Pork Tenderloin
• Use it for baking! Healthy Banana Bread, Applesauce Snack Cake or Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies are all great ways to use up applesauce!
• It’s also great in Gluten-Free Applesauce Cake!
• Some people like applesauce with turkey, I always cook Turkey Breast in Crockpot!

Instant Pot Applesauce

Recipe by: Liz Marino

5 from 8 votes

Instant Pot Applesauce is the best way to make homemade applesauce! 15 minutes, apples & spices are all you need to make yummy pressure cooker applesauce! Also easily made on the slow cooker or stovetop, this applesauce recipe is one that everyone will love.

WW Freestyle Points Zero

Prep Time : 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time : 7 minutes minutes

Total Time : 15 minutes minutes

Serves : 8 people

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Ingredients

• 2 lbs apples about 8 large apples, or 8 cups, chopped
• 1 cup water
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Instructions

Instant Pot Instructions

1. Peel, core and roughly chop apples into ½ inch cubes.
2. Add water, apples, and spices to the instant pot. Stir to combine.
3. Cover instant pot and set it to sealing. Set instant pot to manual, high pressure for 7 minutes.
4. When the instant pot is finished cooking, quick release. You can mash the apples with a fork or potato masher or pulse in a blender if you prefer a smoother consistency.
5. Allow applesauce to cool completely + store in glass container for up to a week.

Crockpot Instructions:

1. Peel, core and roughly chop apples into ½ inch cubes.
2. Add water, apples, and spices to the crockpot. Stir to combine.
3. Cover crockpot and set to low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
4. When the applesauce is finished cooking, you can mash the apples with a fork or pulse in a blender if you prefer a smoother consistency.
5. Allow applesauce to cool completely + store in glass container for up to a week.

Stove Top Instructions

1. Peel, core and roughly chop apples into ½ inch cubes.
2. Add water, apples, and spices to the crockpot. Stir to combine.
3. Bring pot to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. When the applesauce is finished cooking, you can mash the apples with a fork or pulse in a blender if you prefer a smoother consistency.
5. Allow applesauce to cool completely + store in glass container for up to a week.

Video

Notes

Substitutions for this instant pot applesauce

• Can you add other fruit to this recipe? Sure! Feel free to add strawberries, pears or even peaches to this recipe. I’d be cautious about adding things like blueberries/raspberries to this recipe though because of the seeds.
• Spices -Once this has cooked you can add more spices if you’d like. I LOVE cinnamon so will usually add more. Ginger, nutmeg, and cloves can all add more flavor if you’d like.
• Lemon Juice– some people add lemon juice to their applesauce to balance out the sweetness. You can add in 1/2 tablespoon of fresh squeezed lemon juice if you’d like, but it’s not necessary.

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 60kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 121mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 61IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

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