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Crock Pot Applesauce is one of those recipes that makes the whole house smell like fall, and it is so easy my girls practically make it themselves: just toss everything in the slow cooker and walk away. If you love cozy apple desserts like our Cracker Barrel fried apples, this homemade applesauce is the simplest way to use up a bag of apples.
It is naturally sweet, warmly spiced, and infinitely better than anything from a jar.
Crock Pot Applesauce Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 20 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 6 hours
- ⏳ Total Time: 6 hours 20 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 12 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 68kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Sweet, warm, lightly spiced
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, set-it-and-forget-it like our Cracker Barrel fried apples
Quick Answer
Peel, core, and cube a mix of Granny Smith and Fuji apples and add them to a slow cooker. Stir in water, lemon juice, and cinnamon, then cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours until the apples are very soft. Mash with a fork for chunky applesauce or blend for smooth, and sweeten with a little brown sugar if you like.
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Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Two apples balance the flavor. Tart Granny Smith and sweet Fuji apples together give the applesauce a perfectly balanced sweet-tart taste.
- The slow cooker does all the work. Low, gentle heat breaks the apples down into soft, jammy applesauce with almost no effort from you.
- Lemon juice keeps it bright. A splash of fresh lemon juice keeps the color fresh and adds a little brightness to balance the sweetness.
- You control the sweetness. The apples are naturally sweet, so the brown sugar is optional. Taste and add only what you need.
- Chunky or smooth, your choice. Mash with a fork for rustic, chunky applesauce or use an immersion blender for silky smooth.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It is completely hands-off. Toss everything in the slow cooker and come back to homemade applesauce.
- It tastes fresher and brighter than store-bought, with no added preservatives.
- It fills the house with the coziest cinnamon-apple smell, just like our Cracker Barrel fried apples.
Key Ingredients
Just a few simple ingredients turn into the coziest homemade applesauce. Here is what each one brings.
- Granny Smith apples: Tart and firm, they keep the applesauce from being overly sweet and add bright flavor.
- Fuji apples: Naturally sweet and soft, they break down easily and balance the tart apples.
- Cinnamon: The classic warm spice that makes applesauce taste like fall.
- Lemon juice: Keeps the color fresh and adds a touch of brightness.
- Brown sugar: Totally optional. Add a little only if your apples need extra sweetness.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
This crock pot applesauce is endlessly customizable. Here are a few favorite twists.
- Spice it up: Add a pinch of nutmeg, allspice, or a cinnamon stick for deeper flavor.
- Make it caramel: Stir in a little extra brown sugar and a splash of vanilla.
- Keep it sugar-free: Skip the brown sugar entirely. Sweet apples make it plenty sweet on their own.
- Use what you have: Honeycrisp, Gala, or McIntosh apples all work well in place of the Fuji.
- Turn it into dessert: Spoon it warm over ice cream, or use it in baked treats like our Cracker Barrel fried apples.
How to Make Crock Pot Applesauce
- Peel, core, and cube the Granny Smith and Fuji apples, then add them to a 6 to 8 quart slow cooker.
- Add the water, lemon juice, and cinnamon and stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours, stirring occasionally, until the apples are very soft.
- Mash with a fork or potato masher for chunky applesauce, or blend for smooth. Taste and stir in brown sugar if desired.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Use a mix of apples for the best flavor. One tart and one sweet variety gives you a perfectly balanced applesauce.
- Cube the apples evenly so they cook down at the same rate.
- Stir occasionally so the edges do not scorch, especially if cooking on high.
- Taste before sweetening. The apples are naturally sweet, so you may not need any brown sugar at all.
- Leave the lid cracked at the end if you want a thicker applesauce, to let some moisture cook off.
- For smooth applesauce, an immersion blender right in the slow cooker is the easiest tool.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
This crock pot applesauce is wonderful warm, straight from the slow cooker, with an extra dusting of cinnamon on top. It is comfort food in a bowl.
Serve it as an easy side dish with pork chops or roast chicken, dollop it onto pancakes and oatmeal, or swirl it into yogurt for a quick snack.
It is also a baker’s secret weapon. Use it in muffins and quick breads in place of oil, or spoon it warm over vanilla ice cream alongside our Cracker Barrel fried apples for the coziest fall dessert.
Kids love it as an after-school snack, and it makes the perfect homemade baby food too. It keeps well, so make a big batch and enjoy it all week.
Crock Pot Applesauce FAQs
A mix of tart and sweet apples works best. This recipe uses Granny Smith and Fuji, but Honeycrisp, Gala, and McIntosh are all great choices for a balanced flavor.
For smooth applesauce, yes, peel them. If you blend it well or do not mind a more rustic texture, you can leave the peels on for extra fiber and color.
Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. It also freezes beautifully for up to 3 months.
Absolutely. The apples are naturally sweet, so the brown sugar is completely optional. Taste it first and add a little only if needed.
Yes. Let it cool completely, then freeze in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before serving.
For chunky applesauce, mash the soft apples with a fork or potato masher. For smooth applesauce, use an immersion blender or transfer it to a regular blender.
Got more apples to use up? Our Cracker Barrel fried apples are another cozy, easy way to enjoy them.
Crock Pot Applesauce
Equipment
- slow cooker 6 to 8-quart
Ingredients
- 1 & 1/2 pounds Granny Smith apples peeled, cored, and cut into cubes
- 1 & 1/2 pounds Fuji apples peeled, cored, and cut into cubes
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice fresh squeezed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ – ¼ cup light brown sugar packed, optional
Instructions
- Place the cubed apples into a 6 to 8-quart slow cooker.1 & 1/2 pounds Granny Smith apples, 1 & 1/2 pounds Fuji apples
- Add the water, lemon juice, and cinnamon and stir to combine.1/2 cup water, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Place on low heat for 5-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally so it doesn’t burn along the edges.
- Once the apples are very soft, break them up with a fork or potato masher if you like chunky applesauce, or use an immersion blender to make it smooth.
- Taste and add brown sugar if desired; I suggest adding up to ¼ cup. Serve warm or allow it to come to room temperature, place in an airtight container, and chill.⅛ – ¼ cup light brown sugar
Notes
- Weigh the apples after they have been peeled and cored for the correct ratios.
- Adjust the amount of sugar to your personal preference.
- Keep in mind that the longer the applesauce cooks, the more it will reduce.
- If you like your applesauce chunky, simply break the apples up with a fork.
- Taste the applesauce before adding sugar; some apples are sweeter than others.
- Remember, applesauce can be served warm, at room temperature, or chilled.
Nutrition
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