Nov 2, 2009 | Sides | 33 comments
I don’t have time to make professional applesauce. As much as I would love a perfectly creamy sauce, the extra peeling and straining time it requires isn’t a priority for me. So I make this wonderful –
Easy Crockpot Applesauce Recipe: Homemade Applesauce in a crockpot
For those of you who MUST HAVE measurements, use this as an opportunity to live on the wild side and throw those tablespoons away. 🙂
99% of the time spent making applesauce is in the peeling.
Yes, there’s no easy way around that except “many hands make light work.” I get all the kids helping, and we go to town. We use three individual peelers and two apple peeler corer slicer machine things.
The peeler/slicer never gets off all the peelings, but I do not worry, once it’s cooked and blended, no one will know that a few peeling were left.
First, fill the crock pot to the top. It takes a lot of apples.
Then just add a tiny bit of water (oh, maybe 1/2 cup or substitute some orange juice for a change), and sprinkle cinnamon on top. (I wait until the apples are cooked until I determine sweetener.)
I’m NOT giving you measurements. Everyone’s taste is different and typically, I just put a little bit of seasonings in at this point, a few cinnamon sticks, and then I add more seasoning to taste when it’s done cooking.
Now put the lid on tight and let it cook all day (high 3-4 hours, low 8-10ish). Or better yet, start is at night and you wake up to a house filled with such sweet scents, you’ll never want to leave.
Then take stick (immersion) blender and whiz it around until the desired consistency is reached.
No, I don’t pour it out into another bowl. That would make two dishes to wash. I just mix it right in the crock pot. No, I don’t put it through a food mill or strainer. Then it wouldn’t be the easiest ever applesauce. (For those who do not want any chunks at al,l or want perfect consistency, then strain it, but that adds on work that I do not have time for…this gets it done.)
Warning: it will smell so delicious that you’ll want to do a taste test right away. BEWARE, it will be really hot.
I scoop out a bit and do a quick cool with an ice cube. This allows me to taste it, and determine if I want more sugar/brown sugar or cinnamon.
VOILA – you’re done!!
It freezes well, but honestly, we never have any left to freeze. I always want more when it’s finally cooked because my FULL crock pot has dwindled to half empty. Realize that you want to stuff that crock pot full, because the shrinkage is just part of the process that I accept, since it’s well worth the effort.
This recipe came as a result of our family trek to the mountains. Mountain apples are a must, and so is crockpot applesauce.
Looking for more apple recipes? Try my Baked Apple Oatmeal for a great hot breakfast.
Other posts you might enjoy
songbirdtiffon November 2, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Yum! I have never made apple sauce but I bet it’s wonderful! Thanks for the recipe. 🙂
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Christi at A Southern Lifeon November 2, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Great recipe! I posted a similar one a couple of weeks ago. I love the way apples smell when they are cooking!
Christi @ A Southern Life
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Liz@HoosierHomemadeon November 2, 2009 at 10:53 pm
That looks great! I can almost smell it now! I made Apple Butter in the crockpot a couple wks ago, I need to give Applesauce a try too. Thanks for hosting!
~LizReply
carolynon November 2, 2009 at 11:16 pm
My grandma always made chunky applesauce and it’s my favorite kind. The creamy kind always tastes too store bought for me! Thanks for the link up!
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Kristin @ Prudent and Practicalon November 2, 2009 at 11:45 pm
I love this method! I’ve made applesauce by cooking in a pan and then transferring to the food processor in batches. This looks soooo much easier ~ thanks for the tip!
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Lisa @ Stop and Smell the Chocolateson November 3, 2009 at 12:29 am
Yum! I just recently started making applesauce in the crockpot following the Crockpot 365 recipe. So good! I do wish there was an easier way to peel apples though!
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Ruthanneon November 3, 2009 at 7:56 am
I feel so lame ~ but I’ve never thought about making applesauce in the crockpot.
Thanks for sharing!
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Sherryon November 3, 2009 at 8:01 am
Yum! It’s been a little while since I’ve made homemade applesauce. Might have to make some as I have quite a few apples. 😀
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Gina @ The Shabby Chic Cottageon November 3, 2009 at 8:19 am
Jen,
Have you tried apple butter in a crock pot? It’s yummy, too! I use red hots candies for the flavoring in them (a trick from my MIL) and it’s ohhhh soooo good!Reply
darnold23on November 3, 2009 at 8:29 am
That is wonderful about your opportunity to travel to Ecuador to pick up that precious cargo. I hope all goes well with the trip, and I just bet your family won’t mind having those pizzas either. I would love for you to link your applesauce recipe to Crock Pot Wednesday if you have the time. Thanks a bunch.
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Julie@comehaveapeaceon November 3, 2009 at 12:16 pm
You must be my twin. 🙂 Except blonde. 🙂 We were just at Mabry Mill for a family escape, and I am in the crockpot mood and posted 3 crock recipes today over at my blog. I couldn’t find my applesauce one, so this is great timing. Did you happen to stop at the Poor Farmer’s Market in Meadows of Dan near Mabry Mill? GREAT stop with awesome cooking inspirations.
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Gail@FaithfulnessFarmon November 3, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Great looking applesauce. Don’t you just love those stick blenders! I always make my apple butter in the crockpot. Great tips!!
Blessings!
GailP.S. Thanks for hosting 🙂
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Beckyon November 3, 2009 at 2:34 pm
What type of peeler/corer do you have? I want to get one (2 under 4 eat a lot of applesauce!) and am looking for recs. Thanks!
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Amberon November 3, 2009 at 5:57 pm
I have been making applesauce this same way for almost a year. I do run mine through the blender though because our son has food texture issues. I often leave the skin on since it’s getting blended – more nutrients.
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Abbieon November 4, 2009 at 6:34 am
Yum! I don’t have one of those peelers so when I do it, I just quarter the apples, remove the seeds and core and throw them into the crockpot. Later, if I want to, I take out the skins … or not!
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florenceon November 4, 2009 at 5:50 pm
what kind of apples are best to use?
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Caraon November 4, 2009 at 9:45 pm
I’m planning on making applesauce sometime soon! This was my first week linking up…sorry I didn’t get my link right the first time! I love reading your blog!
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Jillon November 17, 2009 at 12:17 pm
I did it, I really did it. It is so cool and so easy. My grandson loves applesauce and I am going to let him help me make another batch. Thanks for the recipe.
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Micha@Cookin' Mimion February 22, 2010 at 9:12 am
I made homemade applesauce for the first time right after Thanksgiving and loved it. I need to make some more. Yours looks delicious.
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Cheryl@SomewhatCrunchyon February 22, 2010 at 10:12 am
YUM! I’ve never attempted to make applesauce, it seems labor intensive. But I love this idea, it seems very doable 🙂
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Smockity Frockson February 22, 2010 at 10:30 am
Mmmmm… Everyone loves applesauce! Thanks for adding this to my CrockPot carnival!
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Ashley @ Just Another Mom of 2on February 22, 2010 at 8:50 pm
Oh this looks delicious– and super easy! I love easy foods!! Thanks so much for the great idea. We eat a lot of applesauce in this house!
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Amyon April 14, 2010 at 9:46 am
I do applesauce the same way, only I leave the peels on, like Abbie. When I whir it with my stick blender, it chops them all up. I don’t lose any of the good stuff that’s in the peel, and even my pickier 3 yr old gobbles it up! YUM!
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Rachel Whiteleyon October 23, 2011 at 4:34 pm
Just because I’ve not done this before…did you use a 3qt or 6 qt crockpot? I want to make sure I don’t use too much water. Also, did you slice them? I can’t tell from the picture. I don’t have a peeler slicer machine thing 😉 so I’m doing it by hand. I may give it a whirl anyway before I hear from you b/c it sounds so delicious! Miss ya, Jen! Glad to see you and the clan are still doing well 🙂 Keep in touch!
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Jenon October 23, 2011 at 6:13 pm
hi Rachel – great to hear from you.
It doesn’t matter what size crockpot that you use, just choose the size you want based on how many apples you have. I filled mine to the top.If you don’t slice them, it will take a bit longer to cook, but the outcome will be the same. I would at least quarter them.
Enjoy. 🙂
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Regison November 12, 2011 at 12:00 am
@Lisa @ Stop and Smell the Chocolates,
There is an easier way to peel apples,
Use an apple corer or an apple wedger.
Then peel the slices, soooo much easier!!! 🙂 🙂Reply
Jerion August 30, 2012 at 5:40 pm
I just had to tell ya’, with my apple peeler/corer/thingy I managed to do enough apples to top the crockpot in record time for me! From starting to set up to clean up finished, it only took 30 minutes! And the smell in the kitchen now is heavenly. I added only two cinnamon sticks and half cup water to mine since the apples (free) were so sweet they didn’t need sugar put to them. This recipe is a keeper and I thank you for leaving it out here for so long for me to find!
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Charon September 29, 2012 at 3:35 pm
I am going to try this today! Lots of apples that will go to waste if I do not…I love your family picture just beautiful…
Char
Washington StateReply
Cindyon October 2, 2013 at 1:24 pm
I am making applesauce in my crockpot. But, I have some strawberries and raspberries and blackberries from my garden. I just made sweet red grape juice and canned it so i am going to use the apple peels for the liquid to cook my berries and make juice with them and can them after I make the applesauce!
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Jenon October 2, 2013 at 1:43 pm
Oh Cindy – that sounds delicious!!!
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Cindyon October 2, 2013 at 1:59 pm
I will let you know how it turns out. Been canning for 30 years but first time canning and making juice!
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Brittany at itsClementime.comon June 25, 2014 at 3:09 pm
My husband is obsessed with this recipe. I don’t add any extra sugar to it at all and it still tastes great. I actually bought an apple corer just so I could make this quicker and easier. 🙂
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Jenon June 25, 2014 at 11:40 pm
I am so glad you enjoy it!! 🙂
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