Make Applesauce

Applesauce can be a great treat that you can make at home! Here's a sweet snack with simple instructions.

Ingredients

  • Apples (4 medium apples or 6 small apples makes 2 cups or half a liter)
  • Water
  • Lemon juice
  • Salt
  • Sugar (optional)
  • Cinnamon (optional)
  • Brown sugar (optional)

Steps

  1. Peel and core the apples. The kind of apple to use is up to you. You can use this recipe if you have slightly mushy apples you don't want to eat out of hand.
  2. Cut up the apples. Cut them into cubes that are roughly 1". They don't need to be uniform but try not to make them too different in size.
  3. Put the apples in a large pot and add liquid. Put them in a pot large enough to hold them all and add enough water to cover the bottom of the pan. You don't want to boil them; you want to steam them, so add liquid accordingly.
  4. Add lemon juice and salt. Add about 2 teaspoons of lemon juice (or some other citric) to slow down oxidation and a pinch of salt to help break down the apples.
  5. Cook. Put the pot over high heat. Once the liquid boils, reduce the heat to medium low and cover. Allow the apples to cook, stirring occasionally, until they're tender. It will take 20 to 30 minutes depending on how you prefer them.
  6. Puree. When they're done cooking, mash them with a fork or a potato masher for a chunky applesauce or blend them with an immersion blender for a smooth one.
  7. Allow to cool and enjoy. Add sugar or cinnamon if you like, and serve either warm or cool.
  8. Finished.

Tips

  • To add more flavor, use apple cider or apple juice instead of water.
  • Use applesauce instead of oil when baking for a healthier treat.
  • Experiment with flavorings. Some suggestions include: cloves, lemon zest, cinnamon sticks, honey, maple syrup, and ginger.
  • As an alternative method, you can skip the coring and peeling and just cut the apples into chunks. When they are cooked, push them through a fine sieve to puree them while removing the peels and cores.
  • Roast the apples in the oven before steaming them for even more flavor.

Warnings

  • The apples will be very hot after cooking. Handle carefully.

Things You'll Need

  • Large pot
  • Apple corer (alternatively you can just cut around the core and reduce the amount of things that need cleanup)
  • Knife
  • Peeler
  • Fork, blender or potato masher

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