10+ Applesauce Recipes to Sweeten Your Snack Time

Applesauce is such a simple, tasty treat you can reach for whenever the mood strikes. You just cook apples until they’re soft and full of flavor.

Whether you prefer it sweet or a bit tart, applesauce works as a snack, a side, or even an ingredient in other dishes.

You can whip up applesauce at home with just a few basics. It’s comforting and easy to tweak for your own taste.

Let’s check out some applesauce recipes that might just fit your kitchen and your mood.

1) Classic Homemade Applesauce with Cinnamon

Classic homemade applesauce is both easy and delicious. Cook apples with water and cinnamon until they’re soft and fragrant.

Skip peeling if you’re after a chunkier sauce. Just chop the apples and cook them down.

Add sugar if your apples aren’t sweet enough for your taste. Want to mix it up? Toss in a pinch of nutmeg or cloves.

Ingredients:

• 6-8 medium apples, peeled or unpeeled
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons sugar (optional)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Chop apples into small pieces.
2. Add apples, water, cinnamon, and sugar to a saucepan.
3. Cook on medium heat for 15-20 minutes, until soft.
4. Mash with a fork or potato masher to your preferred texture.
5. Let cool, then serve or refrigerate.

2) No-Sugar-Added Applesauce

No-sugar-added applesauce lets the apples do all the talking. It’s a lighter option if you’re cutting back on sugar.

Mix up apple varieties for a nice sweet-tart balance. Spices like cinnamon add extra flavor without sugar.

Cook it on the stove, in an instant pot, or even a slow cooker. It’s good warm or cold, so you’ve got options.

Ingredients

• Apples (any kind or a mix)
• Water
• Optional: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, or lemon juice

Cooking Instructions

1. Peel, core, and chop apples.
2. Put apples and a splash of water in a pot.
3. Cook on medium heat for 15-20 minutes, until soft.
4. Mash or blend until you get the texture you want.
5. Add spices or lemon juice if you’re feeling it.
6. Cool it down or eat it warm.

Learn more about no-sugar-added applesauce here.

3) Apple and Lemon Juice Applesauce

This applesauce gets a bright twist from lemon juice. The lemon keeps the apples fresh and adds a little tang.

Peel, core, and chop your apples. Add lemon juice, water, and cinnamon if you’re into that.

The lemon juice keeps the apples from browning as they cook. Simmer until soft, then mash or blend.

You end up with a fresh, homemade applesauce that’s got a bit of zing.

Ingredients

• 6 medium apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• ½ cup water
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Put apples, lemon juice, water, and cinnamon in a big pot.
2. Cover and cook on medium heat for 20-25 minutes.
3. Stir now and then; mash when soft.
4. Serve warm or chilled.

4) Chunky Cinnamon Applesauce

Chunky cinnamon applesauce is all about texture. You keep some apple pieces for a little bite.

The cinnamon brings warmth, making it great for breakfast or snacking. Serve it warm or cold, whatever feels right.

A splash of lemon juice brightens things up. Cook it low and slow for the best flavor.

Ingredients

• 6 to 8 medium apples, peeled and chopped
• 1/4 cup sugar (adjust to taste)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/3 cup water

Cooking Instructions

1. Peel and chop apples into chunks.
2. Toss apples, sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, and water in a saucepan.
3. Cook on low, stirring occasionally.
4. Simmer for 20-30 minutes until apples are soft but still chunky.
5. Cool before serving.

Check out the full recipe at Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce.

5) Brown Sugar and Apple Cider Applesauce

Brown sugar and apple cider bring a sweet, tangy kick to applesauce. The brown sugar deepens the flavor, while cider makes it extra fruity.

Peel and slice your apples, then cook them with cider and brown sugar. Add cinnamon if you’re in the mood.

Mash the apples to your liking—smooth or chunky, it’s your call. This one’s good warm or cold.

Ingredients

• 6 pounds apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
• 1 cup apple cider
• ½ cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Add apples, cider, brown sugar, and cinnamon to a large pot.
2. Cook on medium, stirring now and then, for 20-25 minutes.
3. Mash to your preferred consistency.
4. Let cool, then eat or stash in the fridge.

For a slow cooker, set it on low for 4-5 hours.

Find more ideas for brown sugar and apple cider applesauce.

6) Slow Cooker Applesauce

Making applesauce in a slow cooker is almost too easy. Just toss in peeled, sliced apples, a bit of water, and your favorite spices.

Set it on low and let it do its thing for hours. Stir once or twice to help everything blend.

Mash or puree when it’s done. Add cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice if you want, and sweeten with brown sugar if you like it sweeter.

Ingredients

• 8 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
• ½ cup water
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
• ¾ cup brown sugar (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Put apples, water, spice, and brown sugar in the slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
3. Stir once or twice.
4. Mash or puree to your liking.
5. Serve warm or store in the fridge.

More tips for slow cooker applesauce here.

7) Spiced Applesauce with Orange Peel and Rosewater

Want to get fancy? Try adding orange peel and rosewater to your applesauce.

Start with peeled, chopped apples and a splash of water. Add cinnamon and strips of orange peel.

Once the apples are soft, fish out the orange peel. Stir in a little rosewater for a subtle floral note.

Ingredients

• 6 medium apples, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon orange peel strips
• 1/2 teaspoon rosewater
• 2 tablespoons sugar (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Combine apples, water, cinnamon, and orange peel in a pot.
2. Cook on medium heat for 20-25 minutes, until soft.
3. Remove orange peel.
4. Mash apples to your preferred texture.
5. Stir in rosewater and sugar if you want it sweeter.
6. Serve warm or cool.

8) Easy Smooth Applesauce

Smooth applesauce is as easy as it gets. Wash, peel, and chop your apples into chunks.

Add them to a pot with a cup of water. Bring it to a boil, then simmer until the apples are soft.

Mash with a potato masher or blend for extra creaminess. Sweeten with sugar or add cinnamon if you like.

Ingredients

• 4 large apples, peeled and chopped
• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons sugar (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Wash, peel, and chop apples.
2. Place apples and water in a pot.
3. Cover and bring to a boil over medium heat.
4. Lower heat, simmer 20–30 minutes until soft.
5. Mash or blend until smooth.
6. Stir in sugar and cinnamon if you want.
7. Serve warm or cold.

More about making applesauce, smooth or chunky, at How to Make Applesauce – Two Ways for Smooth or Chunky Sauce.

9) Applesauce with Ground Nutmeg

Ground nutmeg gives your applesauce a warm, spicy kick. It pairs beautifully with the natural sweetness of apples.

Use fresh or cooked apples—just sprinkle in nutmeg for that gentle hint of spice.

This one’s a breeze to make and great for beginners. Adjust the sugar and nutmeg to suit your taste.

Ingredients

• 4 apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
• ¾ cup water
• ¼ cup white sugar
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Cooking Instructions

1. Toss the apples and water into a saucepan over medium heat.

2. Let them cook until the apples turn soft, which usually takes around 15 minutes.

3. Mash the apples with a fork or blend them if you want a smoother texture.

4. Stir in the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

5. Let it simmer for five minutes, then cool it off before serving.

10) Apple Juice and Clove Infused Applesauce

Want to switch things up? Try making applesauce with apple juice and cloves.

Cook peeled, chopped apples with apple juice. It helps keep the sauce sweet and smooth.

Drop in a few whole cloves while the apples cook. They add a gentle, warm spice—nothing overwhelming.

Let everything simmer until the apples soften up. Fish out the cloves before you mash or blend the apples.

This version works as a snack or alongside pork. The apple juice brings enough sweetness that you might skip adding sugar.

Ingredients

• 5 pounds apples, peeled and chopped
• ½ cup apple juice
• 3-4 whole cloves
• Juice of 1 lemon (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Toss apples, apple juice, and lemon juice into a pot.

2. Drop in the whole cloves.

3. Crank up the heat and bring everything to a boil.

4. Once boiling, turn the heat down and let it all simmer for 20-30 minutes.

5. Wait until the apples turn soft.

6. Fish out the cloves.

7. Mash or blend the apples until you get the texture you like.

8. Serve it up warm if you’re impatient, or chill it first if you prefer.