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–+ servings
A round white bowl filled with cinnamon applesauce, with a black serving spoon, next to cinnamon sticks and whole, fresh apples on a rustic wooden tabletop.
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5 from 2 votes

Cinnamon Applesauce

Our homemade cinnamon applesauce has a natural sweetness, subtle spice flavor, and mild tang that balances out the richness of other foods like pork and roasted poultry.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Sauces
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Erika Pitera

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds apples about 6 medium
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 cup sugar or more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (see notes)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom optional (see notes)
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch salt

Instructions

  • Peel and core the apples and cut them into 1-inch pieces. Place them in a 3 quart saucepan, add the lemon juice and toss to coat.
  • Mix in the water and sugar and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cook until the apples begin to break down and give off liquid, 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Reduce the heat to medium, stir in the cinnamon, cardamom (if using, see notes), butter, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt.
  • Cover and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, for another 15 to 20 minutes, or until the apples have broken down enough to make a thick sauce with small chunks (see notes).
  • Remove from the heat and allow to cool before serving or storing (see notes).

Notes

  • ABOUT THE CARDAMOM: Although similar, cardamom has a more floral flavor profile than cinnamon, and they make for a delicious flavor combination when used together. However, if you don't keep ground cardamom in the house, increase the cinnamon in this recipe to 3/8 or 1/2 teaspoon (depending on your taste).
  • FOR CHUNKIER APPLESAUCE: If you like your applesauce a little chunkier, cut the cooking time down a bit, but check the larger chunks to be sure they're tender.
  • FOR SMOOTHER APPLESAUCE: If you like your applesauce baby food-smooth, run the finished sauce through a food mill.
  • HOW TO STORE HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE: Always allow applesauce to cool to room temperature before storing it in a tightly covered container. Homemade applesauce can be kept for up to 3 days in the refrigerator or 3 months in the freezer. Defrost frozen applesauce in the refrigerator overnight. It may be slightly watery, but you can pour off a little of the liquid and stir in the rest.

Nutrition

Calories: 126 | Total Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 4mg | Carbohydrates: 30g | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 24g | Protein: 0.5g