This is the easiest way to make homemade applesauce. Simply place the ingredients in a slow-cooker. Serve cold for optimal sweetness!
In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m all about easy recipes (for a listing of all my recipes, click here). I admire people who prepare complicated dishes, but that’s just not me. Not only do I dislike hunting down obscure ingredients (i.e. stuff I can’t find in my pantry) and too much prep or clean-up, but I honestly just like food better when it’s simple.
One incredibly simple yet delicious dish is my Slow-Cooker Applesauce. I made it last year about this time (you can read that post by clicking here), but I’ve simplified it even more. How’s this for an ingredient list: apples, cinnamon, and raisins. The key point is that you have to use good apples. I also suggest using organic because according to the Environmental Working Group, 98% of conventional apples have pesticide residue.
I like to make a big batch when I make this recipe, so I use between 12-15 apples. I have only tried it using red apples [Editor’s update: a mixture of green and red apples has worked for me as well]. All you do is chop them up (big chunks are fine, make it easy on yourself) and throw them in a big crockpot (I like this one). If you have a small crockpot, try using only 8-10 apples:
Sprinkle some cinnamon (1 tablespoon or so) on top, stir and set on high for 4-5 hours. This is what you get:
It may not taste sweet enough when it is hot, but stick it in the fridge and eat the next day when it’s cold and I guarantee you it will taste sweet enough. If you think you want it to be ever sweeter, you can add some raisins to be sure. It is one of my favorite recipes to make and I think kids would dig it, too. My husband loves it and he’s kind of a big kid. 🙂
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Slow-Cooker Applesauce
Prep Time: 15 minutes- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Crockpot
- Cuisine: vegan, healthy
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Pin RecipeDescription
This is the easiest way to make homemade applesauce. Simply place the ingredients in a slow-cooker. Serve cold for optimal sweetness.
Ingredients
- 12 organic sweet red apples (I prefer Fuji, Honecrip, or Pink Lady)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup raisins, optional
Instructions
- Cut apples into large chunks and place in a slow cooker.
- Stir in cinnamon and raisins, if using. Cook on high for 4 to 5 hours (or on low for up to 12 hours), stirring once during cooking. Cool and store in the refrigerator. For optimal sweetness, eat cold.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 75
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Jen @ The RA Vegan says
I went apple picking this past weekend and so this is perfect right now!! Thanks!!
Robyn :) says
I make a fish recipe using fish, a simple sauce with only 3 ingredients(mayo, parm cheese and hot sauce) and Panko breadcrumbs and not too long ago I made pumpkin muffin cakes which just used cake mix and a can of pumpkin!! Super easy.
I have made this apple recipe before, with less apples, and it was awesome. I still have some I froze.
Nanette says
I’ve made apple butter in the crockpot before but never applesauce. I especially like that you leave the skins on because peeling apples is a PITA. 🙂 Thanks for the recipe!
Lisa says
The applesauce looks awesome—and I bet it smells amazing!
Sara (The Veggie Eco-Life) says
I love applesauce! It is indeed so easy to make and the result is so delicious. We do add some sugar when we make it, how much is depending on the sweetness of the apples we use 🙂
Susan says
Why not forget the crockpot, preserve heat-sensitive nutrients, and make raw applesauce instead? Core the apples, cut ’em into chunks, and throw ’em into the food processor. Add some fresh lemon juice to zing up the taste, and process to applesauce-consistency. Sprinkle w/cinnamon.
Carrie says
Great idea Susan, thx!
JL goes Vegan says
I love the simplicity of the applesauce. We”re going upstate this weekend and I hope to get lots of apples!
Carrie says
Sounds like a blast, I loooove freshly-picked apples!
Dawn (Vegan Fazool) says
This is great because I have a huge, 7 quart or whatever the biggest size is, crock pot and I never use it because it is just too big (it’s just me and my husband and our 3 yo). And peeling apples takes forever (though I technically don’t mind it, I do when it takes 30 minutes!).
Can you share any other useful recipes that you make in your big crock pot??
I really just want to get a 5 quart pot…
Anyway, have a great day!
Carrie says
Hi Dawn, I will start working on some slow-cooker dishes, I love how easy they are to prepare!
Erin says
I totally need to make some easy applesauce! My crock pot could use more work. I’m thinking a vanilla-spice version would be tasty.
Carrie says
Oh yes, vanilla would be great! You can also add raisins if you want to make it sweeter.
mightyvegan says
I usually make a version of this applesauce using the microwave but I made this last night and I’m hooked! It is so good. I have already eaten almost half of it!
Maribel says
I agree, it’s easy to prepare and looks so yummy!
Thanks Carrie for this great recipe!
★★★★★