This Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce with no sugar is easy to make and ready in no time. With fresh apples, a touch of cinnamon, and just the right sweetness, it’s a warm and delicious treat perfect for any occasion!
Love apples? Here are my favorite apple recipes, including Homemade Apple Cider and Apple Pumpkin Bread.
In This Post You'll Find:
Have you ever made homemade cinnamon applesauce?
Better yet... Have you ever tasted homemade applesauce?
Three words: Oh. My. Goodness.
This recipe is as easy as it is delicious. And holy smokes, it is amazingly delicious.
I love to have it as a comforting fall snack (much like these Healthy Cinnamon Apples). Or enjoy it with some Healthy Vanilla Ice Cream drizzled with Salted Caramel Sauce!
I mean the list goes on! You can even add applesauce to your overnight oats, protein pancakes, or favorite freezer smoothies. Whatever you decide, this applesauce is a game changer.
On top of how delicious it is, I think the best thing about making your own homemade applesauce with no sugar is that it’s free from all the normal added sugar that gets loaded into the store-bought options, which drives me crazy.
Ingredients for Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce
Would you believe this recipe only has three ingredients? You can even make it in bigger batches for canning. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Apples peeled (peeled, cored, and quartered): Depending on the flavor and sweetness you prefer, you can mix and match from a variety of apples! I prefer using Pink Lady apples, which tend to be tangy and sweet.
- Water: This will help them stew and keep the apples from sticking to the bottom. I know - so simple, right?
- Ground cinnamon: Complete the cozy and warm flavors of your applesauce! Plus, it will actually help to bring out the sweetness of the apples.
PRO TIP: You can add a little lemon juice if your applesauce is too sweet from the already sweet apples you're using.
Reasons You'll Love It
- So easy to make!
- Just three ingredients.
- One cup has around 100 calories.
- No added sugars.
What Apples Make The Best Applesauce?
The best thing about making applesauce is controlling the taste, sugar level, and texture.
Here are the best types of apples you can use depending on flavor:
| Apple | Taste |
| Granny Smith | Tangy and tart |
| Cripps Pink, Pink Lady, McIntosh, Rome | Tangy and sweet |
| Gala, Fuji, Golden Delicious | Mild to very sweet |
Prefer to make yours on the sweeter side? Choose Gala, Fuji, or Golden Delicious. These are also great for Apple Oat Bran Pancakes.
Do you enjoy it with a more tangy flavor to it? Grab Granny Smiths! I prefer Granny Smiths in my Cinnamon Apples and Caramel Apple Smoothie.
Remember, you can always add a little lemon juice to make it more tangy, too.
How to Make Homemade Applesauce
- Step 1: Peel and core the apples. In a large pot or dutch oven, heat all the ingredients over medium-high heat.
- Step 2: Using a masher or just a fork, gently mash the apples. They should pretty much fall apart on their own. Mash to desired consistency.
- Step 3: Cool in the refrigerator prior to serving.
- Step 4: Serve topped with cinnamon, if desired.
How To Store
To store homemade applesauce in the fridge, simply keep it in a good meal prep container after it has cooled down. It should keep for 7-10 days if properly stored.
To store in the freezer, let it cool down first and then transfer to a freezer-safe container. You may use a freezer bag, a container with a lid, etc. It should keep for up to three months.
Recipe FAQs
One medium apple will yield about ½ cup (120 ml) of applesauce.
To prevent the apples from sticking to the saucepan as they cook, add enough water to cover the bottom of the saucepan.
I recommend avoiding Red Delicious apples when making homemade applesauce because they don't mix well with heat and get overly mushy.
No, you do not need to remove the skin. Cooking applesauce with the skin will provide more pectin and color. It is really up to your preference.
Sometimes, your apples might not be sweet enough to support the applesauce. In those cases, you can add raw honey or pure maple syrup, as needed, to bring the sweetness up. Read more on my favorite healthy sugar substitutes.
This is very easy! Just stop mashing the apples before they're completely mashed in Step 2. You'll have control over how chinky or smooth your applesauce can be in this step.
More Healthy Fall Recipes
If this insanely easy homemade cinnamon applesauce recipe inspired you to make more apple recipes, check out some of my favorites!
If you tried this Homemade Cinnamon Apples recipe or any other recipe on my site, please leave a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I love hearing from you.
Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce
Equipment
- Dutch Oven
*This post may contain affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.
Ingredients
- 6 medium apples peeled, cored and quartered
- ½ cup water
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- In a large pot or dutch oven, heat all the ingredients over medium-high heat.
- Bring to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until apples are soft enough to mash.
- Using a masher or just a fork, gently mash the apples. They should pretty much fall apart on their own. Mash to desired consistency.
- Cool in the refrigerator prior to serving.
Notes
- Adding a touch of lemon juice can help reduce the sweetness of the applesauce and add a tart flavor.
- In some cases, the applesauce may not be as sweet as you'd like. In those cases, you can add pure maple syrup or raw honey, as needed.
- Peels can be left on if preferred.
Nutrition
This post contains affiliate links to products I use regularly and highly recommend.
David Mapes
Good, but i use little bit more ingredients
4 apples peeled, cored and chopped
¾ cup water
¼ cup white sugar
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Try it, maybe you will be so much tastier
Best regards
Lacey Baier
Thanks for sharing your recipe alterations, David! My recipe is intended to be very simple and not include added sugar, but I love the additional spices you chose to add...definitely a way to vary it.
Dustin
we should make more of this the kids would love to make it on their own.
Lacey Baier
They would for sure!!