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Homemade Unsweetened Applesauce Recipe

I made unsweetened applesauce the other day. This recipe turned out to be simple and quick – and very healthy. It’s low calorie, and has just 3 ingredients. Applesauce is great as a snack, a baby/toddler food, or even dessert.

A few days ago I bought a bunch of apples, because I love apples. Unfortunately they turned out to be a little bit mealy. I like apples crisp, don’t you? Fuji and Honeycrisp are probably my favorites. Galas are good too. These were supposed to be Fuji but I think they were past their prime. In any case, I needed a way to use them up.

So I made homemade unsweetened applesauce. It turned out to be super-sweet even though it has no added sweetener – just the way I like it!

Homemade Unsweetened Applesauce Recipe

Ingredients

  • 5-6 apples, chopped in fourths
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method

  1. Add chopped apples and water to a saucepan. Bring the water to a boil and let the apples boil for about 10 minutes.
  2. Some apples may start to lose their skin. You can remove it if you like, and eat it for added fiber.

    Mmmm…. Fiber.

  3. Add the cinnamon and vanilla extract and mix it around.
  4. Turn the heat down to low, leave the top off the pan, and simmer/low-boil for another 30 minutes.
  5. Remove from heat. Let the apples cool. If you don’t want the skin, you can peel it off once the apples are cool enough. I suggest leaving it on because I didn’t notice any odd flavor or texture from it.
  6. Puree the apple pieces + leftover water (there shouldn’t be that much) + skins (optional) in a food processor. They should blend easily and turn right into the perfect applesauce consistency.
  7. Eat the homemade unsweetened applesauce!

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I use applesauce for cooking all the time. Here are some of my favorite recipes that use applesauce.

Do you like unsweetened applesauce? Have you ever made an unsweetened applesauce recipe from scratch?

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Oatmeal Raisin Applesauce Cookies

Because it’s snowing terribly outside, I decided to make oatmeal raisin cookies today. I was supposed to go to the mall to do Christmas shopping, pick up my cap and gown, and sell some textbooks back at the library, but the snow on the ground was discouraging so I stayed in my warm apartment.

I made some applesauce the other night and it was delicious, so I decided to make some more and add it to the cookies. That was a good call; they came out great.

Quick Applesauce Recipe:

To make the applesauce, just chop up an apple and boil it in an inch of water for about ten minutes. Then mix it in a blender with the remaining water – one apple will make a little more than a half cup of applesauce. If you want, add a bit of sparkling apple cider instead of water.

Oatmeal Raisin Applesauce Cookies

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup applesauce
  • 1 egg
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups oats
  • 3/4 cup raisins

Directions

  1. Preheat over to 375F. Spray cookie sheet with nonstick spray. Soak raisins in hot water for 10 minutes, then drain.
  2. Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together. Set aside.
  3. Beat together butter (softened) and sugar. Add the egg, vanilla, and applesauce.
  4. Stir in the flour, then the oats and raisins.
  5. Use a teaspoon to drop the cookies on the cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes.