Easy Sugar-Free Slow Cooker Applesauce Recipe

One of my children’s favorite snacks is applesauce.

Unfortunately, the ones I can get at the store are either too full of sugar or super sour.

I love trying to make my own foods and get the kids involved in the fun.

This simple easy applesauce is a perfect recipe to use to get kids cooking in the kitchen.

I have this odd habit of not writing down how I make things. It drives my mother-in-law crazy. 

This is one I actually wrote down. However, once you make it the first time you will wonder why I bothered.

This recipe is designed to be a “chuck it all in the slow cooker and walk way”. No need to stand around babysitting it. It is pretty much no fail and thus no stress. Perfect for beginners.

Note: A reader pointed out this recipe is perfect for those doing the Whole 30 because it has no sugar except the orange!

The Recipe:

Ingredients:

• Apples, your choice about 8-10 depending on the size (I weighed mine, 3 lbs)
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 cup of water
• a peeled orange

Kitchen Items:

• crock pot/slow-cooker (Or you can use your Instant Pot as it has the slow cooker setting)
• cutting board
• knife
• peeler
• spoon
• liquid measuring cup

GreenLife 6 QT Ceramic Slow Cooker, PFAS-Free, Programmable, Removable Healthy Nonstick Pot for large families, Sear on Stovetop, Keep Warm, Digital Timer, Dishwasher Safe Glass Lid & Crock, TurquoiseInstant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Mini Electric Pressure Cooker, Slow Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker, Warmer & Sterilizer, Includes Free App with over 1900 Recipes, Stainless Steel, 3 QuartOriginal Vegetable Fruit Peeler Carbon Steel Blade 3 Pack Red/Green/Yellow…Totally Bamboo 3-Piece Bamboo Cutting Board Set; 3 Assorted Sizes of Bamboo Wood Cutting Boards for KitchenAnchor Hocking Glass Measuring Cups, 4 Piece Set (5 Ounce, 1 Cup, 2 Cup, 4 Cup liquid measuring cups)

 

Directions:

• Peel, wash and cut up your apples into chunks, add to slow cooker
• throw in your cinnamon sticks
• add water
• add orange
• cook on low for 4-6 hours
• stir with a spoon every so often (Just whenever you remember) to mix up the orange/cinnamon

Tip: To peel the orange faster and make it more juicy, microwave for 10 seconds. Not any longer.

You will need to check on it to make sure it does not overcook, cooking times vary depending on the apples. Harder varieties will take longer. We used Gravenstein, which was done in about 4 hours.

This recipe is neither too sweet or too sour. The only sweetener in it is from the orange.

When complete, fish out the cinnamon sticks and orange and discard these. Using a spoon break up the remaining chunks. Once cool you can store it in mason jars, or if you like you can put it into freezer bags and freeze for a later time.

Alternative Uses For Applesauce:

This applesauce works great as an ice cream topping.

We also add it to banana loaf and muffins as a sweetener.

Applesauce can be used to replace butter in baked goods, in equal amounts.

Note: You may need to bake the item longer.

Gift idea:

A reader had a great gift idea for this. Print off the recipe on cute cards and attach it to the applesauce in a jar. She suggested a mason jar and a pretty ribbon. I think this is a great idea!

Learning about Apples

Mix in a little learning with these great resources from around the web:

• Apple Unit Study Resource Round-Up
• Fun (& Tasty) Ways to Experiment with Apples and Printable
• Our Week in Review (Candy Apples)
• 14 books about apples for kids
• Sid the Science Kid Applesauce– includes the recipe and things to talk about. We loved Sid when the children were younger.

If you try this out, let me know in the comments below!

Take care,

Jen

PS. Simple recipes like this are a great way to introduce the kid to cooking. I like to start with simple tasks like learning to use a knife. I love Knife Skills Class, be sure to check it out!