How to Make Homemade Applesauce: The Sassy Prepper’s Guide
If you’ve ever had homemade applesauce, you know there’s no comparison to the store-bought stuff. The sweetness, the spice, the texture—it’s a game changer! Not only is it super easy to make, but it’s also a great way to use up those extra apples from your backyard survival garden or local farm. Plus, making applesauce from scratch is a fantastic prepper skill—it’s a long-lasting, versatile food that can be enjoyed on its own or used in cooking and baking. Let’s dive into the Sassy Prepper’s homemade applesauce recipe.
Why Make Homemade Applesauce?
➡ Control the Ingredients: You’re in charge of what goes into your applesauce—no added preservatives, artificial flavors, or excess sugar.
➡ Cost-Effective: If you’ve got apples to spare, making applesauce is an affordable way to preserve them.
➡ Versatile: Homemade applesauce can be used in everything from desserts to marinades, or just enjoyed as a quick snack.
➡ Long-Lasting: When canned properly, applesauce has a long shelf life and can be stored for months or even a year.
➡ Boost Your Nutrition: You get all the vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants that come with fresh apples.
What You’ll Need
➡ Apples: Choose a variety that suits your taste—sweet, tart, or a combination. Fuji, Gala, or Granny Smith work great. For a balanced flavor, mix a few types.
➡ Sugar: You can skip the sugar entirely if you prefer unsweetened applesauce, or use honey or maple syrup for a natural touch.
➡ Cinnamon & Nutmeg: These spices add that warm, comforting flavor we all love in applesauce.
➡ Lemon Juice: This helps balance the flavor and keeps the applesauce from browning.
➡ Water or Apple Juice: Used to cook down the apples. You can also use a splash of cider for an extra kick of flavor.
➡ A Large Pot or Slow Cooker: Either works perfectly for cooking your apples.
How to Make It
1. Prepare the Apples
➡ Peel, core, and chop the apples into chunks. No need to get too precise, but try to keep them relatively uniform so they cook evenly.
➡ If you’re feeling lazy, you can leave the skins on (especially for a rustic, chunky applesauce). Just be aware that it’ll have a bit more texture.
2. Cook the Apples
➡ In a large pot, combine your apples, ½ cup of water or apple juice, and a tablespoon of lemon juice.
➡ Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally. If you like your applesauce chunky, let them cook for about 15-20 minutes until they soften. For smoother applesauce, cook for 30-40 minutes, then mash or blend.
3. Add Flavor
➡ Once the apples are soft, it’s time to add your spices. Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, a pinch of nutmeg, and sweeten to taste with sugar, honey, or maple syrup.
➡ Stir everything together, and let it simmer for another 5-10 minutes for the flavors to meld. Taste and adjust sweetness or spice levels as needed.
4. Blend (Optional)
➡ If you prefer a smooth applesauce, you can use an immersion blender to purée the mixture directly in the pot. Alternatively, you can transfer the applesauce to a blender or food processor.
➡ If you like it chunky, skip this step and leave the applesauce as-is.
5. Can or Store
➡ If you’re planning to can your applesauce, now is the time! Pour it into sterilized jars, leaving some space at the top. Process the jars in a water bath for 20 minutes to seal them.
➡ For immediate use, let the applesauce cool, then store it in the fridge for up to a week. It’s also freezer-friendly, so if you’ve got too much, freeze it in airtight containers for future use.
Sassy Prepper’s Pro Tips:
➡ Use Leftover Apple Scraps: Don’t throw away the peels and cores! You can use them to make homemade apple scrap jelly or compost them for your garden.
➡ Spice It Up: Experiment with different spices like allspice, ginger, or cloves to create your own flavor profile.
➡ No Sugar? No Problem: You can make a sugar-free applesauce if you’re watching your sugar intake. The apples will naturally sweeten the sauce as they cook down.
➡ Double the Batch: Applesauce is perfect for making in bulk. If you’ve got a lot of apples, make a large batch and preserve it for long-term use.
Bonus Uses for Applesauce
➡ Baking Substitute: Use applesauce as a substitute for oil or butter in baking recipes for a healthier twist.
➡ Pork Marinade: Applesauce makes a fantastic marinade for pork chops or ribs, adding sweetness and moisture to the meat.
➡ Smoothie Base: Add a spoonful of applesauce to your smoothies for extra flavor and creaminess.
➡ Topping for Desserts: Spoon over ice cream, pancakes, or oatmeal for a sweet treat.
Sassy Prepper’s Bonus Tip:
➡ Ferment Your Applesauce: Want to take it a step further? Add some probiotic power by fermenting your applesauce with a bit of whey or a probiotic starter. Let it sit for a few days in a warm place for a fermented, tangy twist on a classic.
Now that you know how to make your own homemade applesauce, you’ve got a delicious, healthy, and versatile recipe to add to your prepper kitchen. Whether you eat it on its own, bake with it, or use it as a topping, this homemade applesauce will quickly become a pantry staple in your home.
.jpg)
.jpg)
Posts
