Crockpot Applesauce

Homemade applesauce is far superior to store-bought for multiple reasons: you get to control the flavor, the seasonings, the texture, and the sugar amount. With this homemade version, you know exactly what's going into it—you're in charge. One of our favorite ways to make homemade applesauce is to use our Crockpot. It makes preparing this snack practically hands free, which we can always get behind. So put those pouches down, get out your Crockpot, and get ready to dive into this versatile comfort food. 

What are the best apples to use for applesauce?
For this recipe, we used a mix of Honeycrips, Galas, and Granny Smith apples. We love using a mix of apples to give a subtle variety of flavors, but feel free to focus on one or two if you prefer! Unsure of what kind of apples to choose? Consult our list of all the types of apples, and how best to use them. 

How to make the best applesauce:
 — Control the amount of sugar. In this recipe, we didn't include any added sugar. For us, the sweetness level that the apples brought was perfect. This allows us to not only enjoy as-is, but in our baked goods (like this applesauce cake) without worrying about adding too much extra sugar. If you want to add sugar you can do so at the beginning or wait and stir some in at the end so that you can taste and adjust as you like! We'd recommend starting with 1/2 cup of sugar.
— Season it up. We kept it simple with our seasonings, only adding a couple of cinnamon sticks to impart the flavor we're looking for. But, you could also throw in some cloves, grate in a bit of fresh nutmeg or even add some citrus zest. 
— Make it in the Crockpot...or not. The slow cooker is one of our favorite ways to make apple sauce because of how hands off it is, but it isn't your only option! If you're in a pinch, we highly recommend making our Instant Pot applesauce.

How to use applesauce:
While we can't get enough of spoonfuls of applesauce all on its own, there are plenty of ways to incorporate this recipe into other baked goods or meals. We can't get enough of our applesauce muffins or applesauce cake, but you can also serve it alongside your homemade latkes to complete your brunch spread.

Have you tried this yet? Let us know how it went in the comments below!