Limited on time or don’t want stand over a hot stove stirring up applesauce? Then simply peel and slice, dice, or chop your apples and make applesauce in the crockpot!
4 pounds fresh apples = 4 cups applesauce
1 pound apples = 3 or 4 medium apples (grab an extra apple just in case)
Peel your apples. The slice, dice, or chop them up. Throw away the core (the center part with the stem and the seeds).
Toss them into the crockpot, add 1/4 tsp salt (helps pull out excess liquid) and cover them in water. Water does not need to do more than just barely cover them.
Cook on low setting for about 10 to 12 hours or on high for about 4-1/2 to 6 hours just until they are tender.
You will need to stir them about once every hour to an hour and a half.
Sometimes that is all that is needed! Other times not which I will now discuss.
If needed (too much liquid still remains): Place a clean lint free cup towel or multiple layers of paper towels or several coffee filters into a colander, place the colander over or inside a bowl, and pour or ladle your apples into it after they’ve finished cooking and tenderizing. Allow to drain until excess liquid is gone. (Unless there is no excess liquid remaining).
If needed (too chunky): Place into blender or food processor (a little at a time if doing large batch) and blend or process until smooth. (Unless you like the texture already).
If needed (too thin; not thick enough): Return to crockpot and cook on high stirring every half hour until desired thickness. (Unless you like the consistency already).
Congratulations! You’ve just made unsweetened applesauce!
Taste test it, and if needed or desired, you can add salt and granulated sugar (or sucralose) to suite (okay, that was pun, … to suit) your personal taste preference.
Or you can leave it unsweetened and use it to make apple butter. See my blog post on applesauce and apple butter:
If unsure, start small and work your up tasting after each addition. For every 3 to 4 cups start with 1/4 tsp salt and 3 Tablespoons to 1/4 cup sugar.
Crockpot Applesauce
Ingredients
- approx. 4 lbs apples or 15 medium apples (for 4 cups applesauce)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- water to cover
Instructions
-
Prepare apples peeling and cutting up. Discard core.
-
Place in crockpot and add water until apples are just covered.
-
Cook on low for 10 to 12 hours OR on high for 4-1/2 to 6 hours; stirring once every 1 to 1-1/2 hours.
-
If desired, add additional salt and sweeten with sugar or sucralose to taste. (Sucralose is the only zero calorie sweetener safe to use for cooking/baking/canning)
-
Optional: you may add a little cinnamon if desired for cinnamon applesauce.
-
If too watery, drain in colander lined with coffee filters, several layers of paper towel, or a lint free clean kitchen towel.
-
Afterwards if too coarse you can put in blender or food processor to blend/process until smooth.
-
Finally, if too thin, return to crockpot on high heat and stir every half hour until thickened.
-
You may pour hot applesauce into hot sterilized canning jars and proceed using proper canning technique. Or place in airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or in the freezer for up to a year.
Leave a Reply