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Make a batch of delicious Instant Pot applesauce in less than 15 minutes in your pressure cooker. Made with simple ingredients, this recipe has no added sugar, and it turns out perfectly every time. It’s vegan and gluten-free.
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Applesauce is one of my favorite recipes come fall and it’s a great way to use up all of those yummy seasonal fruits.
Making applesauce used to involve hours of simmering, stirring, and watching over the stove. But with the Instant Pot, it is so easy and quick to make a delicious sauce in a fraction of the time. This easy homemade applesauce recipe is the perfect combination of sweet and tangy. It’s naturally sweet without the need for any added sweeteners.
Why You Will Love This Recipe!
- Quick and Easy: I like that the Instant Pot drastically reduces cooking time, making it a breeze to whip up delicious applesauce in under 30 minutes.
- No sugar added: With no added sugars or preservatives, this recipe keeps the apples’ natural goodness intact, offering a wholesome treat for all ages.
- Perfect for Meal Prep: I like that this versatile applesauce can be made in bulk and stored, providing a healthy snack option for busy weeks.
Healthy Applesauce Ingredients
To make this homemade applesauce, you will need:
- Apples: You can use any kind of apples in this recipe. I like to use sweet apples like Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, or Pink Lady for a burst of flavor.
- Apple cider (or water): Apple cider enhances the robust and earthy apple flavor. You can use apple juice if that’s what you have, or water.
- Ground cinnamon: Cinnamon and apples go together so well and is a great way to add a little warm sweetness. You can also add other spices like nutmeg or ground ginger.
- Lemon juice: Use fresh lemon juice rather than bottled, it so much zingier.
Find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card below.
How To Make Instant Pot Applesauce
- Add ingredients: Place all the ingredients into the Instant Pot.
- Seal and cook: Close the lid and set the valve to the “Sealing” position. Select the “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” setting and set the timer for 6 minutes.
- Release pressure: When the cooking time is up, carefully turn the valve to the “Venting” position for a quick release of pressure. Once the pin drops, it’s safe to open the lid.
- Blend: Use an immersion blender to blend the cooked apples to your preferred consistency.
- Taste and adjust: Taste the applesauce and stir in more cinnamon if desired.
TIPS FROM NELI’S KITCHEN
Recipe Notes and Tips
- If you prefer more chunky applesauce, you can mash the cooked apples with a masher or just blender less with the immersion blender.
- Pick the best sweet apples and make sure they are ripe and juicy.
- Taste the applesauce and adjust the seasoning to your likening. You may need to add a sweetener depending on the tartness of the apples and how sweet you like the applesauce.
- I like my apples peeled but you can either peel the apples or leave them unpeeled, it’s totally down to your preference. So you can easily save yourself the step of peeling the apples.
The taste of homemade applesauce is amazing! And the fact that with the help of my pressure cooker I can have applesauce ready in minutes is unbeatable. Once you taste this no-sugar applesauce, you will never want to buy store-bought apple sauce.
Serving Ideas
- Topping ideas: Don’t limit your applesauce to a solo snack! It’s fantastic drizzled over gluten-free pancakes, swirled into yogurt, spread onto a sandwich, or mixed into a warm bowl of Instant Pot oatmeal. The possibilities are endless—top your favorite breakfast items for a burst of flavor and texture.
- Side Dish: Applesauce also makes a delightful side dish. Pair it with savory dishes like roasted pork medallions, baked juicy chicken breasts, whole roasted chicken, roasted turkey breast, or even sausages for a sweet and tangy contrast that brightens up the meal. This classic applesauce is perfect to serve alongside your favorite fall sides like Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Roasted Butternut Squash.
Storing Suggestions
- Refrigerator: Once you have made the Instant Pot applesauce, let it cool completely before storing it in an airtight container or jar. Keep it in the fridge and it will keep well for up to 10 days. You can use it straight from the fridge or let it come up to room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
- Freezer: Applesauce freezes well, so it’s a great way to preserve those fall apples. Let the apple sauce cool to room temperature and place it in freezer bags or freezer-safe containers. Remove as much air as possible and it will keep for up to 6 months. Defrost it in the fridge or at room temperature.
Canning Applesauce
This cinnamon applesauce is great for canning as well. Follow these steps:
- Clean equipment. Sterilize your jars, clean your lids & rings, and have a clean workspace.
- Make applesauce by following the recipe below.
- Fill jars. Pour applesauce into warm jars leaving 1/2″ of headspace. Wipe jar rims clean. Place lids and rings securely on the jars.
- Process in a water-bath canner. Process for about 20 minutes (adjust cooking time for your altitude, if necessary). More details and instructions for water-bath canning can be found here.
- Store. Canned applesauce is good for up to a year when stored in a cool, dark place.
Recipe FAQs
I prefer to use apples that are naturally sweeter. That way I don’t have to add a sweetener to the applesauce. But if you prefer you can also use a combo of sweet and tart apples. Honey crisp, Gala, Golden Delicious, Fuji, and Mcintosh are all good options. I would avoid using Red Delicious because they get mushy when heated.
I recommend to peel the apples because leaving the skin on results in small bits of peel in the applesauce, which gives it a gritty texture.
If you like your applesauce on the sweeter side, try adding honey, maple syrup, or agave. Each brings a unique flavor profile – honey adds floral sweetness, maple syrup lends a rich, earthy tone, and agave offers a light, neutral sweetness.
More Easy Apple Recipes
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Ingredients
- 3 lbs apples, of your favorite apples, peeled (or unpeeled), cored and cut in chunks
- ½ cup apple cider, or water
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients into the Instant Pot.
- Close the lid and set the valve to the "Sealing" position. Select the "Manual" or "Pressure Cook" setting and set the timer for 6 minutes.
- When the cooking time is up, carefully turn the valve to the "Venting" position for a quick release of pressure. Once the pin drops, it’s safe to open the lid.
- Use an immersion blender to blend the cooked apples to your preferred consistency.
- Taste the applesauce and stir in more cinnamon if desired.
Video
Notes
- You can either peel the apples or leave them unpeeled, it’s totally down to your preference.
- If you prefer more chunky applesauce, you can mash the cooked apples with a potato masher or just blender less with the immersion blender.
- Taste the applesauce and adjust the seasoning to your likening. You may need to add more sweetener depending on the tartness of the apples.
I love the ease of this recipe using the instant pot!!
Applesauce is a fave and love how easy it is to make in the Instant Pot!
Yum! My son is going to love this recipe! I can’t wait to give this a try! So excited!
This applesauce recipe is simply delicious and so easy to make! I love that it doesn’t have any added sugar, and none is needed!
Looks so easy! I love applesauce and especially love it served with pork chops.
This looks and sounds perfectly delicious. love that it’s an IP recipe too!
We just went apple picking and I have a bunch to use up. Definitely going to try this applesauce!
Thanks. This is such a lovely Homemade Apple Sauce. When Apples are in season the best time to try your delicious Sauce recipe. Love your description to the dishes I can top it up with.
HI
To sweeten the applesauce, can you use honey or agave nectar?
Thanks in advance.
Yes, absolutely! Honey, maple syrup, and agave nectar should work well.
So easy and delicious! No need for sugar. I kept the skins on my apples and it gave it a nice pink hue. Thanks for the recipe!
Great! So glad you liked it! ๐