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Best Easy Homemade Crockpot Applesauce with Cinnamon

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This homemade crockpot applesauce with cinnamon sticks is incredibly easy to make, requires no added sugar, and fills your home with the warm aroma of autumn. It’s a set-it-and-forget-it recipe that transforms a mix of apples into a velvety, naturally sweet sauce perfect for snacking, baking, or gifting.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 5–6 pounds apples (about 10–12 medium apples, mix of sweet and tart varieties like Honeycrisp, Fuji, and Granny Smith)
  • 3–4 whole cinnamon sticks (broken in half)
  • ½ cup water (or apple cider for more flavor)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (optional)
  • 2–3 tablespoons maple syrup, honey, or brown sugar (optional, for added sweetness)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Wash and prep the apples: Rinse apples under cold water. If using organic apples and leaving peels on, scrub gently. Cut each apple into quarters, removing stems and blossom ends. Remove cores using an apple corer or knife.
  2. Layer the apples in the crockpot: Place apple quarters in a 5-6 quart slow cooker. Add broken cinnamon sticks, tucking them into the apples. Sprinkle lemon juice and salt over the top, then pour in the water. Stir gently to distribute.
  3. Cook on low for 6-8 hours (or high for 3-4 hours): Cover and cook until apples are tender and falling apart. Stir occasionally if possible.
  4. Add vanilla (30 minutes before done): When apples are nearly falling apart, stir in vanilla extract and any optional sweetener.
  5. Blend to desired consistency: Turn off crockpot and let cool for 10 minutes. Remove cinnamon sticks. Use an immersion blender for smooth applesauce or a potato masher for chunky texture.
  6. Strain if needed (optional): For a smoother texture, press applesauce through a fine-mesh strainer or food mill to remove peels and seeds.
  7. Taste and adjust: Adjust sweetness or cinnamon flavor as needed. Remember flavors will develop as it cools.
  8. Cool and store: Let applesauce cool to room temperature. Transfer to airtight containers (like mason jars), leaving ½ inch headspace. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 6 months.

Notes

For best flavor, use a mix of sweet and tart apples. Avoid Red Delicious. The applesauce thickens as it cools. For a deeper cinnamon flavor, toast cinnamon sticks in a dry skillet for 30 seconds before adding. This recipe tastes even better on day two.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot applesauce, homemade applesauce, cinnamon applesauce, slow cooker applesauce, easy applesauce, no sugar applesauce, fall recipe

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