Homemade Slow Cooker Applesauce

Homemade Applesauce has never been so easy to make! Just a few simple ingredients and your crock pot are all you need to make delicious, healthy slow cooker applesauce any time of the year.

Slow Cooker Applesauce is a great way to preserve apples this season! It’s easy to make and perfect for an after school snack or a sweet side dish for Crock Pot Pork Roast. For more delicious apple recipes, try a Green Apple Smoothie, Apple Crumble or Apple Spice Cake.

Ingredients for Homemade Applesauce

You really only need 2 ingredients to make homemade applesauce in your slow cooker. Apples and water. You can sweeten it up with white or brown sugar and add some spice with ground cinnamon, apple pie spice or nutmeg.

The Best Apples For Applesauce

The best apples for applesauce are whatever you have on hand! You can use any variety that you like, or use a mix of several varieties. The apples, no matter their texture, will break down while cooking, making them easy to mash.

• Tart – If you want something more tart, Granny Smith apples are a great choice.
• Sweet – If you don’t want to have to add sugar, try sweet Red or Golden Delicious.
• In between – I like to meet somewhere in the middle of sweet and tart with Gala and Honeycrisp apples.

How to Make Applesauce in the Slow Cooker

Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredients list and instructions.

Peel, core and chop up the apples. For this recipe, I chose Gala apples, removed the peels and sliced them up.

Put the ingredients in the slow cooker. Put the apples, water cinnamon and sugar in your slow cooker and stir together so all of the apples are coated.

Cook and mash. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours. You can then serve them as is or mash them down.

How to Serve

Applesauce makes a great sidekick to pork recipes, like Pan Roasted Pork Tenderloin or Baked Pork Chops. It’s also a great topping for Oatmeal Pancakes or German Pancakes.

Recipe Variations

• Add different spices, like apple pie spice, clove and nutmeg.
• Use brown sugar instead of white for a warm, molasses flavor.
• Use apple juice or cider instead of water, and omit the added sugar.
• Use a variety of apple for a custom taste.

How to Store

To prepare for storing, pour or spoon the sauce into containers and let cool with the lid off for 1-2 hours. Seal and store as directed below.

Storage: Applesauce will last a week in the refrigerator, so if you don’t plan to use it all up, be sure to freeze it.

Freezing applesauce: Seal and store in the freezer for up to 6 months. Be sure to leave at least an inch of space above the sauce for expansion when freezing. Thaw in the refrigerator.

Expert Tips

• I like my applesauce on the chunkier side, so the masher/ricer works perfectly for me. If you want your sauce smooth, use an immersion blender.
• The sugar is optional. If you prefer a more natural, tart flavor, you can omit it.
• Likewise, the cinnamon is optional. If you’re concerned about the texture of the ground cinnamon, throw in a couple of whole cinnamon sticks instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Delicious Apple Recipes

• Air Fryer Apple Hand Pies
• Instant Pot Applesauce
• Pumpkin Apple Bread
• Easy Microwave Apple Crisp in a Mug
• Cinnamon Apple Bundt Cake