How do you make homemade applesauce?

[anaj06]

My toddlers picked a 1/2 of bushel of Junagold apples today! We had so much fun, but now I have a 1/2 bushel of apples on my kitchen counter. No one in my family will just pick up an apple and eat it but we all love applesauce

I have never made homemade applesauce before but have spent the last hour reading about it online. Here is what I am planning, please add your suggestions/comments.

1. Peel and core the apples (I don't have a food mill machine).
2. Boil until the consistency of applesauce.
3. To my large pot (5 or 6quart pot) I will add 3/4 cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
4. Stir and use a potato masher to get it to the consistency I want.
5. Let it cool; put some in fridge for next few days.
6. Bag the rest in freezer bags for eating later.

Any ideas, suggestions or hints would be very helpful and repped!

[Mama Stu]

Do you have a food processor? I always do mine in the food processor once the apples have cooked to the right consistency.

[anaj06]

Do you have a food processor? I always do mine in the food processor once the apples have cooked to the right consistency.

Yes, I do. Do you use it to puree the applesauce or do you leave yours a bit chunky?

[wrestlegirl]

If your family likes apple butter, I have a great Crockpot recipe for it. Super easy and it freezes beautifully. I'll post it up if you'd like it!

[latte]

ive made apple sauce in the crock pot

*shred your apples---i leave the peels on them--- or finely dice and remove core with seeds
*put shredded apple matter into crock pot, add a couple tablespoons water
*1/4 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon
*cook on low for 8 hours stirring occasionally

tastes wonderful on waffles and pancakes

[$Saving!]

I peel mine, cut up apple in chunks, toss it into a large pan, low heat, 1/4 cup of water only. Lots of cinnamon, to 8 lbs of apples I might add 3 tablespoons of cinnamon

Stir occasionally to help cook through all apples. When the apples are cooked enough to fall apart, I pour it into a large bowl and with a large serving fork press through the apples. My hubby likes it chunky so I don't make it into a puree. I add about 1/4 cup of sugar at this point as I stir it all together.

The sweeter the apples, the less sugar is needed. I often buy a mix of apples, but all tend to be the sweeter varieties. And I will often by apples on the clearance rack providing they are not bruised badly, so my applesauce is a mix of whatever is on sale

It freezes wonderfully too!

[anaj06]

If your family likes apple butter, I have a great Crockpot recipe for it. Super easy and it freezes beautifully. I'll post it up if you'd like it!

Please, please...we love apple butter. If it is easy, maybe I can do it:)

[anaj06]

I peel mine, cut up apple in chunks, toss it into a large pan, low heat, 1/4 cup of water only. Lots of cinnamon, to 8 lbs of apples I might add 3 tablespoons of cinnamon

Stir occasionally to help cook through all apples. When the apples are cooked enough to fall apart, I pour it into a large bowl and with a large serving fork press through the apples. My hubby likes it chunky so I don't make it into a puree. I add about 1/4 cup of sugar at this point as I stir it all together.

The sweeter the apples, the less sugar is needed. I often buy a mix of apples, but all tend to be the sweeter varieties. And I will often by apples on the clearance rack providing they are not bruised badly, so my applesauce is a mix of whatever is on sale

It freezes wonderfully too!

When you say low heat...how low do you mean? what number?

[isabel]

If your family likes apple butter, I have a great Crockpot recipe for it. Super easy and it freezes beautifully. I'll post it up if you'd like it!

I was thinking of apple butter. I'd love to get the recipe.

[$Saving!]

When you say low heat...how low do you mean? what number?

On my electric stove, I set it at "low", not medium because it would overcook the apples at the bottom of the pot unless I stood there stirring it more often than I would like.