Recipes and Cooking Homemade Applesauce Be the first to rate & review! A big batch of applesauce goes a long way. Freeze or can portions to enjoy all year. Make this easy applesauce recipe on the stove top or in your pressure cooker. By BHG Test Kitchen BHG Test Kitchen The Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen has been in continuous operation for nearly 100 years, developing and testing practical, reliable recipes that readers can enjoy at home. The Test Kitchen team includes culinary specialists, food stylists, registered and licensed nutritionists, and other experts with Bachelor of Science degrees in food science, food and nutrition, or culinary arts. Together, the team tests more than 2,500 recipes, produces more than 2,500 food images, and creates more than 1,000 food videos each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on September 9, 2021 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Dera Burreson Prep Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 25 mins Cool Time: 45 mins Total Time: 1 hrs 25 mins Servings: 14 Yield: 7 cups Jump to Nutrition Facts Ingredients 4 pound cooking apples, cored and quartered (12 cups) 1 cup water 2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, strained ⅓ - ⅔ cup granulated sugar Directions In an 5- to 6-qt. heavy pot combine apples, water, and lemon juice. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, 25 to 30 minutes or until apples are very tender, stirring often. Use an immersion blender or potato masher to puree or mash apples as desired (or blend in batches after cooling in a blender). Stir in sugar to taste. If necessary, add 1/4 to 1/2 cup water for desired consistency. Place pot of applesauce in a sink filled with ice water; cool, stirring occasionally. Ladle into clean wide-mouth half-pint or quart freezer containers, leaving a 1/2-inch headspace. Seal and label. Store in refrigerator up to 2 weeks or freeze up to 8 months. Instant Pot Applesauce Combine apples, water, and lemon juice in a 6- to 8-qt. Instant Pot. Lock lid in place. Set Instant Pot on High Pressure to cook 5 minutes. When cooking is complete, let stand 15 minutes to release pressure naturally. Release any remaining pressure. Open lid carefully. Continue as directed in Step 2, removing the stainless steel Instant Pot insert to cool. Spiced Applesauce Prepare as directed, except add 5 inches stick cinnamon and 3/4 tsp. apple pie spice in Step 1. Simmer as directed. Discard stick cinnamon. Substitute 1/3 cup packed brown sugar for the granulated sugar. Stir in enough additional brown sugar to taste (2 to 3 tbsp). Freeze or can as directed. Very Berry Applesauce Prepare as directed, except replace 1/2 lb. (2 cups) of the apples with 1/2 lb. (2 cups) fresh or frozen thawed raspberries and/or strawberries and decrease water to 3/4 cups in Step 1. Freeze or can as directed. Canning directions Prepare as directed through Step 2. Ladle hot applesauce into hot, sterilized pint canning jars, leaving a 1/2-inch headspace. Wipe jar rims; adjust lids and screw bands. Process filled jars in a boiling-water canner 15 minutes for pints (start timing when water returns to boiling). Remove jars from canner; cool on wire racks. Rate it Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 86 Calories 21g Carbs Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 14 Calories 86 % Daily Value * Sodium 2mg 0% Total Carbohydrate 21g 8% Total Sugars 17g Vitamin C 0.8mg 4% Calcium 9mg 1% Iron 0.1mg 1% Potassium 130mg 3% Folate, total 4mcg Vitamin B-6 0.1mg *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.