Homemade Applesauce

I have enjoyed making applesauce for years, but I am so happy to make it for my two-year old son now, who thoroughly enjoys it! Making applesauce is really quite simple and does not take a lot of time, especially if you do it in small batches. You get the best taste when you mix varieties of apples. I like to do about 10 pounds of apples at a time and process it in a water bath to make it shelf stable. This recipe uses no added sugar (because apples are tasty enough!) so I can feel good about giving it to my son to enjoy when he needs a healthy snack.

Applesauce

10 lbs apples (mixed varieties)

2 cups water

4 tbsp. lemon juice

Cinnamon to taste

Peel and roughly chop apples. Add to a large pot with the water on medium-low heat. Stir occasionally with a wooden spoon, mashing when the apples begin to soften. You can turn the pot on when you've got about a quarter of the apples done and keep chopping and adding. Cook for approximately an hour or until apples are completely soft and mashed (you may want to use a potato masher). Once you have your desired consistency, turn off heat, and add lemon juice and cinnamon. Fill jars leaving a 1/2 inch space at the top. Process in a water bath for 20 minutes.

I like to put applesauce in a reusable squeeze bottle like the one we got at BumbleTree in Cranbrook. The bottle itself is silicone and the silicone spout is spill-proof. This reusable bottle can go in the fridge, freezer, and dishwasher!