Homemade Crockpot Applesauce sweetened with honey instead of sugar! This easy 5-ingredient recipe is ready in just 3 hours and makes delicious applesauce that’s perfect for freezing. No canning required!
Really Easy Crockpot Applesauce
Who else gets VERY excited for Fall? The weather! The holidays! And most importantly, all the apple recipes! After a weekend of apple picking Upstate, I can’t wait to get in the kitchen. First comes my Apple Pie Pancakes, then Apple Chips, and eventually I pull out the crockpot to make one of my favorites, homemade Crockpot Applesauce!
I’ve made this applesauce with just about every apple you can think of, and it always turns out delicious. Gala and Fuji are probably my favorites, but use whatever apples you have! You’ll need about 4 pounds (8–10 apples), and you can easily double or triple the recipe if you have a big apple haul. It’s freezer-friendly too, so you can enjoy homemade applesauce long after apple-picking season is over.
This is one of those recipes where you throw everything in the slow cooker and come back a few hours later to the BEST smelling kitchen. Seriously, is there anything better than apples and cinnamon cooking all afternoon? And if you love making homemade fruit recipes in your slow cooker, you need to try my Crockpot Pear Butter next. It’s thick, sweet, full of cinnamon flavor, and you don’t even have to peel the pears!
How to Make Applesauce in the Slow Cooker
Besides apples, you’ll also need maple syrup, cinnamon, water and lemon juice.
After you peel and core the apples, quarter them and place them in the crockpot. Then add in your maple syrup, cinnamon, water and lemon juice, stirring to combine everything.
Cook on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for 6 hours. After this time the apples should be pretty soft, so you can just mash them up with a spoon or potato masher. You can also add them to your food processor if you really want it to be easy!
And just like that you have delicious applesauce ready to be eaten! Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Storing and Freezing
Refrigerator: Allow the applesauce to cool before transferring it to clean glass jars or airtight containers. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freezer: Homemade applesauce freezes beautifully! I like freezing mine in small freezer-safe jars or freezer bags so I can grab just what we need. If using jars, leave about 1 inch of space at the top for expansion. Freeze for up to 3 months.
To thaw: Place frozen applesauce in the refrigerator overnight. Give it a good stir before serving, as the texture might change slightly after freezing.
Important: This is a refrigerator and freezer applesauce recipe, not a tested canning recipe. Don’t store it at room temperature.
Pin for later:
Crockpot Applesauce (No Sugar)
PrintIngredients
- 4 pounds apples any variety works but Fuji and Gala are favs!
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Peel and core apples. Cut into quarters, and place them into the crockpot.
- Add maple syrup, cinnamon, water and lemon juice into crockpot, stirring to combine all ingredients.
- Cook on HIGH for 3 hours, or LOW for 6 hours.
- Once done, use a spoon or potato masher to mash them up. They should be very soft so this shouldn't take much more work.
- Allow applesauce to cool before transferring to jars or airtight containers. For longer storage, use freezer-safe jars or containers and freeze for later.
Kelly says
Thanks for sharing this recipe. Great way to utilize my Apple stock pile. Simple, and delicious. Best is the crockpot does all the work!!
Eleanr says
It is not sugar-free, maple syrup is sugar. However it is a great recipe.
Diane says
4 pounds of crabapples cored and sliced are how many cups?
Marisa says
Do you keep these in the fridge after you can them.
Pamela says
If you are canning the applesauce, you don’t need to refrigerate. But if you aren’t canning, you should keep in the fridge. Hope this helps!
krista harvey says
I am wondering if you could can this applesauce?
Pamela says
Absolutely!
Emily says
Looks great! Thanks for sharing with the Delicious Dishes Recipe party this week!
Lori says
Hi Pamela, I love how easy this is!! What a terrific recipe.
Would you consider sharing this at our weekly Dishing It & Digging It Link Party? We are live every Sunday @ 4pm. We’d love to see all your creative recipes and projects.
http://www.thestonybrookhouse.com/2016/10/dishing-it-digging-it-link-party-117.html
Pam says
Mmm, I’ve never made applesauce in my slow cooker. I think I need to do this! Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty.
Ashley says
Can I tell you how much I love that you don’t have to peel the apples???? haha I HATE peeling apples! This sounds wonderful!
Pamela says
Hahaha me too Ashley!
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says
I just picked apples so this is perfect timing! Love this applesauce!
Alishia says
Love your site!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
Maple syrup must have given this slow cooker applesauce some extra flavour and texture!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
I’ve made plenty of applesauce before, but never with maple syrup! I think you’re on to something yummy!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
You know what? I do actually have these ingredients! Yay! Love that you used maple syrup here 🙂 What a perfect sauce for all those delicious comfort food Fall dishes. I bet this would also be awesome on ice-cream!
Tyane Milem says
I love doing crock pot applesauce!! I never thought to try maple syrup in it, instead of brown sugar and/or honey. This is going on my fall recipe list!