When I think of fall and produce, my mind fills with varieties of apples and squash. I made a crock pot applesauce last year that made me swear store-bought would just never fly again. And today, I still feel that way.
The much-loved crock pot is the perfect means by which to slow cook apples to a sticky, sweet perfection, and fill your home with aromatic apple…and cinnamon.
Before the season’s best apples are gone, and while they’re still readily available for under $1 a pound (and tasting great), be sure to try a homemade applesauce recipe. I all but insist. And really, I insist just a little…
What I loved about this particular recipe was the fact that it was good enough to double as dessert. I would even go as far as to suggest this as a healthy dessert option at the quickly approaching Thanksgiving Day meal.
I liked this applesauce best when served warm (with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream would be great!) or cold, straight from the fridge. The long cooking time and brown sugar make for a rich, almost syrupy and sweet applesauce. So…flipping…good.
You can make this applesauce as chunky or smooth as you’d like. I prefer a fairly well-mashed applesauce with just a few small chunks, personally. It has that homemade-texture with the smooth-ish texture of applesauce that is sure to be loved by kids, guests, and everyone in between!
Sweet Cinnamon Crock Pot Applesauce
12 medium apples, peeled, cored, and quartered (I used Fuji)
juice of 1/2 lemon
2 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup apple cider
Directions:
Put apples in the crock pot and top with remaning ingredients. Cook on high 4-5 hours or low 8-9 hours. Note: it would be hard to ruin this recipe in the crock pot, so it can go longer, if needed. Yield: 12 servings (1/2 cup each).
Nutrition Information (per serving): 103 calories; 0 g. fat; 0 mg. cholesterol; 1 mg. sodium; 27 g. carbohydrate; 5 g. fiber; 0.5 g. protein
Result: Who needs dessert when you can have fresh, sweet applesauce? While this isn’t sugar-free or have no added sugar, it’s steps above other fall delights like apple crisps and crumbles…and I promise, you’re not missing a thing! This applesauce is that good! Enjoy!
Weekly Menu: November 13th – 17th
- Sunday: Chopped Apple Salad with Toasted Walnuts, Blue Cheese and Pomegranate Vinaigrette (lunch); Pork and Butternut Squash Stew {Crock Pot} (dinner)
- Monday: leftovers
- Tuesday: Roasted Tomato Soup with grilled cheese sandwiches
- Wednesday: leftovers
- Thursday: Sauteed Citrus Herb Salmon with sweet potato oven fries
I worked 6 days this past week and only have today to recover. I am going to be very productive with a good balance of fun (read: baked doughnuts!) and work (grading & lesson planning)…plus hockey tonight 
Happy weekend!
I have been meaning to make apple sauce in the crock pot for a while now! Your recipe sounds perfect!
Have a great Sunday, and don’t forget to mix in enough fun with the work!
I love love love homemade applesauce! I didn’t make it this year – we made it the year we went apple picking. It is great when you mix the varieties of apples.
Sounds like a great recipe!
This looks amazing! I am loving that you can put it right in the crock pot! So simple!
I hope you enjoy the soup. It was soo good!!
Everything looks so delicious, especially when we get to use a slow cooker. I plan on making my stuffing in the slow cooker for Thanksgiving Dinner. BTW, I noticed your apple walnut salad. Very similar to one I just made a couple of days ago. Check it out if you get a chance. I hope Ohio is not too cold these days.
I love making homemade applesauce. With apples actually being the cheapest fruit in the grocery store right now this might be a great homemade treat for everyone (including baby). I will let you know how it goes.