Easy Slow Cooker Applesauce

by Arja Pennanen Lytle

Nothing really says fall to me like fresh, local apples.  I get hypnotized by all the varieties I see at the farmers’ markets and I happily accept apples from friends’ trees.  Add in a trip to go apple picking myself and all of a sudden I have more apples laying around than I know what to do with.  Crisps and pies are great (and delicious!) but sometimes you just need a quick way to process a bunch that doesn’t involve much effort.

Enter my super easy, slow cooker applesauce.  No added sugar, no peeling, and no watching a pot on the stove involved – just chop, core, add cinnamon and lemon and let your slow cooker do the rest.  Sounds simple right?  Many applesauce recipes involve using sugar, but there’s no need to bother with added sugar because apples are so sweet on their own and the cinnamon enhances that natural sweetness. 

Apples are very good for you and keeping the skin on maximizes their nutritional value.  Apple consumption has been shown to be associated with reduced risk of heart disease, cancer, asthma, and type II diabetes. 

Apples are:

1. An excellent source of vitamin C
2. A good source of potassium
3. Full of fibre 

Easy Slow Cooker Applesauce

Makes approx. 7 cups 

• 4-5 lbs apples (enough to fill a 5-6qt slow cooker)
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• Juice from 1-2 lemons (start with juice from 1 lemon - you can always add extra juice at the end if you want to make your sauce tangier)
• 1cup filtered water 

Step 1 – Wash, core and roughly chop apples leaving skin on.

Step 2 – Load apples, cinnamon sticks, lemon juice and water into your slow cooker.  Cook on low for 6-7hrs, stirring once or twice.

Step 3 – Once apples have totally fallen apart turn off slow cooker, remove cinnamon sticks and blend with an immersion blender until smooth (you could also do this in small batches in a blender).

*Note:  If you prefer a chunkier sauce where you just mash up the cooked apples at the end, you will want to peel the apples when prepping them, then follow all the same steps above skipping the blending.

Forget the packaged stuff and make a big batch yourself!  I freeze it in small containers (easier than water bath canning) so that I can pull some out for a week of snacks.

Enjoy!

Learn more about Arja of  Balance Body and Soul!

"I'm a holistic nutritionist & mama to a busy kindergartner with a passion for teaching people how to eat to feel good!  I love to help people sleep better, think better, feel sexier, and just generally more balanced by putting the focus on eating foods that make you feel your best.  I use whole foods, lifestyle adjustments, herbs, and some supplements to help people correct imbalances and achieve their health and wellness goals."