Why I Love This Applesauce
First of all, why is homemade applesauce so good?! Ugh. It’s so good.
It just hits right every time. There’s just enough texture to be interesting, with a naturally amazing sweetness, and the old-school, comforting feeling you get from sitting down with a warm – or cold – bowl of this is unrivaled.
We’ve made this so many this fall, and exactly no one is sick of it yet! My girls are still asking to make it every single week.
Speaking of which, this is hands-down one of my favorite recipes to make with my kids. The process is – dare I say – actually enjoyable. I cut the apples, and they tumble them into the pot. Someone does the cinnamon sticks, someone does the water, and it’s done in about 10 minutes. A perfect, warm, naturally sweet snack. For this season of life, this is the ideal level of kid recipe.
(But, like, “for the kids”, ya know?)
How To Make Applesauce In The Instant Pot
1
Cut the apples.
Hot take: I don’t peel them! Apple peels are delicious. I just cut the apples into quarters or chunks and toss ’em in the Instant Pot.
2
Add cinnamon and water.
I do two cinnamon sticks (or, in this case, some shards of cinnamon stick left at the bottom of the bag) and 1/2 cup water.
3
Cook and mash.
I cook the applesauce for 5 minutes – then it’s a quick hybrid mash/blend with the immersion blender.
4
You’re done! Yum.
This is just such a delight in our household. Eaten warm, cold, with a meal, or on its own. Simplicity for the win!
Watch How To Make Instant Pot Applesauce
Easy Instant Pot Applesauce
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 5–6 servings (usually gone in 24 hours in our house) 1x
Description
My go-to method for homemade applesauce! Just apples, water, and cinnamon. A perfect kid recipe for an afternoon snack!
Ingredients
- 7–8 apples (any kind works! I like Honeycrisp, of course)
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Cut your apples into chunks, discarding the cores. Place apples in the Instant Pot.
- Add cinnamon sticks and water; cook on high pressure for 5 minutes.
- Let it rest for 10 minutes before releasing the steam. Stick an immersion blender into the Instant Pot and give it a few whizzes, alternating with some gentle mashing, to get the texture that you want.
- You’re done! Enjoy your homemade applesauce!
Notes
Too much blending creates more of a puree, which isn’t my favorite. I like some texture with this. So I just blend enough to break apart any larger pieces of the peel, and then mash it the rest of the way. You don’t *have* to blend it – you could just mash it up and leave those chunks of peel intact! (Or peel the apples ahead of time if that bothers you.) Lots of options!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: applesauce, instant pot applesauce, healthy snack, homemade applesauce
Frequently Asked Questions For This Applesauce
Yes – you can cook this over medium heat for 20-30 minutes until the apples are soft.
Yes – you can cook this on high for 4 hours in a slow cooker.
Any will do, but I prefer Honeycrisp!
This will keep for 4-5 days in the fridge.
Yes! Sub in 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon instead.
This is my go to applesauce recipe. So yummy!
Should the apples be peeled? You don’t mention whether they are or not.
We don’t peel ours but you can if you’d like!
can you freeze this?
I tried this recipe last weekend and it turned out perfectly – so easy and delicious!
Even better flavor when I added 1/2 cup apple cider instead of water.
I just made this — the smell of apples and cinnamon while it cooks is amazing! So simple yet so comforting
Love this delicious, easy, no sugar dessert! Perfect gift for friends, regardless of diet. I add cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, allspice, cloves, and nutmeg to make it super autumn-y.
Great recipe
This applesauce recipe is a game changer! I love how quick and easy it is to make in the Instant Pot. Can’t wait to try it with different apple varieties. Thanks for sharing this deliciousness! 🍏✨
I love your recipes!!
Happy Tuesday Lindsay
Can I just chop the apples
nice work Lindsay
love your recipes!!
I made this applesauce recipe last night, and it turned out amazing! So simple and quick in the Instant Pot. The hint of cinnamon really elevates the flavor. Thanks for sharing such a delicious and easy recipe!
I love your recipes!!
This applesauce recipe looks super simple and delicious—perfect for a healthy treat! I love that it uses the Instant Pot to save time. Do you have any tips on adding a twist, like a hint of cinnamon or nutmeg? Thanks for sharing such a sweet idea!
I love your recipes
Delicous and easy!
I love your recipes!!
This post was fantastic. It reminds me of my grandmother’s applesauce-making days! What a lovely fall custom!
Wow, this Easy Instant Pot Applesauce looks amazing! I love how simple and quick it is to make with just a few ingredients. It’s such a perfect recipe for fall and I can already imagine how delicious it must taste with a touch of cinnamon. Definitely going to try this one out soon—thanks for sharing!
Does this work in a 3 quart?
Great question! We think it’d work out okay!
I love your recipes!!
Great a amazing blog i like it
This is a nice easy applesauce that doesn’t require much effort beyond peeling all the apples. I peeled mine first with a vegetable peelers then cored and chopped and it went as fast as could be expected without a fancier set up. I do think next time I will try adding more spices and playing with the flavor as the cinnamon did not come through as strongly as I wanted even though I used 3 sticks instead of 2. I did find the final product to be way too watery and set it over a strainer for a couple of minutes to bring down the water content. Which is a win because I then heat juices that drain out and have them as a nice warm cider that is guilt free since there is no sugar added to the recipe. Will definitely make again.