Unsweetened applesauce recipe is simple and delicious. Perfect for smearing on your morning toast or adding to oatmeal. Easy sugar-free apple recipe is a must-have this fall!
It is also gluten-free, dairy-free, keto and vegan.
Oatmeal and yogurt tastes great with addition of applesauce! You can also serve this applesauce with pork or baked chicken.
This easy apple recipe is a great use of your apple harvest! The output for this recipe is about 1-2 jars. Your house will smell so good when you make it!
Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, anise and apples – this is the best feel and aroma of cold autumn or early wintertime at home, isn’t it?
Unsweetened applesauce with cinnamon is absolutely favorite option for adding to bakes and breakfasts! This is a nice gift, if you go to visit your friends and family!
How to store applesauce
You can store applesauce in the fridge for about 2 weeks.
If you properly sterilize the jars and lids, it will stay good up to 4-6 month.
But it is so tasty that you can better make another batch!
We actually prefer to open the fridge at night and eat this apple sauce right from the jar… when no one sees. Haha!
Can you freeze applesauce
Yes, you can! Before freezing, cool the applesauce, add it into special container, leaving an inch on head space.
However, spices will loose all the flavor in the freezer, so better leave them out.
You can add the spices, when you defrost it.
Apple sauce can be stored in a freezer for a year!
Recipes with unsweetened applesauce
It is great for adding to baking. Add it to homemade bread like our apple cinnamon bread, waffles, cakes, pancakes or cookies!
We have sweetened banana buckwheat muffins, and added it to sweet potato butter. You will find these recipes on our blog!
Best apples for homemade applesauce
Best apples for this apple sauce are sweet and soft, that will cook fast. These are, for example, Braeburn, Crispin, Fuji, McIntosh or Cortland.
The variety of apples you choose will impact the sweetness of the sauce. Use Fuji or Gala apples for a sweeter applesauce.
This cooking method will work with any variety of apples. However, the variety of apple will also impact the cooking time and flavor.
By the way, this recipe is a perfect use of bruised and not-so-pretty apples. Just make sure you remove the brown or black spots!
How to sweeten unsweetened applesauce
Apples contain high amount of pectin, which allows the sauce to thicken and use no sugar and less cooking time.
You can always add sugar or alternative, such as erythritol or stevia, when cooking tart apples.
If you want to sweeten cooked applesauce, you can mix in liquid stevia, honey or syrup.
Unsweetened applesauce calories
Unsweetened applesauce recipe has 383 calories in total. The output is about 1-2 jars. So one serving is quite large. If you measure it by tablespoons, it will be around 25-30 tablespoons.
You will get around 15 calories in your spoon!
How do you make unsweetened applesauce recipe
Ingredients for unsweetened applesauce recipe are basically apples and water.
You can use any spices that you love with your apple recipes, such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, anise, cardamom. I think cinnamon is a must here, but other spices are optional. It makes so much difference in flavor!
The addition of lemon juice to unsweetened applesauce recipe is also possible. It will help to preserve the color and add tang. However, I always make my applesauce without it. And the final product looks and tastes great!
First, peel the apples and remove the core. If you don’t have fancy apple cutter and peeler, use your knife. If you leave the skin on, the result won’t be as smooth as you see here.
Simmer the apples with water and spices until they are soft and easy to mash. Stir from time to time, so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
About 30 minutes cooking time on low is usually enough. But if your apples are still firm, you can cook them longer. Add more boiling water, if apples are dry or start sticking to the pan.
Use your blender or masher to reach the desired consistency. If you like chunky sauce, you can leave it as it is!
Let it cool, fill the jars and enjoy!
Check our other sugar-free fruit sauces and jams:
Check our other apple recipes:
- French apple tart
- Dutch apple pie
- Caramel apple trifle
- Easy baked apples with yogurt
- Apple bundt cake
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Unsweetened Applesauce Recipe
- large pot
- spoon
- Hand or stand blender
- 1½ kg apples /3,3 pounds
- 1 stick cinnamon
- 1/3 tsp nutmeg ground
- 1/4 tsp cardamom ground
- 5 cloves
- ½ star anise
- 1 cup water
- Clean and peel all apples. Use your knife or apple peeler.*1½ kg apples
- Remove the core and slice apples. If you don't have apple cutter, use your knife to cut apples in thick slices.
- Put all apple slices in the large pot. Put the pot on the high heat.
- Add a cup of water in the pot.1 cup water
- Add all spices in a pot. Stir together, so the apples are covered.1 stick cinnamon, 1/3 tsp nutmeg, 1/4 tsp cardamom, 5 cloves, ½ star anise
- Cover the pot with a lid, bring to the boil.
- Cook on the low heat for about 30 minutes, stirring from time to time, until all apples are soft.
- Let it cool a little, then remove cinnamon stick, anise and cloves.**
- Blend apple sauce with hand blender or stand blender until smooth.
- Fill the jars, cover with lids and store in the fridge.***
