Slow-Cooker Applesauce

Slow-cooker applesauce is an easy way to make good use of that haul from autumn apple picking. Just peel, core and slice some apples, chuck them into the slow cooker with other simple ingredients, and return a few hours later to a kitchen that smells as good as an autumn-scented candle.

The set-it-and-forget-it convenience and even heat of an electric slow cooker simply can’t be beat for softening apples into a rosy cinnamon and vanilla applesauce. Unlike cooking applesauce on the stovetop, where the heat is more direct, the fruit is less likely to scorch on the bottom of the pan—and you’re less likely to be burned by rogue splatters of bubbling sauce!

We add cinnamon and vanilla to this version, but you can easily customize the seasoning with whatever additions you like. It’s a lovely snack swirled into yogurt or as an accompaniment for savory dishes. And if you have even more apples to use up, here are our favorite apple recipes to make this fall.

Slow-Cooker Applesauce Ingredients

• Apples: Peeled and sliced apples soften into rosy applesauce in the slow cooker. We start with 6 pounds of apples (about 18 medium-size apples).
• Sugar: A cup of white sugar balances the tartness of fresh apples. You can increase or decrease the amount to suit your preference, or substitute one of the sugar alternatives.
• Water: Adding a cup of water to the slow cooker helps to surround the fruit with steam, ensuring even heating for a uniform mash.
• Ground cinnamon: Cinnamon adds heaps of that signature warm, autumnal aroma to this slow-cooker applesauce recipe.
• Butter: Mashing in some butter to the nearly finished applesauce adds richness and a velvety, slightly emulsified texture. You can omit it or substitute plant-based butter instead.
• Vanilla extract: Vanilla, whether store-bought or homemade vanilla extract, adds a delicate aroma to the finished applesauce. Feel free to omit it if you’re planning to use this applesauce alongside savory dishes.

Directions

Step 1: Combine the first ingredients

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In a 5-quart slow cooker, combine the apples, sugar, water, salt and cinnamon. Cover and cook on low for six to eight hours or until tender.

Step 2: Add the butter and vanilla

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Slow-Cooker Applesauce Variations

• Swap the spices: Trade the ground cinnamon for ground ginger, pumpkin pie spice or ground cardamom to tweak the flavor of your finished applesauce.
• Add a berry: Apples and berries are the best of friends, and adding just a cup of blackberries, cranberries, raspberries or strawberries will add lots of flavor—and give your applesauce a beautiful hue. Use fresh or frozen berries, and add them to the slow cooker along with the apples.
• Make brown sugar applesauce: Replace the white sugar with brown sugar, either light or dark, to add a layer of molasses flavor and a caramel color to the finished applesauce.

How to Store Slow-Cooker Applesauce

Once it’s cool, pack slow-cooker applesauce into airtight containers and store them in the refrigerator for up to five days.

Can you freeze slow-cooker applesauce?

Absolutely, and applesauce freezes and defrosts very well, so it’s fine to make a large batch and freeze all or most of it. Use freezer-safe containers and leave about 1/2 inch of headspace to allow for expansion. Two-cup containers are great for making baked goods like applesauce muffins, but you can freeze it in any size container that makes sense for your household.

Slow-Cooker Applesauce Tips

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What types of apples make the best applesauce?

You can use any type of apples you like in this recipe for slow-cooker applesauce. Red apples tend to yield applesauce with a rosy color, while green apples tend to make a more yellow applesauce. Some will break down into a finer mash as they cook, and others will hold their shape, particularly Pink Lady and Granny Smith. Gravenstein, McIntosh, Rome and Macoun apples are all known as great varieties to use in homemade applesauce. You can use all of one kind, or try a mix for an applesauce with a dynamic flavor and variable texture. To find out more, check out our full guide to the best apples for baking, cooking and eating fresh.

How do you make applesauce with a texture similar to store-bought?

Jarred, commercially made applesauce has a very fine texture. To approximate that same texture at home, puree your finished slow-cooker applesauce using an immersion blender (though do be careful while blending hot applesauce, it’s like lava if it splatters!) or push your applesauce through a food mill or a ricer.

Can you make slow-cooker applesauce in an Instant Pot?

Absolutely. You can use the slow-cooker setting on an Instant Pot or any other multi-cooker. If you’re ready to go, here’s a good pressure-cooker cinnamon applesauce recipe.