Homemade Apple Sauce

Our Homemade Apple Sauce recipe is so quick and easy to make when you know how to.

A great addition to many UK recipes, such as a roast pork dinner or try adding to cereal or yoghurt for a healthy breakfast.

Choose your favourite texture, chunky, thick, or smooth, and adjust to how sweet you like it.

You can make it sugar-free and pureed for babies, or instead of sugar try adding healthy natural sweeteners for kids.

We guide you through how to make simple apple sauce at home, including how to store and freeze larger batches.

See our step by step slide show on how we made our apple sauce, for full ingredients and instructions scroll down further for the recipe card below where US and UK recipe measurements are given.

What apples to use for apple sauce?

In this case, we used Bramley Cooking Apples. But, you can use others depending on your preference (or what you have available)?

You do not need to use cooking apples, regular eating apples work just as well.

If making apple sauce to puree for weaning babies or kids I would suggest using a mild, soft, sweet eating apple variety, such as Fuji or Gala apples.

For a more tart sweetness, try Golden Delicious or Pink Lady. Perfect for a chunky apple sauce, as they hold their shape a little better than cooking apples.

Do I need to peel the apple?

It is personal preference really. I always peel mine as I feel it makes it smoother and no tough bits of skin, but others would argue that by peeling you are throwing away some of the nutritional goodness.

Chop the apple into large chunks. Place into a pan with water (adjust how much water for desired texture, if you want it chunky add less water) and a cinnamon stick.

Feel free to experiment with other flavours here, try switching the cinnamon for a vanilla pod, ginger or nutmeg.

Cook on simmer for 15 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking.

How to make a chunky texture apple sauce?

For chunky apple sauce uses less water & cook for only 10 minutes.

How to make thick apple sauce?

We make our Apple Sauce quite thick but not too chunky using a potato masher and not too much water added, this is the perfect texture for serving up with roast pork dinner.

How to make smooth apple puree?

If you want it smoother, for example when weaning your baby or for adding into yogurt, you can puree the apple sauce by adding more water and using a stick blender to remove all traces of lumps.

Do I need to add sugar to homemade apple sauce?

Now it's time to add sugar..... if you want to? Some are happy with the unsweetened taste, especially if using eating apples and when serving to babies or children. Or if following a low sugar diet.

Always taste test before adding any sugar, and add 1 tablespoon at a time, until at desired sweetness.

Alternative to sugar for sweetness?

If you wanted a natural alternative to sweeten the apple sauce, try coconut sugar, stevia, honey, maple syrup or agave syrup. Again add a small amount at a time and taste test until happy.

Please note, if making apple puree for a baby, it is best to keep it unsweetened. Never use honey to sweeten if serving to a baby under 1-year-old.

Why add lemon juice?

We add lemon juice for a few reasons, firstly it gives a tart taste. Secondly, it helps keep a nice colour to the apple sauce. Finally, it acts as a preservative making it last longer.

Lemon juice is optional, and the apple sauce or puree is still safe to eat when it turns brown. Browning (otherwise known as oxidation) is a natural process that occurs when apple is exposed to air!

That's it, apple sauce ready to use!

Sweet condiment uses for Apple Sauce	Savoury condiment uses for Apple Sauce
Bubbly Pancakes Added to Breakfast Apple Turnovers In Pies or Cakes	Glazed Gammon Joint Roasted Pork Belly Sausages Toad in the hole

Great breakfast topping added with pancakes, yoghurt or cereal.

Perfect for desserts such as , waffles, pies, cakes, yogurts and ice cream.

Equally great served up as condiment with a Roast Pork or Gammon.

Especially good served up with our Flawless Yorkshire Puddings and Glazed Gammon Joint

There are so many uses for Homemade Apple Sauce, let us know how you use it?

Did you know, apple sauce can also be used as a direct substitute for egg, butter, or oil in cakes?

📖 Step by Step Recipe

This post was originally published on 14/03/2020 and has been modified on 06/02/2021 with updated step by steps and a new video.

Also added tips for creating different sauce textures and for making unsweetened apple sauce into an apple puree for babies or kids.

How to store Homemade Apple Sauce?

We store ours in glass jars, available from Amazon. On the other hand, you can just use an old jam/pickle jar.

Before using an old jar and lid, make sure to wash thoroughly and leave to sit in boiling water for 15 minutes.

Fill the sterilised jar with your Homemade Apple Sauce, and keep refrigerated between uses.

How long does Apple Sauce last in fridge?

Can be kept in the fridge for up to 10 days.

Can you freeze Apple Sauce?

Freeze in large ice cube trays, for perfectly proportioned sizes. Once frozen remove from tray and keep in a freezer bag, defrosting small portions when needed.

This is perfect when weaning a baby, as they only want tiny portions at a time.

Store frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost before use.

Let us know what apples you used and what your favourite is?

For pork roast dinner, we like to use Bramley apples.

For breakfast toppings, and for the kids (and babies) we prefer using a naturally sweet eating apple such as Gala or Pink Lady and turning it into an unsweetened apple puree using a food processor.

Apple Recipes

Love apples? Try out our apple strudel or apple and blackberry crumble recipe for a great dessert.