Slow Cooker Homemade Applesauce (No Sugar) - Recipe Diaries (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Jenna · This post may contain affiliate links · 10 Comments

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When life hands you apples you make a lot of applesauce and this recipe is completely sugar-free and 0 smart points! It can be made in the slow cooker or Instant Pot. One thing I like about the Instant Pot is that it has a slow cooker setting. If you don't have an Instant Pot, no worries. Just cook it on low for 6 hours in a slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Homemade Applesauce (No Sugar) - Recipe Diaries (1)

In my backyard, when I moved into this house there was an apple tree. It had an abundance of apples on it and we ended up having to cut it down because it was dying. Two years ago, I planted an apple tree in my backyard. Sadly, I won't be able to enjoy those apples one day but someone else will. I envy anyone that has an apple tree in theirbackyard!

Serving Size

This recipe makes about 4 servings of applesauce and the serving size is ½ cup. It can be easily doubled or tripled, if you want to make more applesauce. A lot of people want to know what the serving sizes are for my recipes and I apologize. When I first started posting WW recipes on this blog, I would just put the # of servings. I'll try really hard to figure out the serving sizes for each recipe going forward and update old posts with them whenever I make that recipe again!

For more easy slow cooker recipes be sure to check out Slow Cooker Homemade Applesauce (No Sugar), Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pulled Pork, and Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup!

How to Make Slow Cooker or Instant Pot Homemade Applesauce

  1. Peel and slice apples. Add apples to your Instant Pot or Slow Cooker and then add the cinnamon sticks, orange peels, and allspice on top of the apples.
  2. Instant Pot: Close the lid on your Instant Pot and set the steam valve to sealing. Then set the timer to 20 minutes. When the time is up do a quick release.
  3. Slow Cooker: Cook the apples for 6 hours on low. If you are using a slow cooker just place all the apples and spices and orange peels in your slow cooker.
  4. After the apples are done cooking, take out the orange peels and cinnamon sticks with a pair of tongs. Puree with an emersion blender or add the apples to a blender and blend until smooth.
  5. Serving size: ½ cup.
Slow Cooker Homemade Applesauce (No Sugar) - Recipe Diaries (2)

What Crock Pots are the Best?

  • When choosing a slow cooker think of the size of your family first. Do you have a large family of 6 or more? You probably want a larger crockpot that is 7 qt or more. For smaller families that are 4 or less choose a 4 qt slow cooker and just adjust the recipe ingredients in half. No need to change the cooking times.
  • Elite Gourmet - Electric oval slow cooker has adjustable temps and can make anything from entrees, sauces, stews & dips. Plus it’s dishwasher safe. This one also comes in a 4 quart size!
  • Crock-Pot 7-Quart Oval - Manual Slow Cooker | Stainless Steel (SCV700-S-BR) Spatious 7 quart manual slow cooker that servers up to 9 people. Fits a 7 pound roast. Keeps food at an ideal serving temperature for as long as you need to so you can make dishes ahead of time!

Other Recipes to Try

Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs

Slow Cooker Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

Air Fryer Scotch Eggs with Maple Aoili

Air Fryer Baja Fish Tacos with Pickled Onions

Air Fryer Frozen Hash Brown Patties

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Sugar Free Applesauce | Slow Cooker or Instant Pot

★★★★★4.5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Jenna
  • Prep Time: 20min
  • Cook Time: 6hr
  • Total Time: 6hr 20min
  • Yield: 4 1x
Print Recipe

Description

When life hands you apples you make a lot of applesauce and this recipe is completely sugar-free and 0 smart points! It can be made in the slow cooker or Instant Pot

Scale

Ingredients

  • 8 medium sized Honey Crisp Apples
  • 3 orange peels from one orange
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • ¼ tsp of allspice

Instructions

  1. Peel and slice apples. Add apples to your Instant Pot or Slow Cooker and then add the cinnamon sticks, orange peels, and allspice on top of the apples.
  2. Instant Pot: Close the lid on your Instant Pot and set the steam valve to sealing. Then set the timer to 20 minutes. When the time is up do a quick release.
  3. Slow Cooker: Cook the apples for 6 hours on low. If you are using a slow cooker just place all the apples and spices and orange peels in your slow cooker.
  4. After the apples are done cooking, take out the orange peels and cinnamon sticks with a pair of tongs. Puree with an emersion blender or add the apples to a blender and blend until smooth.
  5. Serving size: ½ cup.

Notes

WW points: Blue Points: 0; Green Points: 0; Purple Points: 0

  • Category: Easy
  • Method: Slow Cooker
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: ½ cup

Keywords: homemade applesauce

More Slow Cooker | Instant Pot

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  • Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken
  • Crock Pot Salsa Chicken (2 Ingredients)
  • Instant Pot French Dip Sandwiches

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jennifer says

    I love this recipe and make it every year in the Fall.

  2. Brian says

    Great applesauce recipe! I love that there’s no extra sugar off.

  3. Jenna says

    No Step 2 is for slow cooker settings. If you use your Instant Pot the applesauce is done in 20 minutes. I updated the recipe so that was more clear.

  4. Star says

    Hi there!
    Thank you for the recipe. This is a long shot since this was posted so long ago but I have a question. I’m using an insta pot and just put everything in for 20 minutes. In step 2 it sounds like I leave it in for an addition 4 hours on low? Is that correct?
    Thanks

  5. Jenna says

    Yes from one orange. I updated it to make more sense.

  6. Shirl says

    Just to clarify, after watching the video, just a few pieces of orange peel, not the peel of 3 oranges? Also, no problem with the Instant Pot scorching since no liquid was added? That part makes me nervous, but I do like thick applesauce. I am going to try this as soon as I get piece of mind on the above two concerns. Love your recipes! Thanks so much!

Leave a Reply

Slow Cooker Homemade Applesauce (No Sugar) - Recipe Diaries (2024)

FAQs

Can you have unsweetened applesauce? ›

You can buy unsweetened or sweetened varieties of applesauce at your local grocery store. You can also make applesauce at home with just a few ingredients. To make fresh applesauce, you need whole apples and water. Sugar is an optional ingredient.

How do you jazz up unsweetened applesauce? ›

Try sprinkling it with warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, allspice, or pumpkin pie spice. Or mix in a dash of vanilla extract. If you're making it from scratch, try simmering the sauce with berries or peaches.

How do you make homemade applesauce Rachael Ray? ›

Add the apples and apple juice to a large saucepan. Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are soft. Remove from heat and let the apples cool for 5 minutes. Add the apples and their juice to a blender and blend to the desired consistency; serve warm or chilled.

What are the best apples for making applesauce? ›

The best apples for applesauce are whatever apples you have on hand and need to use up. However, if you have a choice, we recommend using a combination of sweet and tangy varieties for the best flavor. Popular sweet varieties include Honeycrisp and Fuji, while popular tangy varieties include Granny Smith and Braeburn.

Is applesauce with no sugar good for you? ›

The answer is a resounding yes! Apple sauce is low in calories, fat-free, and contains beneficial vitamins and minerals. Apples are packed with fiber, which helps keep you feeling full and aids in digestion. They also contain antioxidants, which can help protect against chronic diseases.

Is eating unsweetened applesauce as good as eating an apple? ›

Because it's made from whole apples and just a few other basic ingredients, applesauce may offer many of the same health benefits as whole apples. It may contribute to a balanced diet and help protect against chronic disease.

What happens when you replace sugar with applesauce? ›

While you can substitute applesauce in place of granulated sugar, there are some things to be cautious of. Like butter and oil, you can substitute applesauce and sugar in a 1:1 ratio. However, sugar is a dry ingredient and applesauce is a wet ingredient, so you will have to cut back on other wet ingredients.

How do you add flavor to unsweetened applesauce? ›

Ingredients
  1. Vanilla: It's a great way to add a tiny bit of flavor, especially when making all-natural applesauce (no sugar added). ...
  2. Citrus peel: I use lemon peel because it works very well with apples. ...
  3. Cinnamon: ground cinnamon or cinnamon sticks, both work but they are different as the latter has a more subtle flavor.
Aug 21, 2022

Is lemon juice needed to can applesauce? ›

The most recent edition (2015) of the USDA Complete Guide does not require lemon juice in applesauce. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Complete guide to home canning.

Why is my homemade applesauce pink? ›

If you leave the skins on, you'll end up with pink applesauce, like mine, if you've used red apples. You'll want to puree the applesauce if you've left the skins on and strain it, otherwise, it can get “stringy” and I don't care for that texture.

Why is my homemade applesauce watery? ›

Why is my applesauce watery?
  • The apples you put into the sauce could be extremely juicy, giving you a higher water content than the recipe anticipated.
  • The apples could be larger than usual, or you might not have had the heat on the stovetop high enough or left the sauce to stew for long enough.
Mar 17, 2021

What makes applesauce taste better? ›

The mellow sweetness of toasted sugar adds complexity. Apple cider vinegar helps brighten cooked fruit. Using skin-on fruit improves both flavor and color in the finished product. Aromatics like cinnamon, orange peel, and rose water intensify the flavor of the apples.

What kind of apples does Mott's applesauce use? ›

Conversation. What kind of apples does Mott's use for applesauce? a) Golden Delicious.

Are Gala apples OK for applesauce? ›

Gala. A crisp, sweet apple with a mild flavor, Galas have yellow-orange skin with red striping. They're among the best apples for applesauce, salads, eating out-of-hand, and pressing into cider.

Can a Type 2 diabetic have unsweetened applesauce? ›

All fruits are nutrient dense and when consumed in small portions, can be part of a healthy eating plan for people with Diabetes. It is recommended to eat a variety of fruits. Consider using fresh fruit in season, frozen fruit like berries, pumpkin puree, or no sugar added applesauce to make muffins or pastries.

Can diabetics have unsweetened applesauce? ›

Creating a Diabetes Meal Plan

It's important to include fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, while keeping an eye on the portion size to avoid overeating carbohydrates. For snacks, options such as unsweetened applesauce can be included in moderation, serving as a lower glycemic choice compared to other sweet snacks.

Can I use unsweetened applesauce instead of sweetened? ›

We recommend using unsweetened applesauce, since applesauce is naturally sweet. Additionally, you might consider using less sugar than what the recipe calls for, to account for the applesauce replacement. Alternatively, use the recommended amount of sugar; if it seems too sweet, just use less next time!

Is unsweetened applesauce same as no sugar added? ›

"Unsweetened means that it doesn't have any added sugar, low-calorie sweeteners, or sugar alcohols. But it can include naturally occurring sugars like you see in milk and fruit," says Maples. Unsweetened is a good option if you're looking to cut out artificial sugars or reduce the amount of added sugar in your diet.

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