Homemade sugar-free applesauce recipe
The sugar-free applesauce is a healthy oil replacement in baking and a delicious snack for you, but especially for kids.
All you need for this recipe is 2 ingredients (apples and water).
It is so useful to have applesauce in your house because:
- it’s healthy;
- it’s vegan-friendly;
- the best baking replacement of oil (for oil-free baking);
- you can use it as a light snack;
- put in your oatmeal, make a toast;
- use applesauce as a base for some apple recipes, like these applesauce muffins.
During autumn and winter, everyone makes apple recipes.
I got some apples from the farm these days, they smell and taste so good. There are a lot of recipes that I could use them for.
But I decided to make this time some homemade applesauce, merely because it’s simple and I have a lot of options from there: I can freeze the homemade applesauce, can it, use it in healthy desserts (which I will, for sure) or just eat directly.
It is considered a kid snack, but I still feel that I am a child, so I enjoy the applesauce by myself (and I don’t have children yet).
But you should know that the applesauce tastes like those canned children’s purees.
So, if you have children and you want them to eat a healthier snack (than those store-bought “lots-of-vitamins” canned purees), this recipe is perfect.
Is that true that “An apple in a day, keeps the doctors away”?
Everyone knows that famous expression “An apple in a day, keeps the doctors away”.
Well, it is true that apples are healthy, and they can help you with preventing and stopping some diseases, weight loss, and overall health.
But not if besides apples you eat only junk food. You should eat at least 3 different fruits + 3 different kinds of vegetables a day. In addition, you have to include some legumes, cereals, and healthy fats in your diet.
Nonetheless, there are pieces of evidence that show that apples could decrease the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases. Also, they can help with asthma and diabetes, and with lowering bad cholesterol.
Plus, because they are packed with fiber, you can lose weight or maintain your weight scale. The correlation between fiber and weight loss is due to the fact that fiber enhances digestion. So practically apples make the process of flushing out everything in your digestive system easier.
In conclusion, this expression is true, only if you don’t underestimate other food that you put into your body.
Please note that I am not an expert but these facts are a source of the medical professionals, read more here.
Is applesauce healthy?
Yes, applesauce is healthy, especially if you make sugar-free applesauce.
It is high in fiber and antioxidants. Same as raw apples, applesauce can decrease the risk of chronic disease.
Still, it has to be consumed in moderation and it is important to include raw apples (and, of course, other whole foods) in your diet as well.
In the recipe, I am using peeled apples, to make the sauce as smooth as possible. But the peel has a lot of antioxidants (most of them, actually), so you may consider leaving the peel on.
The taste difference is not so big if you leave the skin on, but the health difference is quite huge. That is why I encourage you to use the peel if you don’t need very smooth applesauce.
Best apples for homemade applesauce
If they look like apples, taste like apples, and smell like apples, then they are good to use for homemade applesauce.
But of course, sweet apples taste better, especially because we are making unsweetened applesauce (refined sugar-free applesauce).
The sweetest apples are Golden Delicious (they cook easier and faster), Fuji and Honeycrisp. But you can find more information using this link.
How can I store the homemade applesauce?
There are more options for storing the applesauce: you can freeze it, can it, or store the applesauce in the fridge.
Freezing the homemade applesauce
It is possible to freeze your applesauce for up to 6 months. You can freeze it in a container, jar or reusable plastic bag.
Take it out of the freezer around 5-6 hours before using it. Or you might warm it up on a stove or microwave.
If you warm it using the stove or microwave, make sure to use it right away and don’t heat it one more time. If you heat your applesauce (or any food, actually) too many times, it loses its quality.
Canning the homemade applesauce
It is a nice option because you can use it during the period when apples are not as findable and delicious (usually the end of spring and the start of summer).
It is quite easy to do. You have to pour your applesauce into a hot jar (the jar has to be boiled before using, the same with the lid). Then, screw in the lid (very tight) and place it back in boiling water, then boil it for about 20 minutes or so.
That’s it. For more information, check out this article.
Storing in the fridge
This is the easiest option. Just leave it in the fridge in a bowl, air-tight container or a jar for up to 5 days.
This is a nice meal-prep that you can add to your smoothies, oatmeal, pancakes or desserts (it usually replaces the oil if you want to cook/bake oil-free).
Ingredients for the homemade sugar-free applesauce
As I said before, you will need only 2 ingredients for the recipe.:
- Apples
- Water
But you can add some extra ingredients, such as:
- Ginger: either powder or freshly grated ginger
- Cinnamon: it is the best extra ingredient that you could add because it gives a nice aroma to the applesauce
- Lemon juice: add lemon juice if you want the applesauce to last longer in the fridge (but you can also add it if you are planning to can the homemade applesauce)
- Maple syrup: for extra sweetness, but keep in mind that the applesauce is sweet by itself.
Ways of making homemade sugar-free applesauce recipe
I will explain each way of making the applesauce and how long does it take to make it.
Sugar-free applesauce: on the stove
25 minutes
It is the simplest method because you don’t need any special equipment for this, only a pot with a lid (and optionally a food processor). I use this method every time also because it’s the less messy one and it doesn’t require too much time.
Remove the skin: it is an optional step, I did it because I wanted my applesauce to be smoother.
Cut the apples into cubes, leaving the middle part aside.
Place them in a pot, adding the water. Additionally, you can add cinnamon, a bit of lemon juice, maple syrup or ginger.
Cook for around 20 minutes on medium-high heat with the lid on. They should become soft.
You may use a fork or potato masher to press on the apples. I used a food processor to blend them into a nice and smooth apple puree.
Place in a jar and serve the applesauce warm or cold.
Sugar-free applesauce: in an instant pot
15 minutes
If you have an instant pot, this method will save you some time.
Step 1. Remove the skin of the apples and cut them into cubs.
Step 2. Place the apple cubes into the instant pot, adding the water. If you wish, add lemon juice, cinnamon or ginger.
Step 3. Select the manual mode and cook for 8-10 minutes on high heat.
Step 4. Transfer into a bowl or food processor and mash the apples with a fork, or potato masher or blend in the food processor.
Sugar-free applesauce: in the oven
30 minutes
It is also a nice method, but I use it only if I bake apples anyway for other desserts/recipes (for example this recipe of stuffed baked apples). So, I just add in the oven more apples than needed to make homemade applesauce afterward. Otherwise, I think it’s more time-consuming.
- Preheat the oven to 175 C/350 F
- Peel and cut the apples into cubes.
- Place on parchment paper and bake for 20-25 minutes or until they are soft and it’s easy to insert a fork in them.
- Mash them using a fork, a potato masher or a food processor for a smoother result.
Other apple recipes:
Tips for making the homemade sugar-free applesauce
- Make sure your apples cook well before removing them from the stove/instant/pot/oven. They should be very soft and you should be able to insert a fork very easily in them.
- When the apples cook, they become even sweeter. So, don’t be tempted to add any sweetener at first. You can do that any time after your apples are done cooking.
- Add lemon juice if you want your apples to keep longer in the fridge.
- You may also add cinnamon or ginger for a nice aroma.
Also, find out how to make:
Homemade sugar free applesauce
Ingredients
- 5 apples (medium size)
- 5 tbsp water
Instructions
Sugar-free applesauce: on the stove
- Wash your apples very well.
- Remove the skin (it is an optional step, I did it because I wanted my applesauce to be smoother.
- Cut the apples into cubes, leaving the middle part aside.
- Place them in a pot, adding the water. Additionally, you can add cinnamon, a bit of lemon juice, maple syrup or ginger.
- Cook for around 20 minutes on medium-high heat with the lid on. They should become soft.
- You may use a fork or potato masher to press on the apples. I used a food processor to blend them into a nice and smooth apple puree.
- Place in a jar and serve the applesauce warm or cold.
Sugar-free applesauce: in an instant pot
- Remove the skin of the apples and cut them into cubs.
- Place the apple cubes into the instant pot, adding the water. If you wish, add lemon juice, cinnamon or ginger.
- Select the manual mode and cook for 8-10 minutes on high heat.
- Transfer into a bowl or food processor and mash the apples with a fork, potato masher or blend in the food processor.
Sugar-free applesauce: in the oven
- Preheat the oven to 175 C/350 F
- Peel and cut the apples into cubes.
- Place on parchment paper and bake for 20-25 minutes or until they are soft and it’s easy to insert a fork in them.
- Mash them using a fork, a potato masher or a food processor for a smoother result.
Notes
Homemade sugar-free applesauce recipe
Per serving:
Protein: 0,2% of your daily dose
Net Carbs: 12% of your daily dose
Fat: 0% of your daily dose
Fiber: 13% of your daily dose
Iron: 1% of your daily dose
Calcium: 1% of your daily dose
Vitamin A: 2% of your daily dose
Vitamin C: 7% of your daily dose
Folate: 1% of your daily dose
Potassium: 5% of your daily dose
*please note that these numbers are estimated
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If you liked the recipe, share the result in the comment section below, I would be glad to see the result and you may help others as well doing so.