Why You’ll Love This Crockpot Applesauce Recipe
This slow cooker applesauce recipe is incredibly easy to make and delivers a cozy, flavor-packed result with minimal effort. Using a mix of sweet and tart apples—like Granny Smith, Pink Lady, and Honeycrisp—adds natural complexity. It’s a homemade apple sauce that’s refined sugar-free, gluten-free, and kid-approved.
This is one of our favorite ways to use apples from fall activities or when you just want something warm and nostalgic. It works beautifully as a snack, side, or even dessert—especially served warm over vanilla ice cream. Plus, it’s an easy applesauce recipe that fills your kitchen with the irresistible scent of cinnamon sticks and slow-simmered fruit.
Try this delicious recipe swirled into pumpkin pie oatmeal, yogurt chia pudding, on top of banana oatmeal pancakes. One of my favorite ways to enjoy it is served warm, drizzled over a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream.
Check out this Crock Pot Apple Butter for another way to use apples in the slow cooker!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Apples: Choose a variety of apples for the best flavor. Sweet options like Honeycrisp and Pink Lady bring natural sugar and richness, while tart types like Granny Smith and McIntosh add brightness and balance. Using both gives your applesauce a more complex, well-rounded taste.
- Maple Syrup: Naturally sweetens the sauce without refined sugar. Start small and adjust to your personal preference based on your apples’ sweetness.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice: Adds warmth and depth. Swap with apple pie spice or use cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves individually.
- Cornstarch or Tapioca Starch: A little thickener goes a long way—helps achieve that luscious texture.
- Vanilla Extract: Rounds out the sweetness and complements the apples beautifully.
- Sea Salt: Enhances the overall flavor and balances the sweetness.
Pro Tip: Toss in a cinnamon stick instead of ground spices for a more layered flavor.
Recipe Variations
- Spiced Apple Pear Sauce: Swap half the apples for ripe pears.
- Cranberry Applesauce: Add a handful of cranberries for tart, festive flair.
- Unsweetened Applesauce: Skip the maple syrup entirely for a no-sugar-added version.
How to Make Crockpot Applesauce
Step 1: Peel (optional) and chop the apples into evenly sized chunks so they cook at the same rate.
Step 2: Place the apples in your slow cooker. Add the maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, cornstarch, and sea salt. Toss gently to coat.
Step 3: Cook on low for 4–6 hours or high for 2–3 hours, stirring occasionally. The apples are ready when soft and fragrant.
Step 4: Choose your texture. For chunky applesauce, mash by hand with a fork or potato masher. For smooth applesauce, use a food processor, blender, or immersion blender.
Expert Tips for This Easy Applesauce Recipe
- Apple variety matters. Using a blend of sweet and tart apples adds dimension.
- Start low on sweetener. Taste and adjust after cooking. Add lemon juice if it’s too sweet.
- Leave skins on if blending. They add fiber and break down during blending.
- Don’t overfill the slow cooker. Leave some space for even heat distribution.
Serving Tips
This homemade crockpot applesauce isn’t just a snack! Here are some favorite ways to enjoy it:
- Swirled into oatmeal or yogurt
- As a topping for pancakes, waffles, or toast
- Served with pork chops (a classic!)
- Added to muffins or cakes for extra moisture
- Warm over ice cream for a cozy fall dessert
Storage Tips
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container or mason jar for up to 10 days.
- Freezer: Portion into a freezer-safe container or ice cube trays and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Canning: Follow proper canning methods for shelf-stable storage—this can last up to 1 year.
Recipe FAQs
Use a mix! Sweet apples like Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or Fuji plus tart apples like Granny Smith or McIntosh create the best balance.
Yes. If blending smooth, leave the skins on. For chunky applesauce, peeling avoids chewy pieces.
Absolutely. Freeze in a freezer-safe container or portion in ice cube trays and transfer to a bag once solid.
Often, yes—especially if you have apples from apple picking or on sale. Plus, you control the ingredients.
Looking for more slow cooker inspiration? Don’t miss our roundup of cozy crockpot recipes that make mealtime easy and delicious.
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Easy Homemade Crockpot Applesauce (Naturally Sweetened)
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Ingredients
- 2 1/2 pounds apples peeled, cored, and sliced (about 6)
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar or coconut sugar
- 2 Tablespoons sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions
- Place the apples in the bowl of your crockpot. Add the sugar, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla on top and mix well. Pour the water over the apples and close the lid.2 1/2 pounds apples, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 2 Tablespoons sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/4 cup water
- Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours. Start checking it at 3 hours to make sure it doesn't overcook. The apples are done when they're very soft with no give, but not mushy.
- Remove the lid and use a wire whisk or potato masher to stir or mash until smooth, or until you reach your desired consistency. For extra smooth applesauce, use an immersion blender.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days for follow the directions in this post for canning.
Notes
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- Using a variety of apples that are sweet and tart ensures a more complex and interesting flavor.
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- Adjust the sweetness to your liking. Start with less maple syrup and add more after tasting. If your apple sauce is too sweet, add a squeeze of lemon juice to balance out the sweetness.
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- If you prefer chunky applesauce, peeling the apples prevents chewy pieces. For smooth applesauce, leave the peels on for extra fiber.
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- For a deeper flavor, add a cinnamon stick to the slow cooker instead of ground spices.
- If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice you can use a mix of 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg and 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- Store in a mason jar or airtight container for up to 10 days in the refrigerator. To freeze, portion into a freezer-safe container or an ice cube tray. Freeze for up to 3 months and thaw overnight in the fridge.
- If you’re canning this applesauce, follow safe canning practices for shelf-stable applesauce. Properly canned, it will last up to 1 year.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Can I use pears instead of apples and make “pear sauce” for my infant? I have a bunch of pears from my CSA and I’m wondering if they will cook the same as apples! This is such an easy recipe and sounds delicious!
Hey Jennifer! I haven’t tried it but yes, this should work with pears:)
I made it with pears and it was great!!!
Amazing!! Thanks for letting me know!
We made this for a fall treat and it’s SO GOOD! We ended up cooking it in the instant pot on high for 30min and mashing with a potato masher! Chunky and super sweet! My husband and I both agree that it would be good heated up on top of vanilla ice cream! Thanks Molly!