Slow Cooker Cinnamon Applesauce

This slow cooker cinnamon applesauce recipe is very simple to make and requires minimal hands on time! Make a batch of this applesauce with all the fresh apples during the Fall season. A delicious and easy recipe to have for your pantry, refrigerator or freezer.

In the upper midwest of America, we are getting loads of fresh apples this September. The crop has been good and so it’s time to make some apple recipes. I just recently shared a sourdough discard applesauce yogurt recipe that uses this slow cooker applesauce. A slow cooker apple butter is another great and simple recipe to find here on my blog. It is very similar to the applesauce with just a few spice and sweetener additions.

Making applesauce has become a part of our family tradition for several years now. The kids and I will spend some time cutting apples together for this recipe. Such a great memory to have and also a good way to get kids helping in the kitchen!

TIPS FOR MAKING CINNAMON APPLESAUCE

• Use a variety of apples. Having a good mix of apples makes the flavor sweeter and better for the unsweetened applesauce.
• Don’t worry about exactness in the size the apples are cut. Just make sure to cut them fairly similar and they will cook up nicely.
• Leave the skins on. It is easier to leave the skins on. They cook up to where they are not even visible and the nutrition with skins on is better.
• Immersion blend after the cook time. For a smooth applesauce blending is key. If you do not mind chunky applesauce then do not blend.
• If planning to freeze, store them in freezer quart bags laid flat for better storage for up to 18 months. For canning, hot water bath and store on a shelf for at least two years.

WHAT IS NEEDED

Tools:

6 quart slow cooker – or use whatever size you like, just adjust the amount of apples.

Cutting board

Knife

If canning:

Hot water bath or large stock pot

6 pint jars, lids and rings

Jar lifter

Ingredients:

Apples – A variety of kinds such as honey crisp, macintosh and granny smith.

Cinnamon – (optional)

Lemon juice – To help reduce browning of apples (optional if that does not bother you)

HOW TO MAKE SLOW COOKER CINNAMON APPLESAUCE

Wash the apples, especially since we will be leaving the skins on. Core and cut the apples into half inch pieces and put into the 6 quart slow cooker.

Add the cinnamon to the apples in the slow cooker. Stir until the apples are well coated.

Put the lid on and turn on low for 8-10 hours. Apples will be done when bubbly and can be very easily mashed.

With the immersion blender, blend the apples until smooth and no pieces or chuncks remain.

If canning the applesauce:

Wash the pint jars and get the hot water bath water heating.

Fill the sterilized jars with the warm applesauce.

Wipe the jar rims clean and put the lids and rings onto the jars.

Process the applesauce in the hot water bath for 20 minutes. Make sure half an inch of water covers the tops of the jars.

Remove the jars and let rest 24 hours on the counter.

If NOT canning:

Put the applesauce into airtight containers such as jars or glass storage.

Storage & Freezing options:

The applesauce will last a couple weeks in the refrigerator.

If freezing, I recommend storing in quart freezer bags or the applesauce can be stored in jars. The applesauce will last over a year in the freezer.

If you try this recipe and love it, please come back and give it a 5 star review!