Nothing smells more like autumn comfort than apples simmering in the slow cooker! Easy homemade slow cooker applesauce with none of the work, hassles, or added sugar. Add some cinnamon and spice or keep it plain; the final product is up to you but will always be delicious!
Recipe bucket list item #50 DONE! Finally! Why, o, why does it always take me so love to try the simplest of classic recipes!? The world may never know, but at least I always eventually come around to doing them…eventually! It’s rather silly too. The longer I hold out on doing these homemade staple recipes, the longer I’m depriving myself of such wonderful results! Homemade applesauce is one of the greatest simple pleasures in life, I am sure of that now! First of all, can we just talk about the smell that emanates and fills the house as the apples are cooking down? O goodness! Add some cinnamon and your home will smell like love and hugs!
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But the real magic is when you first put the chopped up apples in the slow cooker, and then come back a few hours later and the apple chunks have magically turned in to applesauce! No mashing required! It’s amazing! A massive pot of applesauce with no hassle! I put my chopped up apples in, looked through the lid after an hour and they were still whole chunks, but then 2 more hours went by and the applesauce was just there…waiting to be eaten! Warm, cinnamon, homemade applesauce! I’ve only ever eaten good old Mott’s applesauce as a kid and then Beechnut and some organic brands recently. Homemade just changed my apple loving life forever!
Apple season is the best though! Since apples are in my top 3 favorite foods, I go crazy with all the perfect lovely varieties I can find in the stores right now. Frieda’s sent me a bunch of new varieties I’d never had before, but I thought with the abundance of special apples, a special applesauce would be perfect. My applesauce thus included: Cortland, Ribston Pippin, and Ashmead’s Kernal apples. This was one magic apple combo and produced some spectacular tasting (the best I’ve ever tasted) applesauce! So perfectly sweet and I decided to add some cinnamon too which was a no-brainer for me (and a very good choice!).
You can use whatever apple combo your little apple-loving heart desires! My next batch I want to try with my favorite apples, Fuji and Pacific Rose! That would be killer! And then of course, I should try making some pear sauce too 😉 I do have that undieing love for Bosc pears (and Anju pears)! Maybe even some apple butter….and pumpkin butter since that seems to be a sin if your don’t make some this time of year!
Funny side note. This applesauce was the first “sweet” thing I’ve ever made in my slow cooker. Actually, it’s the first thing I’ve made besides chicken! Rest assured, it will not be the last! I’m feeling pretty slow cooker savvy right about now; there is no stopping me! The potentials of the slow cooker are endless! Ambient not as fun as actual cooking; it still produces amazing results and if you aren’t as fond of cooking as me, then this is the perfect cooking device for you my dear!
Slow Cooker Applesauce
- 9 Medium-Sized Apples (I used 3 Cortland, 3 Ribston Pippin, and 3 Ashmead's Kernal)
- ⅓ TB Lemon Juice
- ⅓ Cup to ½ Cups Water (more if you want it less thick)
- 2 Tsp Cinnamon (optional, or spices of choice)
- You can peel (if desired), and chop your apples into large chunks.
- Add the apples, lemon juice, water, and optional cinnamon and spices to the slow cooker.
- Cook on high for 3-4 hours until the apples have broken down.
- You can then mash to completely smooth when done, or simply stir and get a perfect consistency!
- Store in the refrigerator for 4-5 days or freeze.
I can’t get over how delicious this was! I could have drank the whole slow cooker full! (As a kid I loved to drink the sauce out of those Matt’s applesauce cups!). You know what’s even more stellar? You can now make my slow cooker applesauce chicken, with my slow cooker applesauce! Combining two slow cooker loves as one! And if you’re still for some reason on the fence about making some applesauce, just wait until Wednesday and I will show you that you MUST make some (you’ll need it!).
Why not take it a step further and try some slow cooker apple butter as well!
So tell me:
+ Have you ever made your own applesauce?
+ What’s your favorite apple variety?
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🙂 This looks soooo good. I love homemade applesauce! I am totally making this this fall.
This is such a favorite recipe of mine!
I love that you used a mixture of apples! Looks lovely.
Ha, thanks.
I’ve never tried applesauce in the slow cooker – such a smart idea
Can’t be easier!
I am kicking myself that I didn’t make applesauce when apples were in season here. I am absolutely putting this on my list for next year, and I am going to give your method a go. Sounds very easy.
It is super easy!
Yum! What a great idea, I will need to try this out with all the amazing apples in season!
Enjoy! It’s so super simply and delish!
This looks easy and delicious – and healthier than store bought applesauce. I need to try this!
Haha, of course it is!
I have a slow cooker and a lot of apples to use up so you have convinced me to give this a try:) Think i might check out the slow cooker chicken and apple sauce recipe too!
Awesome! Well, they are both winners and big favorites here!
This looks SO easy and yummy!! I love apples, thank you for this:)
Thank you! It’s one of my favorite dishes!
Ah… I’ve just recently started making homemade applesauce. Its so amazing warm!
Yes! I never want store-bought again!
I am right in the middle of gobbling up a bowl of this and I just have to stop and come straight to you and say THANK YOU! Not only does my house smell AMAZING, but this is soooo good and it was so easy to make. Honestly when I was making it, I was like no sugar?? I almost second guessed you and added some, but I’m so glad that I didn’t. It’s just perfect the way it is.
Why would you add sugar to natural fruit sugar!? Glad you enjoyed it!
I tried making applesauce once and it was a total fail. I’m going to have to give yours a try and see how take 2 goes! 🙂
It’s pretty impossible to mess up this method.
I felt the same way! It took me so long to actually make some slow cooker apple sauce, and then after I made it, I was like – why’d I wait so long?! Definitely great to be able to make your own and customize it how ever you want. 🙂
Exactly!!!! Hahaha! I deprived myself far too long!
I love using the slow cooker for homemade applesauce. This looks delicious!
It’s the best!
This sounds amazingly delicious and what a perfect treat for Fall!
Totally! Thank you!
Oooh love the sound of this. I normally just buy applesauce to use in baked goods – but this recipes sounds so warm & comforting & delicious. Yum!
Once you see how easy it is, you’ll be buying it a lot less!
It’s always time for applesauce. My favorite healthy dessert!
Yes it is!
Just yum! That is all! Now where is my peeler?
You can even keep the skin on if you feel extra impatient 😉
I love making homemade applesauce too — especially because we have so many wild apple trees all around. And you’re right, fresh applesauce with cinnamon is like heaven and hugs. I think it’s actually my favorite “dessert”! Well, maybe not the only favorite, but it’s that good!
That and some chocolate and I think we’d be good 😉
I have wanted to make my own applesauce for such a long time! I am trying to find an orchard near us that does u-pick, but also allows children out in the orchard (a couple of them don’t), and once we go, I am ready to make applesauce!
They don’t let kids pick apples :O That’s terrible!!! I just found a place that sounds great for u-pick (for apples and pumpkins) and I hope to go this week!
They don’t! It IS terrible! I guess they just don’t want things destroyed, but I’ve found some that have all kinds of activities for kids and they do allow children, supervised of course. To each their own I guess!
Apple picking is such a family activity! Such a shame! I’d protest 😛
How good does that applesauce looks! I love the idea of making it in a slowcooker!
It’s so easy!
We just finished a batch of homemade applesauce, but we did ours stovetop. I just taught my husband how to peel apples with a power drill. It was awesome, lol
Hahahaha, the “manly” way to make some applesauce 😉
Peel apples with a power drill? Never ever would’ve thought of that myself!! Blog post, please, Mary 🙂
Hi Rebecca, I found this post through Mary’s Living A Sunshine Life Link-Up! I’m going to have to try this easy recipe! Looks. So. Good. Thanks for the share!
I know! I want to get my drill out 😛
Crock pot cooking is the best. I’m sitting here now picturing what my house will smell like if I try this. Ummmhhh, yummy! 🙂
You know what you’re going to do tomorrow then 😉 xoxo
Slow Cooker Applesauce is the very best!!
It really is!
I find cooking anything in the slow cooker so satisfying and home cooked apple sauce is just the best.
It never fails to warm the soul 😉
I love homemade apple sauce. This one looks delicious
Thank you!
Yummy!! Pinned!
Thank you!
This looks delicious! Going to have to save it to make at some point this fall.
You’ll be glad when you do!
I grew up in an apple orchard and LOVE apples! This applesauce just takes me back!
I am 100% jealous 😉
Looks perfect!
Thanks!
Hello Rebecca! Who doesn’t like a good and always tasty apple sauce? 🙂
I don’t know 😉
Hi Rebecca,
I know quite a few people that make their applesauce in the slow cooker which I believe is a easy great way to do it. This sounds like a good mixture of apples.
It’s so easy!
Looks amazing! I can almost taste it thru the computer screen!
YUMMO!
We have a slew of Vegan Link Ups going on right now if you are interested swing by my site!
Haha, You can smell it too 😉 Thanks Jennifer!
I’m glad that your slow cooker is expanding to sweet treats! This apple sauce looks delicious. You made the cooking process sound so rewarding too. Apple season is my second favorite, behind blackberries, and we’ve been having fun in our kitchen too. We’re down to applesauce or apple crisp for this week’s creation. Happy FF, thanks for sharing, and have a fantastic weekend! 😀
Haha, thank you! O goodness I think I had blackberries ONCE this summer! There were none! So sad 🙁 I do love them!
But apples are one of my ultimate favorite foods, couldn’t live without them no matter the season!
I love that you actually have a recipe bucket list. I have so many foods that I think I need to make, and then an hour later forget all about them. Applesauce is on that list too! You’ve just reminded me how desperately I need to check that off my own food bucket list that I have yet to make…better get started!
It’s all the classics!!!! Next up is my own GF pasta, sourdough, etc 😉
Yes, we love homemade applesauce, and it seems that slow cookers were invented to make it, don’t you think? Just reading your recipe, I can almost smell the scents wafting from the kitchen. Favorite apple? Usually the one I’m eating. Of the varieties most available to us here, we tend to buy Fujis the most, but I love Jonagolds and Braeburns this time of year, especially for making apple sauce.
Haha, that makes me wonder what the first thing cooked in a slow cooker was!
Now you’ve got me thinking about that. It seems the first CrockPot came out in the 70s. Before that, many kitchens had a roaster. it was a big old thing, with thick walls like a CrockPot and needed its own cart or table. You could put a roast of almost any kind in it, including a turkey, and it would slow cook them for hours, depending on the setting. So my guess is, roast turkey, beef or pork, complete with the trimmings.
Hahahaha, thank you for that 😉
Homemade apples sauce is much better than store bought and I love how easy this one is to make. I love making things in my crockpot!
I’m starting to unlock the magic even more with mine 😉
I’ve always wanted to make my own applesauce – I’ll have to try this soon! Looks good!
You won’t regret it 😉
I love simple recipes!
Totally!
This looks wonderful!
Thanks!
Yummy! I LOVE homemade apple sauce. I never would have thought to use a slow cooker to make some!
Just makes it even more irresistible to make and have!
LOVE me some applesauce! We made a bunch last year when our trees gave us TONS of apples. This year there are NONE. Sadness but we still have some jars from last year. Great post!
O no 🙁 I was going to say, you should send me some 😉
I’ve been thinking about buying a slow cooker for some time. I’d never have thought about cooking something like this in it. Inspiring post!
You can basically cook everything in the slow cooker!
Such an easy way to make applesauce. Now all I have to do is stock up on apples!
Stock up!!
Yum! This looks delicious!!
Thanks!
My kids love apple sauce, so I’m going to try this! It looks great!
Then this bread will be a winner!
Wow, I bet the apple sauce is amazing after all that cooking. I need a slow cooker!
Ha, there’s no cooking though! Just waiting!
I made some crockpot applesauce not too long ago. It’s amazing, and makes your house smell so great. Thanks for sharing!
The smell is amazing!!!
We love homemade chunky applesauce at our house. In fact I just made some yesterday. But I’ve always made it on the stove and mashed it with a potato masher – this is so much easier !!! Will do this next time. Saving recipe for later. Thanks for sharing.
Yes!!! You don’t even have to mash! I just stirred the broken down apple mixture and it was the perfect consistency!
This looks so delicious, and I can just imagine the smell! Homemade applesauce is the best 🙂
It is the best!
“Nothing smells more like autumn comfort than apples simmering in the slow cooker! ” Were truer words ever written? 🙂 We make homemade applesauce (Spy + Golden + Macs) in mass quantities using a Victorio Strainer with my parents every fall, but I think I’ll throw a small batch in the slow cooker just for the comfort of it! I do add cinnamon and am very partial to the Saigon variety…so partial, in fact, that it’s #6 on my list of 31 things I’m loving this fall!
Cinnamon is a much for applesauce!
I’ve never tried it in a slow cooker! This looks so much easier, I’m definitely going to give this a go! Thank you for sharing! 😀
It’s o so easy!
You know I’m all about the slow cooker recipes! :] I love applesauce as a snack, but haven’t ever tried making it on my own! Definitely gonna have to try this out!
You would love it Farrah!
Mmmmm another fabulous use for my slow cooker is in my future! This looks so tasty and simple. Delicious snack AND the house smells like magic. Two for the work of one!
Don’t you juts love when a food plays a double purpose 😉 That’s what makes the waiting so worth it too!
OH YUM! This looks similar to the apple butter recipe I made last week, but not pureed 😉 🙂 Love simple recipes like this!
We can never have enough applesauce or butter recipes!
I love homemade applesauce and yours looks super delicious, Rebecca! I got tons of apples from my grandma’s garden, so I’ll definitely need to make applesauce soon. 🙂
Ah yea! It’s a Fall must!
Lovely! I have never made apple sauce before, now I can’t wait to make some. Thanks for this wonderful share!
You will love homemade!!
Oh my this looks delicious! My mother makes applesauce, but her process is really tedious-comes out great though! I’m going to tell her to try this method.
This is a no-fail method!
Ooh! Must, must, absolutely MUST try this!! I am a lover of applesauce, especially the homemade stuff and we’ve tried a lengthy drawn out process of making applesauce. This sounds so simple and easy! Thank you for sharing!
~Haley
This is so quick (kinda), but requires no work but some peeling and chopping!
What a fantastic idea! Wouldn’t have thought of making it in a slow cooker
It’s super easy!
I just can’t get over how easy this recipe is! Why have I not tried this before??
That’s what I said 😉
I’ve only made applesauce in a pot on the stove, I definitely have to try it in the slow cooker! I literally just bought 2 bags of apples so this is perfect timing 🙂
The slow cooker is so much easier!!! And that is perfect timing 😉
I want to go apple picking and then make this!
Do it!!! (Take me with you!)
Homemade applesauce is the best-especially when it’s warm, and with a dollop of whipped cream on top 🙂 This looks divine!!
You sound like my mom with the whipped cream 😉
I need to make this simply so my house can smell like fall! 🙂
Yes!!! That is the greatest perk 😉
This looks heavenly, super simple, and like such a yummy fall time food. I may have to give this a try!
I hope you do!
I am with you – sometimes the simplest recipes take the longest for me to commit to trying! Why?? Love making homemade applesauce. I have some cooking up today!
It’s so silly 😛 But then when it happens…it’s glorious!!!
I just got a slow cooker the other day .. finally! And I’ve been thinking about all the things I can make in it but it never dawned on me that I could make apple sauce. Brilliant!
I can’t believe you didn’t have one :O I’m stunned! I have 2! An actual crockpot and a slow cooker 😛
Ok so I’ve been obsessed with apple butter the past few weeks but Dave keeps pointing out that it’s just like apple sauce with more flavor. Why inhabit made applesauce baffles me but now I have to try it in the slow cooker! What s glorious smell to come home to!
Hahahaha, apple butter is just thicker and more sugar? I guess….but yea, try this!
I’ve never made applesauce in the slow cooker, but what a great idea! I bet the house smell wonderful! I have my crock pot out about 5 out of 7 days a week. I’m just too busy to do it any other way. My kids will love this.
Then this will soon become an essential 😉
Mmm! My family loves homemade applesauce! This sounds easy, I’ll have to dig out my slow-cooker and give it a try. 🙂
It is the best!
I gave it a try and it’s pretty tasty. 😉
Yay!!!
LOVE slow cooker applesauce!
I do too! Haha!
I adore the smell of cooking apples too, it definitely makes our house feel more Autumnal! Love this slow cooker recipe Rebecca – the addition of cinnamon sounds so tasty!
I think cinnamon is essential if you want the best smell 😉
I usually make my own applesauce on the stovetop, but the slow cooker is a great idea! I always forget about the slow cooker except like once or twice a year when it’s cold enough for stews and soups. I have made apple butter in the slow cooker though and the smell of that was pretty amazing too. Fuji apples are my favorite too!
Use the slow cooker! So much easier in all aspects!
And yay for Fuji lovers! Legit the best!
Thanks for this recipe, Rebecca – I’ve made my own applesauce – but never have I made it in a slow cooker! Deeelicious! And I love the idea of a recipe bucket list! I need to get one started – thanks to you! 🙂
The slow cooker is the easiest (best!) way!!!
Haha, that list is so so so miles long!
This looks delicious! I love homemade applesauce.
Thank you!
My roomate used to make applesauce in the crockpot at this time of the year and I had totally forgotten about that! I will have to make that tomorrow!
You won’t regret it!
I bet this made your house smell heavenly. I love applesauce, but I might be tempted to make this simply based on how good it would make my kitchen smell!
The way the house smelled was kinda…maybe…my favorite part 😉
The slow cooker is the only way to make applesauce in my opinion! Honestly though, I don’t even recall what types of apples I used. For just eating out of hand, I like crispy apples with a little bite – like golden delicious 🙂
I think it will be fun to play around with combos! Each will have a perfect new taste!
Yes! Apples must be super crisp…otherwise…yuck!
My kids actually made their own applesauce in school, which sounds really fun 🙂 I’ve been meaning to make applesauce all week since we went apple picking but haven’t done it yet, good thing apples last a while! This looks so good, one of my favorites, plus an awesome way to make apples so much more digestible for me 🙂
Put those apples to good use!!!
Hahaha, when I was in third grade we made butter! (I wish we had made applesauce 😛 )
Your homemade applesauce looks amazing and love that it looks so easy to make. Using a crockpot can’t get any easier.
That’s why we should all have one! I have 2!
There’s the little bowl of apples in spoonable form I’ve been waiting for!!!!! Yup, I could definitely drink your entire slow cooker full of it too…and I don’t even know how big your slow cooker is so I’m agreeing to that blindly! Homemade applesauce beats storebought for a billion reasons, but the color is a big one. Homemade gets that kinda toasty warm inviting cozy eat me up cinnamon color to it <3 Whereas the store-bought stuff is yellow! That's just not right when you think about it :p I probably won't be able to find an apple blend as funky as this, but I'm definitely going to have to make some soon…maybe with some chia seeds to really thicken it up, help the pectin out ya' know 😉
Yea! The color! It was like pink and pretty and the lemon helps keep it that way!
Chia seed applesauce….that may be genius! Or like a jelly for sammies! That would so work…do it!
ooh I’ve never made my own apple sauce before! This looks so easy and yummy!
Definitely try it!
would it be possible to canned this recipe instead of freezing it? thanks
You’re on your own there! I know nothing about canning!
I love the idea of making fresh applesauce where I control the sweetness. Need to pick up some good apples and try this.
Yea! Pick out your favorites and just go with it!
Wow! I’ve never even thought about the how behind making applesauce! I had no idea it was this easy! I’m planning to go apple picking next weekend, so now I know what I’ll be doing with those next Sunday! Thanks for sharing this!
Yes!!! Fresh picked apples for applesauce….couldn’t be more perfect!
i make homemade applesauce in my slow cooker once a week and add it to my oatmeal in the morning, its sooooooo much better than storebosugh! I like your addition of lemon juice, Im going to try that!
Ah yea! I think I should put this in my oatmeal!
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!!! As you saw, I am big into slow cookers, and this is something I have always wanted to try! YUM!
Totally do it! I know now what all the fuss was about….so good!
I’ve got to try this in my slow cooker! I tend to just use it for one pot main meals and never think of using it for things like this.
You must!!!! It couldn’t be easier and more rewarding!