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    Home » Recipes » Side dish

    Easy Applesauce Recipe (3 Ingredient No-Sugar Apple Puree)

    Published: Oct 15, 2021 · Modified: Nov 11, 2022 by Marinela

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Learn how to make a sweet homemade applesauce recipe, easy and quick with 3 simple ingredients in just 20 minutes. Best vegan side-dish, snack, or dessert (no sugar added).

    Looking for a kid-friendly, refined sugar-free treat for the fall or winter season?

    Need a clean eating baby food that's easy to digest? Here is the best recipe for you.

    If you love apples as I do, you'll surely love these 6 ingredient apple breakfast cookies or this sugarless and fluffy apple cake with walnuts and cinnamon.

    Unsweetened Applesauce Recipe Without Sugar

    Creamy and smooth apple sauce with Golden Delicious Apples

    It's amazing how these 3 plant-based ingredients come together to form this healthy and satisfying apple puree dish, ready in a flash.

    There is nothing more delicious than a serving of fragrant and super smooth unsweetened applesauce made at home. I assure you that once you try this quick DIY recipe you'll never even look at the one sitting on the store's shelf.

    Is Homemade Applesauce Better Than Store-Bought

    Healthy homemade applesauce in a small bowl with a spoon. Delicious and easy to make snack or dessert without sugar.

    You may ask yourself, is it worth the effort to cook homemade apple sauce from scratch?

    Absolutely! This naturally sweetened treat is worth every minute of preparation!

    It's incredibly yummy, cheap, and way healthier than its store-bought counterpart.

    Moreover, it's highly nutritious, packed with freshness, and good for you ingredients. The sweetness of the Golden Delicious apples is seamlessly paired with the slight aromatic note of cinnamon and freshly squeezed lemon juice. It's also gluten-free, dairy-free, and full of fiber. A fall perfection!

    Healthy Vegan Applesauce Taste

    A spoonful of easy sugarless apple puree as a snack or sweet treat.

    Well, the flavor of this pleasantly sweet cinnamon applesauce revokes childhood memories to me. It reminds me of the favorite fruit puree packed in a small jar I used to buy frequently and greatly adored. But it was full of highly processed sugars and artificial aromas (I didn't give it much thought then 🙂 )

    Now, I'm so happy I can make my own wholesome version and enjoy it whenever my sweet tooth is calling without the guilt, of course!

    I know your kids will LOVE it, too, so make it in a larger batch and enjoy it as a cozy afternoon dessert on these cold autumn days.

    What are we waiting for? Let's make it right away!

    Easy Homemade Applesauce Recipe Ingredients

    Plant-based, wholesome, simple ingredients for cookies applesauce at home: Golden Delicious apples, fresh lemon and ground cinnamon.

    This vegan-friendly fruity sauce made from juicy apples calls for a few inexpensive ingredients. Here they are:

    • Apples (I used Golden Delicious)
    • Ground cinnamon
    • Freshly squeezed lemon juice
    • Water

    As always, you can find the full recipe with a list of ingredients with measurements in a printable recipe card at the end of this post.

    Time needed: 20 minutes.

    How to make an easy applesauce recipe for babies and adults?

    I'm sharing with you the most basic method to make your own applesauce from scratch. Make it in no time with these 3 easy steps:

    1. Peel, core and chop the apples

      First, wash thoroughly the apples. Peel, core, and chop the apples into large chunks (approximately ¾ inch or 2 cm each). I used 6 medium-sized apples (5 cups chopped).

      Sweet and juicy peeled apples on a wooden cutting board.

    2. Cook

      Next, combine chopped apples, water, and cinnamon into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, cover with a lid, and let it simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10-12 minutes or until the apples are very soft and start to fall apart. Turn off the heat and let it sit on the stovetop for 2-3 minutes or the liquid evaporates. In the end, stir up the freshly squeezed lemon juice.

      Cooking naturally sweetened homemade applesauce in a saucepan on the stovetop. Healthy baby food.

    3. Puree


      For chunky applesauce, mash with a fork or potato masher until you get the desired consistency. Alternatively, let the mixture cool and blend in a blender or food processor for a smooth and silky texture. I prefer the second method and always blend it until I get a perfect velvety texture as shown in the pictures.
      Serve warm or chilled.
      This recipe is so versatile. You can add maple syrup, spice it with more cinnamon or stir in more lemon juice to adjust the sweetness to your taste.

      Vegan and gluten-free apple puree blended in a blender at home.

    FAQ for this Easy Applesauce Recipe

    Can applesauce recipe be made without peeling

    Sure, peeling the apples is totally optional. You can peel them for an extra smooth texture. Skip this step if you are in a hurry or don't want to miss that additional fiber stored in the apple's skin.

    Can homemade applesauce be frozen

    Of course, applesauce freezes pretty well. Freeze it in freezer-friendly bags or ice cubes for up to a month.

    Why is my homemade applesauce too watery

    Your applesauce may have a runny consistency if you add too much water or your apples may produce more liquid than expected. Don't worry, you can easily thicken it by letting it simmer for just a few minutes until the excess fluid evaporates.

    A spoonful of smooth homemade applesauce (no sugar added) as a side dish.

    Is applesauce OK for diabetics

    Yes, it's a diabetic-friendly food. You can enjoy fresh applesauce made from whole apples without added sugars. Its high fiber and antioxidant content make it a good addition to your healthy diet plan.

    Does applesauce needs a lemon juice

    You may leave out the lemon juice but I highly recommend adding it to your apple puree. Lemon juice will preserve the color, balance the sweetness and enhance the flavor of the sauce.

    Delicious kid-friendly sweet applesauce without sugar in a with Golden Delicious Apples in the background.

    The Best Apples for Applesauce

    When I make applesauce I always choose sugary sweet apples with soft and juicy flesh. My favorite is Golden Delicious but you can also use Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, Ambrosia, Kiku, or Envy Apple. If you prefer tart applesauce use Granny Smith Apples instead. You may want to add additional sweetener if you use tart or semi-sweet apples.

    What is Applesauce Used For

    If you ask me, I completely enjoy every spoonful on its own. I love putting it as a topping on my toast spread with peanut butter. At the same time, it can be a great substitute for eggs, oil, or melted butter in all egg-free baked goods: cakes, muffins, pancakes, sweet breads, or cookies. It keeps baked food moist without all that saturated fats. Likewise, you can add it to your oatmeal, smoothies, milkshakes or use it as a topping to your non-dairy ice cream. It can be used as a light and wholesome baby food, too.

    📖 Recipe

    Delicious kid-friendly sweet applesauce without sugar in a with Golden Delicious Apples in the background.

    Easy Applesauce Recipe (3 Ingredient No-Sugar Apple Puree)

    Marinela
    Learn how to make a sweet homemade applesauce recipe, easy and quick with 3 simple ingredients in just 20 minutes. Best vegan side-dish, snack, or dessert (no sugar added).
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Brunch, Dessert, Side Dish, Snack
    Cuisine American, dairy-free, Gluten-free, Vegan
    Servings 3 servings (½ cup each)
    Calories 190 kcal

    Equipment

    • Saucepan
    • Wooden spoon
    • Knife
    • Cutting board
    • Blender, food processor, fork, or potato musher

    Ingredients
      

    • 6 medium-sized apples (Golden Delicious) peeled, cored, chopped into ¾ inch (2 cm) chunks. That's approximatelly 5 cups.
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1 teaspoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
    • 3 tablespoon water fresh

    Instructions
     

    • First, wash thoroughly the apples. Peel, core, and chop the apples into chunks (approximately ¾ inch or 2 cm each). I used 6 small-medium-sized apples (5 cups chopped).
    • Next, combine chopped apples, water, and cinnamon into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, cover with a lid, and let it simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10-12 minutes or until the apples are very soft and start to fall apart. Turn off the heat and let it sit on the stovetop for 2-3 minutes or the liquid evaporates. In the end, stir up the freshly squeezed lemon juice
    • For chunky applesauce, mash with a fork or potato masher until you get the desired consistency. Alternatively, let the mixture cool and blend in a blender or food processor for a smooth and silky texture. I prefer the second method and always blend it until I get a perfect velvety texture as shown in the pictures.
      Serve warm or chilled.
      This recipe is so versatile. You can add maple syrup, spice it with more cinnamon or stir in more lemon juice to to adjust the sweetness to your taste..

    Notes

    • I used Golden Delicious Apples but you can use your favorite sugary sweet apples. Since we won't use any additional sweeteners, it's important to use richly sweet apples in this recipe.
    • You don't need to peel the apples if you don't have time. Their skin will be softened enough to be smoothly blended or mashed.
    • The color of your apple puree will depend on the color of the apples you use.
    • With these ingredient measurements, you'll get about 1 ½ cup apple puree, so double or triple the recipe ingredients to make a larger batch if you need it.
    • If you have any leftovers, let it cool, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge. It should last for a week.
    • You can freeze it in freezer-friendly bags or ice cubes for up to a month.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 190kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 4mgPotassium: 392mgFiber: 9gSugar: 38gVitamin A: 197IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 24mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword almond milk from scratch, apple puree, diy, easy applesauce recipe, from scratch, homemade applesauce, naturally sweetened, no added sugar, refined sugar free, without sugar
    Tried this recipe?Snap a photo & tag me @go_eatgreen or #go_eatgreen!

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    Made this easy applesauce recipe? If yes, please rate it, leave a comment below, and share your photo on Instagram with the tag @go_eatgreen and hashtag it #go_eatgreen. I would love to hear about your experience and your comments just make my day!

    Follow me on Pinterest for more easy and delicious vegan recipe ideas.

    Love, Marinela💚

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    Filed Under: Side dish, Snacks Tagged With: apple puree, DIY, easy applesauce recipe, from scratch, homemade applesauce, naturally sweetened, no added sugar, refined sugar free

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Meryl

      October 15, 2021 at 1:27 pm

      5 stars
      This applesauce is delicious! I tripled the recipe and froze my extras. So naturally sweet, I love that you don't need sugar

      Reply
      • Marinela

        October 16, 2021 at 10:00 pm

        Great! It's easy to double or triple the recipe and make a big batch for the whole family. Thank you for your lovely comment, Meryl!

        Reply
    2. Chantry

      October 15, 2021 at 4:38 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect recipe! I never thought to put applesauce on toast with peanut butter but it sounds so good! Also, those glass bowls are adorable! Where did you find them?

      Reply
      • Marinela

        October 16, 2021 at 9:58 pm

        Ohh peanut butter and applesauce are such a delicious combo! The apple bowls are a gift from my mum 🙂 Thank you, Chantry, for commenting!

        Reply
    3. Anetw

      October 23, 2021 at 10:19 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect for autmn days! It looks so sweet! 🧡

      Reply
      • Marinela

        October 24, 2021 at 9:14 pm

        Thank you for your lovely comment, Aneta! Yes, it's a super easy dessert/snack for fall-winter days.

        Reply

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    A vegan food blogger, photographer, and recipe developer who is passionate about cooking simple, tasty, and budget-friendly recipes with wholesome God-given ingredients. Welcome to my vegan world! My goal is to share these delicious plant-based recipes with you so you can lead more healthy and happy lives!

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