Easy Homemade Chunky Applesauce Recipe

This homemade Chunky Applesauce Recipe is the perfect way to use up a box of apples. It’s sugar free and made with cinnamon sticks for a hint of sweet and spicy flavor. This simple method is easier than a standard apple sauce recipe – no strainer required!

The Easiest Homemade Applesauce

Applesauce has one of the most nostalgic scents to me. When I was a kid, my mom would make applesauce in the fall. It made the whole house smell like heaven and as she was canning the batch, she would give my brother and I mugs of hot applesauce with cinnamon sprinkled on top.

We loved going apple picking and we always looked forward to her homemade apple sauce.

While I don’t can my own applesauce, making a batch in the fall is a must! This recipe is small (about 3 pounds of apples) and can easily be used up if refrigerated. To make it last longer, it also freezes well.

Rather than straining the stewed apples to make a smooth sauce, I slow cook chunks of apples until they are tender and a sauce forms, and then leave the chunks in tact for some texture.

Apples are a sweet fruit and do not need extra sugar! If you’re used to make it that way, I promise you will not miss it. It’s simply the best applesauce around!

Once you try this easy homemade applesauce recipe, you will never go back to store-bought applesauce! The flavors are concentrated so it is naturally sweeter and less watery. Plus, no preservatives. Win-Win.

What Apples are best for Chunky Applesauce?

Crisp, sweet-tart apples are best for applesauce. There are plenty of varieties to choose from. Avoid softer textured apples that have a sweet flavor without the tart bite, like golden delicious and red delicious apples.

I recommend always buying organic apples. They are readily available. Even when peeling the skin, apples will have pesticide residue since the skin is soft and thin.

Choose your favorite or mix a couple apple varieties!

• Honeycrisp Apples (sweeter apples)
• Pink Lady Apples (sweet apples)
• Fuji Apples
• Gravenstein Apples (might need sweetener)
• Granny Smith Apples (might need sweetener)

What You’ll Need

• Apples (a sweet tart variety, see notes above)
• Cinnamon Sticks

This recipe doesn’t require sugar. If you’d like a sweeter applesauce, use:

• Coconut Sugar (or brown sugar or white sugar): start with 2 tablespoons and add more to taste.
• Maple Syrup (2-3 tablespoons)
• Honey (1-2 tablespoons)
• Allulose (1-2 tablespoons)

Kitchen Tools

• Apple Slicer (this helpful tool will save time prepping your apples!)

How to Make Chunky Applesauce

Step 1: Thoroughly wash apples. Cut apples into quarters or use an apple slicer/corer to cut apples into wedges. Use a pairing knife to cut peels off of apple sections. Tip: Add apples to a bowl of water with a splash of fresh lemon juice to prevent apples from browning while you work.

 Step 2: Add fresh apples to a large pot with 1/4 cup of water and cinnamon sticks.

Step 3: Heat the pot over medium-low heat with the lid on the pan. I like to use my dutch oven with a heavy lid.

Step 4: Simmer apples on low to medium-low for 1 hour, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon to prevent burning. Do not over stir apples or the apple chunks will completely break down.

Step 5: Continue simmering the apples for another 30-45 minutes, until the texture is soft but retains a chunky texture.

Step 6: Once the applesauce has cooled, store it in glass jars or glass storage containers.

How to Store Applesauce

Rather than canning my applesauce to preserve it, I prefer to eat it fresh or freeze it.

After the applesauce has fully cooled, add it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 10 days.

To Freeze Applesauce: After the applesauce has cooled to room temperature, place it in freezer-safe containers. Freeze the applesauce for up to 6 months. To thaw, place it in the refrigerator overnight or let it thaw at room temperature for 2-3 hours.

Tips for Making Homemade Applesauce

• Non-organic apple skins have a high level of pesticide residue, so if you can’t buy organic apples, it’s best to just throw away the skins. Buying organic apples is always recommended.
• This recipe is sugar free. If you have never tried making applesauce without sugar, try it! You might be surprised at how sweet it is all on it’s own. I actually can’t imagine adding sugar.

Variations

Would you like to try this sugar free applesauce recipe made smooth? It’s simple! During the last 10 minutes of cooking, either crush apples with a potato masher, or use an immersion blender to process it to a desired texture. It can also be added to a food processor and processed until smooth applesauce is formed.

Strawberry Applesauce: Add 1 pound of sliced strawberries to the apples for the last 30 minutes of cooking time.

Slow Cooker Applesauce: Make this chunky applesauce in a slow cooker. Add the apples and cinnamon sticks (no need to add water!) to a slow cooker and set on low for 4 hours. Stir at the end to break up some of the chunks.

How to Serve Homemade Applesauce

• Breakfast Side Dish: Serve homemade chunky cinnamon applesauce alongside eggs and bacon or another breakfast main dish.
• With Greek Yogurt: This is a delicious snack topped with a scoop of Greek yogurt with walnuts and cinnamon.
• With Seared Pork Chops: Applesauce is delicious served alongside pork chops. Try this Air Fryer Pork Chop recipe for an easy dinner.
• Alongside a Pork Tenderloin.
• Applesauce Crisp: Chunky homemade applesauce is the perfect shortcut to making this fun dessert for two!

Other Healthy Apple Recipes

• Applesauce Crisp (save this applesauce to use for this simple dessert for 2!)
• Apple Bread
• Gluten Free Apple Crisp (a full sized pan of apple crisp!)
• Persimmon Apple Crisp

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