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Unsweetened Crock Pot Applesauce Recipe

Tired of store-bought applesauce that's either too sweet or hard to find? This recipe delivers perfectly tart and naturally unsweetened applesauce, made easy in your slow cooker! Using a mix of apple varieties (excluding Red and Golden Delicious), this recipe lets you control the sweetness and consistency. The slow cooking process infuses your kitchen with delightful aromas, and the end result is a versatile applesauce perfect as a side dish, breakfast topping, or healthy snack. Organic apples are best, but not required – simply peel non-organic apples before chopping to remove any wax. Make a big batch and freeze for later use; it even works as a healthy fat substitute in some recipes!

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 485 mins
Calories 108.9 kcal
Protein 1g
Rating 4.7 (7 Reviews)
Unsweetened Crock Pot Applesauce 24

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Chef Forktionary, author of this recipe

Recipe adapted from Food.com. Standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Unsweetened Crock Pot Applesauce

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How to Make Unsweetened Crock Pot Applesauce

  1. Peel, core, and chop 6 medium-sized apples (excluding Red and Golden Delicious; a mix of varieties recommended).
  2. Place chopped apples in your slow cooker.
  3. Add 1 cup cranberry juice (for thicker applesauce) or 1 ½ cups (for thinner applesauce).
  4. Stir gently to combine.
  5. Cook on low for 7 hours or high for 3 hours.
  6. Check consistency; add more cranberry juice if needed.
  7. If desired, mash apples with a potato masher to reach your preferred texture.
  8. Taste and adjust sweetness/tartness by adding sugar, honey, or a sugar substitute (optional).
  9. Add 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, and 2 star anise.
  10. Continue cooking on low for 1-2 hours after adding optional sweetener and spices.
  11. Remove vanilla bean and star anise.
  12. Rinse and save the vanilla bean for future use.
  13. Serve warm or cold. Enjoy!
  14. To freeze, let cool completely, then store in freezer-safe containers.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

0 g

Sugar

86g

Fat

0g

Carbs

9g

Recipe Tags (Choose a tag and find related recipes!)

Time To Make Course Main Ingredient Preparation Desserts Lunch Condiments Etc Fruit Diabetic Vegetarian Crock Pot Slow Cooker Dietary Apples Equipment