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Recipe courtesy of Food Network Kitchen

The Best Homemade Applesauce

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  • Level: Easy
  • Total: 1 hr 35 min
  • Active: 15 min
  • Yield: about 5 cups
After tasting the pure apple flavor of this homemade sauce, you just might never go back to the store-bought kind. Supermarket applesauce can be loaded with added sweeteners and flavorings. We use only a little sugar, plus lemon juice, salt and cinnamon, providing a balanced flavor and the perfect amount of sweetness.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Combine the apples, sugar, 1 cup water and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large pot. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and cook until the apples are very soft, 18 to 20 minutes.
  2. Stir in the lemon juice and cinnamon. Let cool for 5 minutes or so, then transfer the apple mixture to a blender, filling no more than halfway. Remove the center cap from the lid and place it on the blender. Cover the lid with a folded kitchen towel to catch splatters and pulse until smooth. Alternatively, puree in the pan with an immersion blender.
  3. Transfer the applesauce to a bowl and refrigerate until cool, about 1 hour. Store leftover applesauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.