Homemade Applesauce
I started making Home made applesauce for the grandsons as soon as Kyle could eat people food. Made it every time we saw them until we moved to Arcadia in 2017. Cut back then to special occasions or camping trips as we saw them often.
This year, 2019, Kyle said he wanted a gallon of applesauce for Christmas! Love that boy!
Ingredients
I like to use a mixture of apples.These are varieties I have used:
McIntosh (I often buy 3 lb bags of these at Fareway. They store well in the refrigerator for several weeks)
Cortland ( Can sometimes find these at Fareway in 3 pound bags)
Paula Red ( Can sometimes find these in 3 lb bags at Fareway)
Lodi
Wealthy
The above varieties are usually earlier in the season than the others below. So I buy often and store in refrigerator to use with a couple other varieties.
Harrelson
Chieftain
Golden Delicious
Honey crisp
Fuji
Jonathan
Jonadel
Instructions
Measure 1/3 cup of apple cider or apple juice and put in the bottom of the saucepan. Peel, core and slice in small pieces all the apples. Place in a 4quart saucepan with lid. I fill the saucepan up to the very top as the apples shrink as they cook. It will shrink to about half full as you cook and mush. Cook over low heat with lid on the pot. Check when starts to get hot. If seems too dry, add a little more Apple juice/cider. Once starts to boil for a minute or so, use potato masher to mush up apples. Put lid back on and cook a few minutes more and mush. I then put lid back on, turn off the heat and let it steam at least 20 minutes. Add sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon to the sweetness you prefer.Pot of apples will cook down about 1/2 of what was in the pan. Careful not to add too much water or it will be too soupy.
Add 1/3 - 1/2 cup white sugar and 1/3 cup brown sugar. Add cinnamon to your taste. If it's too sour, slowly add more sugar.
Sometimes I add about 1/3 cup of cinnamon candies. stir as they melt. Then you have pink applesauce.
I usually put in containers and freeze until ready to use.
November, 2022
Just made several batches in last two weeks.
Used 15-18 apples, depending on size. Used a combination of some of each of these varieties: McIntosh, Jonathan, Golden Delicious and Cortland. Made great sauce.