I grew up playing in an apple orchard. My paternal grandparents owned a small orchard. It got smaller over time as they sold off pieces of the land, but it was big enough we would pick the apples every year for grandma to sell at the roadside. We would climb those trees, pick those apples, eat them whole and make them into applesauce. This is the same recipe my grandma and my mom used. In my kitchen, I even make it in the same pot my grandma did.
TIPS:
- The big thing to keep in mind on this recipe is that it is more ratios and to taste.
- Before I had an apple corer and peeler, I usually didn’t peel the apples. It took forever and I didn’t mind the skins.
- Type of apple is also a personal choice, but not all are recommended for applesauce. I like to mix a sweeter apple like McIntosh and with a semi-sweet like Jonathan. This website will give you an idea of what apples are best for applesauce and other uses too. http://www.ohioapples.org
Peel and cut up enough apples to fill almost to the top of your pot (or as many as you have). Add about an inch of water to the bottom of the pot. Start with 1-2 tablespoons of cinnamon.
Bring the water in the pot to a simmer and then drop the temperature to its lowest. Stir often, making sure to stir the apples up from the bottom. The apples will begin to cook down, but the stirring will make it happen more evenly.
Once the sauce begins to form, taste it (careful it will be hot!) This is the time to add more cinnamon or sugar, if you like. I usually don’t add sugar, but we choose a mix of semi-tart and sweet apples that have enough sweetness on their own.
You can choose how much to cook it down. We usually leave it “chunky”, but if you like it more smooth, just put it in a food processor or blender, or blend it with an immersion blender. Again, do it to your own taste. That is one of the beauties of making your own applesauce!
We love ours warm out of the pot, but we freeze any extra in simple freezer friendly plastic so we can enjoy it all year long.
Denise's Fanciful Function 