Last year I was all about apples. I went to visit my brother at college and we attended the Ithaca Apple Festival, I made white bean and apple chili from the Moosewood Restaurant dessert cookbook and for the first time since kindergarten, made homemade applesauce.
This year, making applesauce was practically a rite of passage into autumn.
Though I never made it out to actually pick apples, the market across the street took care of the task for me and offered bins of Jonagold, Honeycrisp, Gala and Fuji apples from the end of August right up until now.
Even though I eat apples year round, they just seem to taste better in the Fall. Fresher, crisper and just right.
They also taste right in apple pie, apple crisp, apple strudel and apple brown betty but we’ll save those for another day.
Homemade applesauce is a great healthy snack but sweet enough for dessert.
- 3-4 pounds Golden Delicious apples (peeled)
- 1 T. fresh lemon juice
- ½ cup white sugar
- ⅓ cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1 cup water
- 3 slices of lemon peel (cut with a vegetable peeler or paring knife)
- 1 3" cinnamon stick
- Place all ingredients in a large stockpot and set to a boil. Let cook, uncovered for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until apples are tender.
- Remove from heat and discard three pieces of lemon peel and cinnamon stick. Let apple mixture cool down and puree in a food processor, blender, or mash with a potato masher. Serve hot or cold.
10 Comments
Sweet Potato-Apple Latkes
December 29, 2011 at 12:11 am[…] If you have some leftover, a great way to liven up the plates of leftovers you’re probably still gorging on is to whip up a batch of these pancakes. A perfect savory side dish or light lunch, these are just sweet enough and pair especially well with homemade applesauce. […]
Amanda
November 11, 2009 at 6:40 pmI’ve never tasted homemade applesauce but it looks really good. I like the idea of leaving it really chunky. Now I’ve gotta buy some apples!
E.P.
November 10, 2009 at 7:36 pmHuh. This is good to know! I’ve never made applesauce before… living in the South, I’ve never gotten a chance to go pick them… but I really want to try this now.
Does it matter the type of apple you use?
Louise
November 10, 2009 at 10:52 amHi Maris,
Love your new home. It’s looking mighty comfy. As for that applesauce of yours all I can say is…oooooh so good.
Thanks for sharing…
Allison Arevalo
November 10, 2009 at 12:16 amSo many homemade applesauce recipes lately! I’ve never tried making it, but I think this is the year to do it.
Nutmeg Nanny
November 9, 2009 at 10:12 pmI love homemade apple sauce. My favorite is eating it hot out of the pot:) My grandmother used to yell at me because I would always eat it while it was cooking…hahaha.
Melissa
November 9, 2009 at 9:34 pmhome made apple sauce is soooo good. My favorite is to place a small scoop of vanilla ice cream onto some warm feshly made apple sauce. heaven!
Jessica
November 9, 2009 at 9:19 pmOH MY GOD I LOVE HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE. Yet because I’m not smart, I am unsure how this totally works. You must show me when I see you again 🙂
Maria
November 9, 2009 at 9:12 pmHomemade applesauce is the best! I put mine on my whole wheat toast!
mandy
November 9, 2009 at 6:08 pmI love all things apples. Sadly our apple crop was destroyed by hail in late summer so apple treats are few and far between this year.