slow cooker cinnamon applesauce

Ah, fall. It’s finally cooling down around here, after some unseasonably warm weather, and I’m getting all excited about fall food. Soups, pumpkin everything, apple cider… it’s all delicious! Abby, in particular, loves anything with apples in it, so I decided to give this crockpot applesauce a try. I even pulled out the immersion blender to make it nice and smooth. I normally make applesauce using the Kitchenaid, and it ends up being a little chunkier than this. When Abby took her first bite, she said, “Well, Mom, it tastes like applesauce, but it doesn’t feel like applesauce to my mouth.” Still, she ate her portion for dinner and enjoyed it, so I think it was an applesauce win.

Slow Cooker Cinnamon Applesauce
What Megan’s Making

3 pounds apples (6-9), peeled, cored, and cut into 1 1/2 inch chunks
1 cup apple juice or apple cider, plus extra as needed
2 Tbsp sugar, plus extra as needed
pinch salt
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon (or 2 cinnamon sticks)

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Cover and cook until apples are very soft and beginning to disintegrate, about 4 hours on low. Remove cinnamon sticks if using. Mash apples thoroughly with potato masher (or blend with immersion blender). Season with additional sugar/cinnamon to taste and adjust consistency with additional hot apple juice or cider as needed.