Homemade Unsweetened Applesauce {Instant Pot Appleauce}

It's so simple to make this Homemade Unsweetened Applesauce recipe! Make Instant pot applesauce in just 10 minutes or make your applesauce on the stove top in just a little bit more time. This recipe is freezer-friendly, and perfect to use in muffins, bars, and other recipes.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 

What's not to love about homemade applesauce?! It's sweet, it carries the delicious flavour of apples all throughout the year, and you can put it to use in so many delicious ways. 

I love to use it in baking, like in this delicious Healthy Apple Cake or in my favourite healthy Maple Apple Granola recipe. I love it because it's freezer-friendly, so I can enjoy it throughout the year.

But you know what I don't get? Why so many applesauce recipes call for So. Much. Sugar. 

Apples are plenty sweet on their own! Plus, if I'm going to be using my applesauce as an ingredient in other recipes, I want to be able to control the sugar rather than add more, which is why I always make sugar-free applesauce. 

So today I'm sharing my favourite Homemade Unsweetened Applesauce Recipe. It's got nothing but apples and a bit of water, maybe a bit of cinnamon if you want to spruce it up a bit. But that's it! 

If you've been looking for a healthy applesauce recipe that's also fast, easy, and super tasty, then let's do this thing! 

What's in this recipe?

Ok guys, you're going to want to sit down for this one. You'll need to get some:

• Apples --> Spoiler alert!
• Water --> From the tap will do just fine.

That's truly all you need for this healthy applesauce recipe! That's it! One ingredient! 

If you like to make spiced applesauce you can add a bit of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, or whatever floats your homemade applesauce making boat. 

What kind of apples are best for applesauce?

Truly, you can use any apples you like, although some varieties are more "saucy" than others. 

The best "saucing apples" include Braeburn, Fuji, Gala, and Golden delicious. Remember that sweeter apples will produce sweeter applesauce, so since we're making unsweetened applesauce you'll want to avoid tart apples such as Granny Smith, or do a mix of sweet and tart apples. 

How do you make this recipe?

I'm going to include instructions for making both Instant Pot Applesauce and homemade applesauce on the stove top. If you do have an Instant Pot I really recommend you use it for this recipe, as it's fast, easy, and there's very little mess. 

Should you peel the apples for applesauce?

This is totally up to you! So long as I'm using organic, unwaxed apples, I prefer to leave the skin on for three reasons:

• First, because I'm lazy and would prefer not to waste my time peeling all those apples. 
• Second, because there are a ton of nutrients concentrated in the peel, and leaving the skin on also ups the dietary fiber content in our healthy applesauce. 
• And lastly, there is also a good amount of pectin in apple peels, so leaving the skin on will yield a slightly thicker apple sauce. Note that the thickness of your sauce also depends on how much water you add and how long you cook it for. 

You can choose to leave the skins on during cooking and then strain them out as this will still eliminate the work of peeling the apples, or, like me, you can just whiz your applesauce in a high-speed blender (I have this one) and you'll never even know they're in there. 

If you prefer chunky applesauce you'll probably want to peel your apples so you can get in there and mash it with a potato masher rather than blending the final product. 

Instant Pot Apple Sauce

This is super easy, my friends! 

Step 1: Core and slice your apples. 

Step 2: Place your sliced apples into the Instant Pot with ¼ cup of water. 

Step 3: Set your Instant Pot to manual high pressure for 10 minutes. When the pressure cooking cycle is done, let it release naturally for 10 minutes, then flip to venting. 

Step 4: Purée your Instant Pot apple sauce! I used an immersion blender right in the Instant Pot, but then later also ran it through my high-speed blender to get it very smooth. 

Step 4 is also when I add any seasonings, like ground cinnamon or any other spices. 

Stove Top Apple Sauce

To make unsweetened applesauce on the stovetop, the process is essentially the same as with the Instant Pot above, but will take a bit more time. 

Step 1: Core and slice your apples. 

Step 2: Place your sliced apples into a big heavy-bottomed pot with 1 cup of water. 

Step 3: Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, until the apples are soft and breaking down. You'll want to stir the apples regularly.

This could take up to 30 minutes, depending on your apples (how thinly they are sliced, apple type, etc).

Step 4: Purée your apple sauce! 

How long will unsweetened applesauce last for?

Since there's no added sugar or preservatives in this healthy applesauce, it's got a pretty short lifespan. Kept in the fridge in an airtight container this applesauce will last you 5-7 days.

You can also freeze applesauce! I like to freeze it in these reusable silicon freezer bags, but you can also use wide-mouthed mason jars - just remember to leave enough head space for the applesauce to expand in the freezer.

Frozen applesauce is good for up to 3 months (although I'll admit to keeping it for much longer, and it's always been perfectly fine).

If you'd like to can your homemade applesauce so it will last longer, my homegirl Sarah from Sustainable Cooks has got your back with how-to for Canning Applesauce. 

Hey Nutrition Lady, are apples good for you?

Does an Apple a day keep the doctor away? Well, they’re definitely good for your heart. Apples boast well-documented cardiovascular benefits. These benefits are associated with the water-soluble fiber (pectin) content, and the polyphenol mixture in most apples.

Both total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol are decreased through regular intake of apples. Another health benefit of apples is blood sugar regulation. This occurs in a number of ways, including slowing down of carbohydrate digestion, stimulating the pancreas to produce more insulin, and stimulating insulin receptors so that more sugar flows out of our bloodstream and into our cells.

Apples also appear to have anti-cancer benefits when it comes to breast, colon, and lung cancer. Apples are a good source of fiber (both soluble in the form of pectin, and insoluble), and vitamin C. The nutrients in apples are concentrated skin, so buy organic, give them a good wash, and keep the skin on whenever possible.

Other recipes you might enjoy:

Maple Apple Granola
Cinnamon Roasted Apples
Whole Wheat Muffins with Cinnamon Roasted Apples
Healthy Apple Cake
Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats
Instant Pot Apple Butter

This post was first published on September 4, 2019. It was edited, updated, and re-published on September 14, 2021.