Sugar Free Homemade Applesauce

I use applesauce in recipes all the time. It's a great substitute for some, or all, of the oil or butter in baked goods (like these delicious, yet good-for-you, pineapple muffins), and makes the finished product incredibly moist. It's also great in pancakes or spooned over pork chops... or ice cream.

My teenage girls love to spoon applesauce into a bowl for an after school snack. I generally always have some on hand, and honestly, sometimes I buy it.

But, homemade applesauce is really incredibly easy.

You just dump all the ingredients into a pan, cook for a while and then puree it. Peeling and coring the apples takes the most time, but if you have an apple corer and peeler, even that task is a piece of cake. And just like most things, homemade is immeasurably better than store bought.

Most of us are trying to cut down on the amount of white sugar we consume and applesauce is one of those treats that is incredibly easy to make sugar free. Personally, I don't believe in substituting sugar when it means sacrificing flavor or texture to an extent that the finished product isn't good. I'll take a few bites of something exquisite with real sugar over many bites of something sub-standard but sugar free any day.

Having said that, I am a huge fan of substituting ingredients like stevia or honey for sugar in any recipe where the resulting flavor and texture is not compromised. We consume waaaaaay too much sugar in this country. If we can swap it out for something healthier, why wouldn't we? The combination of stevia and molasses in this recipe is a perfect stand in for the more traditionally used brown sugar.

Please use this recipe as a loose guide and adjust however you like. Applesauce is one of those things that should be adjusted to taste and for the purpose you are making it for. If you are planning on using it for apple pancakes or other baked goods that would benefit from some extra spice and chunky texture, make your applesauce with more spices and a chunky consistancy. Grilled pork chops are amazing with spicy, chunky applesauce spooned over them. If you prefer to snack on smooth, mild applesauce, use less spice and puree until completely smooth. If you want your applesauce to be tart, use tart apples or add more lemon juice. If you prefer it to be sweet, use sweet apples and increase the amount of stevia.

• {Note} Homemade Applesauce is a Building Block Recipe. Building Blocks are tried-and-true recipes that I find myself coming back to time and time again, sometimes to make them exactly as is, and sometimes as a starting point for something new. -> More Building Block Recipes. 

Continue to Content

Sugar Free Applesauce

Yield: 5-6 cups

This sugar free homemade applesauce is incredibly easy to make and is an easy way to cut down the amount of sugar you eat without sacrifice.

Print

Ingredients

• 5 lbs. apples, peeled, cored and cut into 8 slices
• ½ cup apple cider
• Juice of 1 lemon
• ⅓ cup Stevia
• 2 tablespoon dark, unsulfured molasses
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon butter

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a large heavy bottom saucepan. Over medium heat, bring to a boil. Cook, partially covered, for 45 - 60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are very soft.
2. Puree, in 2 or 3 batches in a food processor until the applesauce is the consistency you prefer. If you want chunky applesauce, use the dough blade, or just pulse with the chopping blade a few times. If you prefer smooth applesauce, use the chopping blade and puree until completely smooth.
3. Pour into a bowl and stir in the butter. Transfer to mason jars or an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: ½ cup
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 113Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 58mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 5gSugar: 21gProtein: 1g

© Of Batter and Dough. All images & content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, or link back to this post for the recipe. Some of the links above are affiliate links, which pay me a small commission for my referral at no extra cost to you! Thank you for supporting Of Batter and Dough.