This easy Instant Pot Applesauce is practically no work and makes a delicious, wholesome snack. Once you learn how simple it is to make your own applesauce, you may stop buying it at the store. The recipe is flexible — you can adjust sweetness and spices to your taste — and requires just a few ingredients to get started.
Instant Pot Applesauce
The Instant Pot makes applesauce especially easy because you don’t need to stand over a pot while it simmers. Pressure cooking softens the apples quickly and evenly. This version balances sweet and tart notes and is a favorite with kids and adults alike. It’s inspired by classic apple baked-goods flavors and beats most store-bought jars for freshness and texture.
💡 Dinner Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated
This Instant Pot eBook contains easy, flavorful meals the whole family will enjoy — no unusual ingredients and minimal prep.
Ingredients Needed to Make Applesauce
- Apples – Many varieties work; the choice affects sweetness and tartness. See the FAQs for recommendations.
- Water – Provides the steam needed for pressure cooking and keeps the sauce moist.
- Brown sugar – Optional; adds a warm sweetness. Omit for unsweetened applesauce.
- Lemon juice – Brightens flavor and helps preserve color.
- Cinnamon – A classic spice with apples; use ground or grated from sticks.
How to Make Applesauce in the Instant Pot
If you’ve made stovetop applesauce, you’ll appreciate how much faster and hands-off the Instant Pot method is. Start by peeling, coring, and slicing the apples into 1–2 inch pieces; they don’t need to be finely chopped. A good apple peeler/slicer speeds up prep, but a knife works fine.
Place the apple slices in the Instant Pot with water, brown sugar (if using), lemon juice, and cinnamon. Stir to combine, close the lid, and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. Allow a natural release, then mash the apples to your preferred consistency. If the sauce is too thick, stir in small amounts of water until it reaches the texture you like.
A potato masher works well to create either a chunky or smooth applesauce. Serve warm with a sprinkle of extra cinnamon or a drizzle of honey, or chill before storing. Homemade applesauce is great on its own, over yogurt, or as a topping for ice cream and baked goods.
Tips For Making Homemade Applesauce
Tip 1: Slightly bruised or overripe apples are ideal for applesauce — a great way to reduce food waste.
Tip 2: Use in-season apples to save money and try mixing varieties for a more complex flavor: sweet apples paired with tart ones give excellent balance.
Tip 3: If the finished applesauce isn’t sweet enough, add sugar, honey, or maple syrup to taste after cooking.
How Do You Make Unsweetened Applesauce In The Instant Pot?
To make unsweetened applesauce, use only apples and a small amount of water for steam. Add cinnamon for flavor and a splash of lemon juice to prevent browning and add a hint of brightness. Because apples contain natural sugars, the result is pleasantly sweet even without added sweeteners.
FAQs For Applesauce Recipe
You can use many varieties. Popular choices include Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Granny Smith, Jonagold, Gala, or Fuji. A mix of sweet and tart apples often produces the most balanced flavor. This recipe used Fuji apples.
Let the applesauce cool to room temperature, then transfer to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week. To freeze, place cooled applesauce in freezer-safe bags or containers, leaving room for expansion.
Best Recipes That Use Applesauce
Homemade applesauce can be used in many recipes. It adds moisture and flavor to baked goods and snacks. Try it in muffins, fruit roll-ups, or as a substitute for oil in some low-fat baking recipes.
Essential Tools for This Recipe
Useful tools include an Instant Pot or other electric pressure cooker and a potato masher for mashing the cooked apples. An apple peeler/slicer speeds prep, but a knife and cutting board work well too.
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Applesauce
Vicky
Equipment
- Instant Pot (or pressure cooker)
Ingredients
- 10 apples — peeled, cored, and sliced (we used Fuji; mix varieties if desired)
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup brown sugar (optional)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Place the apple slices, water, brown sugar (if using), lemon juice, and cinnamon into the Instant Pot. Stir to combine. Close the lid and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes.
- Allow a natural pressure release. Mash the apples with a potato masher until you reach your desired consistency.
- Transfer to airtight containers and store in the refrigerator.
Notes
You can keep leftover applesauce in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. To freeze, cool completely and pack into freezer-safe containers or bags, leaving room for expansion.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 38 g
Sodium: 5 mg
Potassium: 252 mg
Fiber: 5 g
Sugar: 30 g
Let us know how it turned out!