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Let the natural sweetness of fresh apples shine with this Instant Pot Applesauce recipe! Made with just a handful of ingredients, the Instant Pot streamlines the cooking process, saves you time, and produces the most fragrant and delicious homemade applesauce in under 30 minutes!
Easy Instant Pot Applesauce Recipe
This Instant Pot applesauce recipe is the quickest and easiest way to make a batch of healthy homemade applesauce. Made with just a handful of all-natural ingredients, the magic of the Instant Pot rapidly cooks the apples down and infuses them with their own natural sugars, capturing the essence of delicious apples in every spoonful!
Unlike store-bought versions, homemade applesauce is not only free from added sugar and preservatives, but it also gives you full control over the ingredients, sweetness, and texture. Whether you enjoy it straight from the fridge, pair it with pork chops, drizzle it over pancakes, or use it as a healthier sweetener in oatmeal, this Instant Pot applesauce is a versatile and delicious delight!
Why You’ll Love This Instant Pot Applesauce
- Effortless Applesauce! With a few easy steps, you can whip up a batch of homemade applesauce in no time. It’s the kind of recipe that makes you wonder why you didn’t try it sooner.
- Fresh Apple Flavor! Unlike store-bought alternatives, this applesauce recipe highlights the natural sweetness and tartness of the fruit. Each spoonful is a burst of fresh apple goodness.
- Family Favorite! This recipe is a hit with the whole family. Whether you serve it as a wholesome snack, include it in your kids’ lunchbox, or pair it with a meal, it’s a family favorite.
- Apples: I like to use a blend of Gala, Honeycrisp, and Golden Delicious apples. However, you can use any variety of apple you like. Other popular choices include Granny Smith and Fuji.
- Water: Helps to pressure cook the apples into a soft and mushy sauce.
- Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and rounds out the tartness of the apples.
- Lemon Juice: A touch of freshly squeezed lemon juice adds a bit of acidity that highlights the natural flavor of the apples. In a pinch, you can use apple cider vinegar.
- Ground Cinnamon: This is an optional ingredient that can be added for a layer of warm and comforting spice.
- Salt: Just a small pinch enhances the overall flavor.
This recipe is all about celebrating sheer simplicity! In under 30 minutes, you can take a sack of fresh apples and turn it into a batch of delicious homemade applesauce!
To begin, wash the apples thoroughly. Then peel, core, and cut them into quarters. The pieces should all be about the same size for even cooking. Next, put the cut apples into your Instant Pot along with the water, sugar, lemon juice, ground cinnamon, and salt.
Now, close the lid of your Instant Pot and set the vent to the “sealing” position. Then select the “Manual” setting and cook the apples for 5 minutes on high pressure. When finished, allow the Instant Pot to release the pressure naturally for 20 minutes.
After the pressure has naturally released, open the Instant Pot and then use a potato masher or immersion blender to mash or puree the apple mixture. If your applesauce seems a tad too watery, don’t worry! Just switch on the “Sauté” function and let it simmer, stirring frequently, until it reaches your desired thickness.
Once mashed, let the applesauce cool down a bit and then transfer it to an airtight container. You can then store it in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I add to the recipe?
You can easily customize it by adding spices like cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and nutmeg. You could even add a touch of maple syrup or honey for extra flavor.
Can I use pears?
Absolutely! While this recipe focuses on apples, you can certainly use pears or even a combination of apples and pears. Just keep in mind that pears may have a different cooking time.
Why is my applesauce so watery?
If your applesauce turns out watery, it may be due to using apples with high water content. You can remedy this by using the “Sauté” function on the Instant Pot to reduce the liquid until you achieve your desired thickness.
Expert Tips
- Use quality ingredients. Choose fresh, ripe apples and use real lemon juice for the best results. High-quality ingredients make a noticeable difference in the final flavor.
- Customize the sweetness and spice. Don’t be afraid to adjust the sugar and cinnamon levels to suit your taste. The amount of sugar and spice used will not impact the recipe.
- Natural pressure release is key. When the Instant Pot cooking time is up, resist the temptation to perform a quick pressure release. Allowing the Instant Pot to depressurize naturally for 20 minutes helps lock in the flavors and ensures the apples are soft and easy to mash.
Storage
You can store Instant Pot applesauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just let it thaw out overnight in the fridge before serving.
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Instant Pot Applesauce
Imagine the quintessence of autumn captured in a jar: that’s what you get with this Instant Pot Applesauce recipe. In less than 30 minutes, experience the transformative alchemy of apples into a luscious, spoonable delight with customizable sweetness and spice.
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Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
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Start by washing the apples, then peel, core, and cut them into quarters.
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Place the cut apples into the Instant Pot, then add the water, sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon and salt.
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Close the lid of the Instant Pot and set the vent to “sealing”. Select the “Manual” setting and adjust the cooking time to 5 minutes on high pressure.
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Once the cooking time is up, allow the Instant Pot to release pressure naturally for 20 minutes.
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After the pressure has been fully released, open the lid and use a potato masher or immersion blender to mash or puree the apples to your desired consistency. If the applesauce is too watery, you can use the “Sauté” function to cook off some of the extra liquid, stirring frequently.
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Let the applesauce cool, then transfer it to an airtight container. It can be stored in the fridge for up to a week, or you can freeze it for longer storage.
Notes
- 1 serving is approximately ½ cup.
- Apple Variety: You can use a mix of apple varieties like Gala, Honeycrisp, or Golden Delicious to add depth of flavor. Tart apples like Granny Smith can also be added for a tangy twist.
- Sugar Adjustments: Feel free to adjust the sugar according to the sweetness of your apples or personal preference. You can also use alternative sweeteners like honey or maple syrup.
- Optional Cinnamon: The ground cinnamon is optional but highly recommended for that extra warmth and flavor. You can also experiment with other spices like nutmeg or allspice.
- Consistency: For a smoother applesauce, use an immersion blender. If you prefer a chunkier texture, a potato masher will do the trick.
- Storing: This applesauce keeps well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months; just leave some space at the top of your container for expansion.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1servingCalories: 167kcal (8%)Carbohydrates: 44g (15%)Protein: 1g (2%)Fat: 0.4g (1%)Saturated Fat: 0.1g (1%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.02gSodium: 3mgPotassium: 247mg (7%)Fiber: 6g (25%)Sugar: 36g (40%)Vitamin A: 124IU (2%)Vitamin C: 11mg (13%)Calcium: 17mg (2%)Iron: 0.3mg (2%)
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
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