I love apple season. Biting into a crisp flavorful apple, baking yummy desserts, freezing them for later. It’s also a great time to go to the orchard and pick vast quantities or order several 20 pound boxes for a great price.
Then you have to decide what to do with them.
I recently bought 60 pounds of apples. A decent amount for the 3 people in our family who eat. Crock Pot Applesauce is the perfect thing to do with the apple that don’t look so great. Maybe those at the bottom of the box that are all bruised and getting soft or the ones with lots of worm holes.
Make a ton of it and freeze or can it. I don’t have a canner (or know how to can) so I use the freezer method.
Get out your Crock Pot. I used my 6 quart one. Peel, quarter, and core enough apples to fill the Crock Pot to the brim. (My lid barely fit.) This is the time consuming part. Maybe put a movie in while you work (or if you have kids old enough, have them help). Rinse in a colander and then cook on low 4-5 hours, stirring 3-4 time. When the apple are extremely soft and fall apart when you are cooking them, it’s done! Grab a potato masher and smash away.
To freeze, let the applesauce cool. I found it easiest to freeze in individual sized servings. Pull out your muffin tin, fill and place in the freezer. When frozen remove from the freezer several minutes and carefully remove the frozen applesauce by sliding a knife between the tin and sauce (if it doesn’t come right out, let sit a few minutes longer). If you have silicone muffin cups or pans this would be a perfect way to use them. The frozen applesauce would pop out no problem! (Affiliate link) Place in a gallon size freezer bag and return to the freezer.
That’s it. Talk about easy. Perfect for eating or baking!
- Apples
- Crock Pot
- Peel, quarter and core the apples.
- Place in a colander and rinse.
- Fill Crock Pot to the brim with apples.
- Cook on low for 4-5 hours. Stir 3-4 times.
- It's done when the apples are totally soft and completely fall apart when you stir.
- Mash with a potato masher.
- Cool.
- Scoop into muffin tins and freeze. Once frozen let muffin tin sit on counter several minutes. Use a knife and carefully remove the applesauce and place in a resealable gallon bag.
- Keep in freezer.
Linking up to Living Proverbs 31, Teach Me Tuesday, Titus 2 Tuesday, Tending the Home Tuesdays, Simple Lives, The Weekend reTreat, Link Party Palooza, Strut Your Stuff, Recipe Sharing Monday, Natural Living Monday, Babies and Beyond, WFMW, Healthy 2Day Wednesday, Homemaking Link-Up, Welcome Home Wednesday, Pin It Thursday, Thriving Thursday, House to Home, Thrifty Thursday, Let’s Get Real, TGIM, Mindful Mommy Monday, Pin It Monday, Good Taste Tuesday, Create it or Bake it,
Wow! That’s so simple! I really wish my girls liked applesauce. They love apples but maybe it’s the texture of applesauce that they don’t like. I’m wondering if you could add a little sugar and cinnamon to it while it cooks or mix it in afterwards. I might just make a small batch for me 🙂 Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Also, how do you create a recipe card like that on your blog? I’ve always wanted to do that, but I’m not sure where to go or what to do to do it.
Thanks!
It is super easy. Hmm, I bet you are are right. I know some adults who don’t like applesauce because of the texture. I love cinnamon applesauce – cooking with it in instead of adding to individual servings would make the house smell even better. Actually, last week I didn’t have time to peel a ton of apple, so I just used my little crock pot and it worked great too. (Oh, if your girls like muffins these two recipes both use applesauce and are pretty good: http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2013/09/healthy-oats-and-applesauce-muffins.html and http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2013/04/my-moms-muffins/ )
It’s the EasyRecipe plugin!
Yum! I’ve made applesauce once before, but not in the crock pot. This looks fabulous!
It is yummy and super easy!
I made applesauce in my slow cooker for the first time two weeks ago and it was so easy and so flavorful!
I added a little cinnamon and honey to mine while it was cooking. It tastes so much better than anything I’ve ever purchased at a store.
I love cinnamon in my applesauce! Cooking it in the slow cooker would make the house smell even better. Thanks for stopping by.
Love this and it’s similar to what I did with the gabazillions of pounds of apples gifted to me from my aunt’s apple tree. (except I canned mine) Two of our grandbabies stayed with us a couple of days this week and with each meal they demolished a pint jar of applesauce – good thing I had plenty… PLUS you can use applesauce to replace some or all of the oil called for in most recipes to make them lower-fat and healthier. I love applesauce, thanks for sharing! (visiting from Simple Lives Thursday Blog Hop)
~Taylor-Made Ranch~
Wolfe City, Texas
Maybe someday I’ll venture into the world of canning. It wouldn’t have the possibility of tasting freezer burnt then. Aww, I’m sure your grandkids love coming to stay with you! Good thing you had lots. Great point – I have a couple muffins I make with applesauce and they are so good. Thanks for stopping by.
What a simple and fun recipe! I actually have 3 bags of apples at this exact moment and have been trying to figure out what to do with them. My daughter loves applesauce, so she’ll be in for a treat!
It is super easy and a perfect snack! My daughter likes to “help”, which really means eat pieces of the apples I’m cutting.
Gotta love simple recipes like that! So healthy, easy and delicious. I found your blog @ Works for me Wednesday. I would love it if you linked up @ my new link-up: http://www.joyfocusedlearning.com/2013/11/anything-goes-link-up-1.html
Yep – love simple recipes. Thanks for stopping by! I’ll go check out your blog and link-up!
I love making applesauce! So easy and tasty. Your idea of freezing in a muffin tin is great!
Thanks for sharing on Natural Living Monday.
Thanks for stopping by! Love Natural Living Monday. The muffin tin is the perfect tool!
This is a great idea! Especially when you only have a few pots and pans…
Thanks for stopping by! Exactly – doesn’t take up pans or stove space.
Super easy!
That it is! Once you get the peeling and coring done anyway. 🙂
thanks for linking up with us for MMM linkup! I just shared this on our FB page! I cant wait to try it!!
Your welcome and thank you! I made 3 1/2 batches of this, I think. 🙂 It made the house smell amazing.
That is amazing you don’t have to add anything! I have a recipe that I think has you adding a little water and cinnamon, but this looks super easy!
It is crazy easy! I love cinnamon applesauce but always add it when I’m eating. Cooking with it in would probably make your house smell even more wonderful. 🙂
I need to remember this for my daughter when apples come in season again! Thanks for linking up to Good Tastes Tuesday! Your recipe has been pinned to our GTT Pinterest board! Hope to see you again next week!
Thanks for hosting! This is a fabulous way to use up a large amount of apples. Looking forward to Tuesday. 🙂
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My little boy loves appleauce and who knew it was so easy to make! Thanks for coming over to Create it or Bake it. Hope to see you again tomorrow morning!
It is super easy! Thanks for hosting – I’ll be there. 🙂
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