My kids are in full o-b-s-e-s-s-i-o-n mode over this applesauce! It’s to the point where maybe I should be concerned, but I’m just going with it. And you know what? This recipe has delivered every.single.time I’ve made it. Usually, I make my kiddos this famous strawberry applesauce (cuz I like the pink vibes), but I wanted to switch things up, and I went with a classic – simmered apples, a pinch of cinnamon, and a dash of vanilla. And I’ll admit, it’s beyond delicious! Like, spoon it piping hot from the blender into your mouth delicious.

Pink kids bowl on top of a pink napkin filled with homemade applesauce with apples and cinnamon scattered around the bowl.

Looking for a homemade applesauce recipe that doesn’t have 1) added sugar and 2) is quick and easy to make?

Then, I’ve got you!

Let it be known – the way to my kid’s hearts is through this homemade cinnamon applesauce! Not from driving them to all of their afterschool activities – nope. Not by watching them lip-sing and dance to their favorite song fifty times in a row – nope. It’s through this beyond-delicious cinnamon applesauce.

At least I know where their priorities are – food!

So here is how we make the magic – we start by gathering up 3 simple ingredients: apples, vanilla, and cinnamon. Then we do a little peel-and-chop action to the apples before we add all the ingredients into a saucepan, cover, and simmer for around 15 minutes or until tender. And because we simmer the naturally sweet apples down, there’s no need for added sugar!

I have made this recipe probably a hundred times (again, I’m buying my kid’s love with it), and it turns out perfect every time. My only advice is to double the recipe if you can:)

Cinnamon Applesauce Video

Ingredients

Spread of ingredients on a pink napkin on a white counter for homemade applesauce with graphics next to each one.

Let’s Get Cooking

Wooden cutting board with chopped apples.
Pell, core and roughly chop the apples.
Silver saucepan on a burner with cooked apples and spices.
Add apples, cinnamon, vanilla and water to a medium saucepan. Cover and heat over medium-low heat for 15 minutes.
Clear blender with simmered spiced apple chunks.
Transfer all ingredients to a blender.
Clear blender with pureed apples.
Pulse or puree until you have your desired texture.
Serve warm or cold.
Pink kids bowl on top of a pink napkin filled with homemade applesauce with apples and cinnamon scattered around the bowl.

Get the recipe: Obsessively Good Cinnamon Applesauce (made in 20 minutes)

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My kids are in full o-b-s-e-s-s-i-o-n mode over this applesauce! It's to the point where maybe I should be concerned, but I'm just going with it, and this recipe has been on point every.single.time I've made it. Usually, I make them my famous strawberry applesauce (cuz I like the vibes of the pink), but I wanted to switch things up, so I went with a classic – simmered apples along with a pinch of cinnamon and a dash of vanilla. And I'll admit, it's beyond delicious! Like, spoon it piping hot from the blender into your mouth delicious.
Yield: 3 cups
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Author: Michele Olivier
Course: Side Dish
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Ingredients 

  • 6 large apples peeled cored and chopped
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions 

  • Prep: peel, core and chop apples.
  • Simmer Apples: in a large stockpot, bring the apples, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and water to a boil. Reduce to a simmer over medium-low heat, cover, and cook for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Let cool slightly.
  • Blend: transfer all ingredients into a blender or food processor. Pulse for a chunky applesauce or puree for 30-60 seconds for a smooth consistency.
  • Eat: serve or transfer to an air-tight container and store in the fridge.

Notes

Age: 6+ months. For babies, just puree until smooth and serve.
Storage: Cinnamon Applesauce will keep for 1 week in the fridge (if it lasts that long!) or for 3 months in the freezer. 
Apples: Make sure to use apples that are ripe and sweet, such as Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, McIntosh, Pink Lady or Golden Delicious.
How to Store Cinnamon Applesauce: This Cinnamon Applesauce will keep for 1 week in the fridge (if it lasts that long!) or for 3 months in the freezer.
Add-Ins:The great thing about homemade applesauce is that it offers a solid base to get creative with many other kinds of fruit. You can include many kinds of fruits in your fridge or freezer that need to be used up, like these:
  • Blueberries
  • Strawberries
  • Raspberries
  • Blackberries
  • Cherries
  • Peaches
  • Mangos
Recipe Tips
  • You can use any apples you have on hand or prefer, though the sweeter varieties of apples will give you a naturally sweeter applesauce.
  • If adding another fruit, you can use fresh or frozen in this recipe.
  • This recipe will thicken up once it cools down in the fridge for a few hours.
  • You can add this applesauce to reusable pouches for an on-the-go toddler snack.

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Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).