This bold Strawberry Applesauce is made with a ton of strawberries (2 heaping cups), apples, a drizzle of vanilla extract and a pinch of cinnamon. It’s amazing served for breakfast, with lunch or as an afternoon snack. Full of flavor and nutrition, this Strawberry Applesauce will be your families new go-to recipe!
I am all like 😍🍓😋🍎 right now!
This Strawberry Applesauce is not for the faint of heart. If you don’t like strawberries, then don’t even bother with this one.
But who doesn’t like strawberries?!?!
No one reading this blog!
Well, I hope not anyway, because it is just starting to be strawberry season and I have some BIG plans for them this year. Game on strawberries!
About a month ago, I made a very rash decision at the grocery store – I picked up a jar of pre-made strawberry applesauce for the girls.
When we got home, I cracked it open for a quick afternoon snack, spooned some into the girls’ special bowls (don’t even ask, they HAVE to have their special bowls for snack time… yep super annoying!), licked the spoon and then I did a double take at the jar.
What was labeled as Strawberry Applesauce, tasted like well.. applesauce with just a hint of strawberries in it 🙅🏻🙅🏻🙅🏻
It was boring.
It was lame.
I wanted to toss the entire jar away.
But I made the girls finish the jar, I rejoiced in the fact that it was gone and then I got to work on what is now our favorite applesauce recipe – where strawberries are the star and not just an afterthought.
I started with my all-time favorite applesauce recipe and then added in some strawberries.
Then I added in more strawberries, until I thought I was crossing the line into strawberry addiction.
Turns out 2 heaping cups of strawberries is the magic number. 3 cups, too many. 1 cup, not enough.
Then we add a drizzle of vanilla and a pinch of cinnamon to round out the slight bitter taste from the strawberries.
Bold!
Flavorful!
Colorful!
Strawberry-tastic!
We eat this sauce all day long, as the girls cannot get enough of it!
We eat this Strawberry Applesauce as is, spooned on top of Greek yogurt topped with homemade granola, stirred into a steaming hot bowl of steel cut oats, as a side in our lunches or for a quick dessert topped with whipped coconut cream.
The saddest moment of your day will be when you polish the jar of Strawberry Applesauce off.
COOKING WITH KIDS
You can easily have your kids help you make this applesauce.
TODDLERS
- They can help pick out and measure the ingredients.
KIDS
- They can pick out and measure all of the ingredients.
- Kids can help cut the fruits with a child safe knife.
- They can help spoon the cooled sauce into a container.
Strawberry Applesauce
Ingredients
- 5 apples peeled, cored and chopped
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 heaping cups strawberries hulled and chopped
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- In a large stockpot, bring the apples and water to a boil. Reduce to a simmer over medium-low heat, cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add in the strawberries, vanilla extract and cinnamon. Stir, cover and then cook for another 15 minutes. Let cool slightly.
- For a chunky sauce, smash the apples and strawberries with the back of a wooden spoon. For a smoother sauce, transfer all ingredients into a blender or food processor and puree for 30-60 seconds or until you achieve your desired constancy. I pureed mine for 45 seconds. If pureeing for baby, puree for 1-2 minutes or until very smooth.
- Transfer to an air-tight container and serve.
This was a hit at my house. I got my 5yr old to finally like applesauce. Thank you for this wonderful recipe!
Love hearing this!