Apple sauce is sweet, smooth and delicious and it is something that everyone remembers from their childhood. It is especially sweet and delicious if it is homemade and today applesauce can be made easily and with just a few kitchen appliances that most people already have in their homes.
Apple sauce can be flavored with other substances and fruits. The most common flavoring is cinnamon but other fruits can also be added like apricots, cranberries, and others making flavors come alive in interesting combinations. Most of the following applesauces can be canned.
Applesauce is the perfect accompaniment to pork products such as pork chops, ham and a pork roast. It is very popular in the USA and Canada but surprisingly isn’t used much anywhere else. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t invented there however, as it was first seen in written references in 14th century Europe. It was only in America where applesauce gained notoriety as being something that could be eaten alone for a snack or be used for a complete side dish instead of being used as a sauce over a pork roast. John Glenn took applesauce with him in the first space flight to orbit the earth and then it was used again by the Gemini astronauts.
Kids love applesauce and that is a good thing because it has a great deal of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It is soft so both infants (use only baby products for infants) and elderly can eat it because there is nothing to chew.
Basic Applesauce Recipe
Use Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji, Jonathan, McIntosh or Gala apples to make applesauce in face, it is best to use at least two different kinds (one eating apple and one cooking apple variety) so that you get a full flavored sauce. The following recipe is for making just a basic apple sauce with no frills.
Ingredients:
- 5 to 6 pounds of apples, peeled, cored, quartered
- Juice of one lemon or about 3 Tablespoons
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Directions:
- Put prepared apples, lemon juice, sugar, water and salt into a large pot.
- Cover and bring to a boil.
- Once it bowls simmer for about 20 minutes or until apples are soft. The apples will begin to look transparent.
- Remove from heat.
- You can either mash with a potato masher or put in a food processor or blender to make it smoother. You can serve it either smooth or a little chunky as it is good either way.
- Serve hot or cold and keep leftovers in the refrigerator.
- This makes about 3 quarts of applesauce.
For a different flavor use ¼ cup of granulated sugar and ¼ cup brown sugar and/or add 1 tablespoon or as much as desired ground cinnamon.
Cranberry Applesauce
This is good during the fall and winter when cranberries are in season. Make a lot of it and can it so you can have the flavor of cranberries all year long.
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup cranberry juice
- 8 cups apples, peeled, cored, and quartered
- 4 cups fresh cranberries
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 cups granulated sugar
Directions:
- In a large sauce pan bring the cranberry juice to a boil.
- Add the apples, cranberries and spices. Stir and turn the heat down to a simmer. Simmer, uncovered for 15 minutes or until apples are becoming tender.
- Add sugar and stir well making sure it dissolves.
- Simmer for 5 more minutes. I
- t can be served chunky just like it is or it can be processed in a blender or food processor to make it smooth.
- Serve warm or cold and refrigerate any leftovers.
You may have to adjust the sugar because of the type of apple used. It is sometimes difficult to tell sweetness when the sauce is warm. Always test it when it cools and add a little more sugar by stirring it in if necessary.
Pumpkin Applesauce
This might be a little unusual but it certainly won’t be a stranger to the dinner table once you try it. This should be eaten right away or within a few days but that shouldn’t be a problem.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups pumpkin puree (no spices added)
- 3/4 cup already made apple sauce
- Juice of half a lemon
- Rind of half a lemon
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon cloves
- ¾ cup honey
Directions:
- Put everything in a food processor and process until smooth.
- This may have to be done in halves depending on the size and strength of the processor.
- Always keep leftovers in the refrigerator.
Raspberry Applesauce
This is great and is made with jam so there is no need to make it seasonally. It can be made any time of year as long as you can get apples.
Ingredients:
- 3 pounds apples that have been peeled, cored and sliced
- 1 cinnamon stick
- ¾ cup water
- ½ cup raspberry jam
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
Directions:
- Place apples, cinnamon stick, jam and water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to simmer, cover, and simmer about 30 to 35 minutes until apples become tender.
- Stir every once in awhile and if they seem to stick and become dry add more water ¼ c at a time.
- Remove from heat and take the cinnamon stick out.
- Stir in the lemon juice.
- It can be served chunky as is or put into the food processor and be made smooth.
- Serve hot or cold and make sure to store leftovers in the refrigerator.
Serve applesauce to your family frequently and spice it up by giving it different flavors.
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