There are so many seasonal goodies out this time of year. Before school starts, you can start seeing glimpses of candy corn and pumpkin spice flavored everything on the shelves of Target. I always get a little excited, to be honest.
Then as the weather cools, there’s pumpkin cookies galore, apple donuts and turnovers, ciders, mulled wine, and even more. So much indulgence, it’s no wonder the average person gains 5 to 10 pounds over the holiday season.
And although it’s perfectly fine to indulge occasionally, I like to keep something just as festive but much healthier on hand for when I’m feeling like a seasonal snack!
Enter sugar free crockpot applesauce. When they are acting like crazies, and nobody wants to eat anything of any nutritional value, this snack saves me. Unlike the time I tried to hide carrots in macaroni and cheese. Fail. It’s sweet, tastes like a dessert, but it’s simple, refined sugar free, and amazing. BONUS: Crockpot.
Sugar Free Crockpot Applesauce
Ingredients
- 3 +lb bag of apples any flavor, I like Granny Smith
- 1/3 cup unsweetened apple juice or white grape juice or water
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Peel the apples (optional). I don't peel the apples, because I like keeping the extra fiber in the applesauce. Plus, I use an immersion blender so the peels are unnoticeable. However, if peels bother you, then you can remove them.
- Slice up the apples, and place them in the crockpot. I can usually fit 8 apples in the crockpot at a time, and it makes almost 2 quarts of applesauce.
- The next step is to mix the apple juice or water with the cinnamon and lemon juice in a small bowl.
- Then, pour the mixture over the apples and cook on low heat for 3-4 hours.
Notes
Once the time is up, the apples are nice and soft and the house smells delicious. I used a potato masher and mushed them up a little, and then I get out the immersion blender and make sure that the peels are pureed up nice and smooth.
And the crockpot applesauce is done. It is a big hit with the kids, especially since it tastes just like the filling in apple cobbler. You can change up the mixture by using different types of apples, and adding more fruits for more flavors.
This usually makes about 2-3 quart sized mason jars, and I let them cool in the fridge and then freeze them. They freeze/thaw very well, I usually stock up on these jars while apples are on sale during the fall. It works out well for us to have applesauce year round!
What’s your favorite tasty treat from the Fall harvest?
I love crock pot applesauce! Since my husband is showing signs of diabetes, I’m going to give this one a go after our trip to the orchard and pumpkin patch this weekend! I never thought to use a hint of apple juice in mine.
It’s a favorite for me, so easy and SO delicious! Hope you like it!
I’ll bet there’s so much you can make in a crock pot that I have no clue about! This looks really good.
I’m a HUGE crockpot fan, and there’s even things that I have no clue about! Haha! It’s such a versatile tool.
This is a great, festive snack idea! I’ve made applesauce before, but it took so long that it didn’t seem worth the effort. This looks much easier! I got an immersion blender for Christmas last year, so this would be a perfect job for it 🙂
This is SO easy, Leah! Seriously takes 5 minutes to slice the apples and put the stuff in the crockpot, then just set it and forget it! 🙂
This is GREEEEAT!!! I’ve only made applesauce a time or two, but it was always done on the stove. HOW did I not know about the crockpot method?! My son is an apple fiend, but the peels always leave him gagging, so unless I toss them in some juice-he just doesn’t eat them. This is the perfect solution. Thanks for sharing! <3
The peels are rough, this definitely takes care of them. And extra fiber, this momma isn’t going to complain 😉
I love a good applesauce! My mom used to make it (well, still does) when I was growing up and I’d eat a bowlful while it was still warm before she jarred it. Delicious!
Oh yes, I love it when it’s still warm! yummmm
I love this! My mom used to make homemade applesauce when we were kids, we gobbled it up! She would make huge batches and freeze it so we could enjoy it for months. I bet she would have loved to use the crockpot! Using the entire apple is a great idea, with so much nutrition in the skin it’s cool that you can use it all. Pinning to save, I’m definitely going to make this! YUM!
I gobble it up as soon as I make it! If I’m lucky, some of it makes it to the fridge 🙂