Toddler-Approved Crockpot Applesauce
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This no-sugar-added Applesauce Recipe is a breeze to make in a slow cooker. Made from fresh apples and spiced with cinnamon sticks, it’s one of the best toddler-approved snacks.
Why you’ll love this family favorite recipe!
- Toddler-approved – It’s not easy to get toddlers to snack on something healthy, but they won’t be able to get enough of this cinnamon-spiced homemade applesauce. 🍎
- Easy crockpot recipe – Just like my slow cooker rice pudding, the crockpot does almost all the heavy lifting.
- Naturally sweetened – While I did give you the option to add a little sugar, I think this applesauce is sweet enough with just the cinnamon and apples.
Table of Contents
It felt like it happened overnight—all of a sudden, my daughter was obsessed with applesauce. She wanted it at every meal: breakfast, after-daycare snacks, dinner, etc. But I wasn’t complaining! It just gave me the perfect excuse to create this Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce.
She loves it just as much as my kid-friendly Greek yogurt muffins, and it’s a fantastic way to use up our haul of fall apples. The best part? My slow cooker does the work for me. I just dump the apples inside, add some cinnamon sticks, and let it do its thing.
In just a few hours, my house smells like cozy cinnamon apples, and my daughter is set for the week!
Homemade Applesauce Ingredients
Apples – I like using Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Gala, and Granny Smith apples for a nice balance of tart, tangy, and sweet flavors. You need 12 apples for this recipe, so it’s perfect for mixing and matching!
Cinnamon sticks – They warm up the applesauce with their cozy flavors and don’t leave any grittiness behind, like ground cinnamon might.
Lemon juice – Just a little, to cut through any sweetness.
This list is to provide further clarification on a few of the ingredients. See recipe card below for the full ingredient list.
Variations
- If you don’t have cinnamon sticks, sprinkle 1 to 2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon over the apples in the crockpot.
- Add even more spices, like nutmeg, allspice, and/or ginger, for classic apple pie flavors.
How to Make Applesauce From Scratch
Step 1: Combine. Add the apples, water, cinnamon, and lemon juice to a slow cooker.
Step 2: Cook. Cook on HIGH for 3 hours.
Step 3: Mash, then serve. Remove the cinnamon sticks, then mash the apples with a potato masher until smooth. Enjoy!
Erin’s Tips and Tricks
- It’s not totally necessary, but I recommend peeling the apples before cooking. Applesauce with chunks of peel in it probably isn’t toddler-approved (weird textures? No thanks!)
- Blend the cooked apples with an immersion blender for an even smoother texture.
My Pro Tip
Sugar or No Sugar?
If you made the applesauce with cinnamon sticks, I don’t think any added sugar is necessary. But if you or your kids prefer it sweeter, stir in 2 tablespoons of cane sugar, brown sugar, or maple syrup before serving.
Serving Suggestions
My daughter loves snacking on this cinnamon applesauce straight out of the slow cooker. As for the rest, I like using it up in this applesauce-forward menu:
- Spoon it over these already apple-y apple pork chops at dinner.
- Serve it over homemade no-churn ice cream for dessert.
- Drizzle the leftovers over a stack of these apple cinnamon pancakes for breakfast the next morning.
Applesauce FAQs
Cooking down 12 apples should yield approximately 3 to 4 cups of applesauce.
Don’t skip the lemon juice. It not only balances the sweeter flavors, but the citric acid also slows down any browning.
Storage
Refrigerator: Store any leftover applesauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Freezer: Once completely cool, freeze the applesauce in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 6 months. Let it defrost in the refrigerator before serving.
Reheating: The applesauce is delicious served cold, but if you prefer it warm, gently heat it in a saucepan on the stove or in the microwave in 15-second increments until it’s warmed through.
More Healthy Snacks
If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!
Toddler-Approved Crockpot Applesauce
Ingredients
- 12 apples, peeled and sliced
- ¾ cup water
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Optional: 2 tbsp sugar
Instructions
- Add apples, water, cinnamon, and lemon juice to a slow cooker.
- Cook on HIGH for 3 hours. Remove the cinnamon sticks, then use a potato masher to mash the apples until they’re the consistency of applesauce. Optional: stir in 1-2 tablespoons of sugar if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
