Homemade Unsweetened Applesauce Recipe – No Sugar Added!
Learn how to make unsweetened applesauce! This unsweetened applesauce recipe has only two ingredients with no sugar added.
Ingredients
- 8 cups apples, peeled, cored, and chopped into large pieces
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 tablespoons water (can add more, if needed)
Instructions
- Peel, core, and chop your apples into large pieces. I cut my medium-sized apples into eighths. It is fine to throw in some extra apples if you wish, this is an extremely flexible recipe.
- Put the prepared apples in your slow cooker. Tuck in the cinnamon stick. Pour the water over the top.
- Cover the slow cooker and set it on low. Let the apples cook for 6-8 hours, giving it a good stir every 2-3 hours to prevent the apples from sticking to the pot. The apples will fall apart on their own, no mashing necessary! If your particular variety of apples does not seem to be breaking down, don't be afraid to crank your slow cooker up to the high setting for a couple of hours to get the process going.
- The applesauce shown in the photos was cooked for 6 hours. Longer cooking times result in a thicker, sweeter, and darker-colored applesauce, similar to apple butter.
- This recipe makes 2½-3 cups of applesauce, depending on how large you chop the apples and how long you cook them. Remove the cinnamon stick prior to serving warm or chilled.
Notes
This is a level 1 recipe (may help support fat loss). Unsweetened applesauce contains only 50 calories per ½-cup and makes a delicious side dish for a variety of meals. I enjoy it with pork entrees, but it is great as a standalone snack as well.
One thing to keep in mind is that cooking the applesauce longer will concentrate the sugars. The more concentrated your applesauce is, the higher the energy density will be. The difference isn’t too significant, but cooking your applesauce down to the consistency of apple butter will mean more calories by volume.
So now, let’s answer a few questions...
Is unsweetened applesauce fattening? Is unsweetened applesauce good for weight loss?
Remember, you need to maintain a calorie deficit to lose weight. Applesauce is not uniquely fattening and can be used as part of your diet during weight loss. However, if your strategy to lose weight is keto (i.e., restricting carbohydrates), apples are not considered a low carb food.Is applesauce without sugar healthy?
“Healthy” always depends on what your individual needs are and what you’re looking for. Unsweetened applesauce is about as healthy as apples with a few key differences. You lose some vitamin C when heating applesauce, and you lose fiber when you discard the apple peels. Nutrition information is for one half-cup serving. Nutrition information will vary based on your apple variety and how much it is cooked down.Nutrition
Calories: 50kcalCarbohydrates: 11gSodium: 10mgPotassium: 181mgFiber: 2gVitamin C: 2% DV
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