This easy Instant Pot Applesauce recipe is practically no work to make. It is one of our favorite Easy Apple Recipes for that reason. Applesauce is one of my favorite filling and healthy snacks. Ever since I found out how simple it is to make, I have stopped buying it at the store.
You can spice up this recipe and sweeten it as you wish. This applesauce recipe is open to many variations. You only need 5 simple ingredients to make the best applesauce ever. Your kids will be asking you to make this all the time and because it is so easy, you just might.
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Instant Pot Applesauce
You are probably familiar with how easy an Instant Pot or pressure cooker makes cooking. I have used it to make recipes such as Instant Pot Banana Bread and Strawberry Dump Cake in the Instant Pot. If you haven't made applesauce in your Instant Pot, you must give it a try. It is so easy to pressure cook applesauce since you don't have to watch and wait as it cooks on the stove.
This recipe is the perfect blend of sweetness and tartness. The flavors will be a hit with your kids. If you have never tried homemade applesauce before then you will be surprised how easy this recipe is to make. You may never go back to store-bought again! My delicious Apple Muffins inspired this easy instant pot applesauce.
Ingredients Needed to Make Applesauce
- Apples -There are so many varieties of apples and the ones you use will change the taste of the applesauce. See our FAQs below for apple recommendations.
- Water - Adds some moisture and helps the pressure cooker to cook the apples.
- Brown sugar - Adds a touch of sweetness. You can leave it out if you prefer unsweetened apple sauce.
- Lemon juice - Adds a bit of tartness to this recipe.
- cinnamon - Apples and cinnamon just go together!
How to make Applesauce Instant Pot
Maybe you have made homemade applesauce before on the stovetop. It is a great way to use up apples when you have extra, but not enough time to use them all. But, if you have never made applesauce in the Instant Pot before, you have no idea how easy the whole process can be.
To start with you will need to peel and slice your apples. This is where a good apple slicer and peeler come in. I love this apple slicer and peeler from Amazon. They both work perfectly for this job. The apples don't need to be cut into tiny pieces. You can cut them into 1 to 2-inch slices.
You will be placing all of your ingredients along with the apple slices into the Instant Pot. Stir and cook. In just 8 minutes you will have amazing applesauce!
Of course, you do need to mash up the apples first. I find the job easy with this potato masher. Mash the apples until they have reached your desired consistency. If the applesauce is too thick, you can always stir in some water, a little at a time, to make it less chunky. It all depends on your taste and the type of texture you prefer in your apple sauce.
I like to sprinkle some additional cinnamon on top of the applesauce. You can use ground cinnamon or grate fresh cinnamon from a cinnamon stick. You can even squeeze a bit of honey on it if you'd like. This applesauce is wonderful when it is still warm. It also makes a fabulous topping for vanilla ice cream.
Tips For Making Homemade Applesauce
Tip 1: Apples that have some slight bruising or are a little past their best, are perfect for using when making applesauce. It is a great way to avoid food waste.
Tip 2: Use apples that are in season to help save money. Also, experimenting with different apples will give your applesauce a slightly new flavor each time you make it.
Tip 3: If your applesauce is not as sweet as you'd like, you can always add sugar after it is done. You can also try honey or maple syrup for additional sweetness.
How Do You Make Unsweetened Applesauce In The Instant Pot?
There are many reasons why you might want to make applesauce without sugar. Maybe you are watching your sugar consumption or just looking to make applesauce a little healthier. Since apples are naturally sweet, it is possible to make sugar-free applesauce.
Luckily, it is simple to make applesauce without sugar in the Instant Pot. You just need apples and water. You will probably want to add some cinnamon for flavor. Lemon juice can help preserve the color of the apples and add a little tartness.
FAQs For Applesauce Recipe
Picking the right apples is an important aspect of making yummy homemade applesauce! What I love about this pressure cooker applesauce is that you can use many different varieties of apples. Both sweet and tart apples will work.
Our favorite apples to use are Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Granny Smith, Jonagold, Gala, or Fuji. We used Fuji apples in this recipe. If you have several varieties of apples on hand, try a mix in your applesauce. A combination of sweet and tart apple flavors helps create a flavorful applesauce.
This recipe makes a lot of applesauce, so you are sure to have leftovers. You'll want to be sure to let it cool down before you store it. After the applesauce is cooled to room temperature, you'll want to transfer it to an airtight container.
I love these airtight containers since they work for a variety of items. You can store the applesauce in a refrigerator for up to a week. If you are looking to freeze applesauce, simply place cooled applesauce in a zip-top bag like these. Be sure to leave a little extra room because the applesauce will expand when frozen.
Best Recipes That Use Applesauce
Now that you have tried my delicious Instant Pot Applesauce, you need to try some of my favorite recipes that use applesauce as an ingredient.
- Air Fryer Banana Muffins
- Sugar-Free Low Sugar Applesauce
- Apple Cinnamon Fruit Roll-Ups
- Low Carb Muffins
Essential Tools for This Recipe
There are some Must Have Instant Pot Accessories that make using a pressure cooker a lot easier. A steamer basket is very versatile for cooking veggies and hard-boiled eggs. Silicone baking molds are perfect for making desserts. An extra inner pot lets you cook multiple dishes without washing. You can find everything you need on Amazon. Here are some of our favorite items:
Instant Pot Duo Plus, 8-Quart Whisper Quiet 9-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, Slow Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker, Warmer & Sterilizer, App With Over 800 Recipes, Stainless Steel
Accessories-Set-for-Insta-Pot, Accessory Compatible with Instant Pot 6 Qt 8 Quart, with Steamer Basket Cheesecake Pan Egg Steam Trivet Silicone Mold Mitts TongHOMEST 2 Compartments Carry Bag for 6 Quart Instant Pot, Pressure Cooker Travel Tote Bag Have Accessory Pockets for Spoon, Measuring Cup, Steam Rack, Insulated Carrier with Easy to Clean Lining, GreyOTOmitra Steam Release Diverter, Pressure Release Accessory, Kitchen Cupboards Steam Diverter Compatible with Instant Pot Duo 3QT/6QT/8QT/Duo Max Ninja FoodiInstant Pot Stainless Steel Inner Cooking Pot 6-Qt, Polished Surface, Rice CookerInstant Pot Official Mesh Steamer Basket, Set of 2, Stainless Steel
For another healthy recipe, check out this Oven Roasted Chickpeas Recipe.
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Applesauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 10 apples peeled, cored, and sliced (we used Fuji apples, but other varieties will work as well)
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Place the apple slices, water, sugar, lemon juice and cinnamon into the Instant Pot. Stir to combine. Close the lid and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes.
- Do a natural release and mash up the apples with a potato masher until they reach your desired consistency.
- Store in the refrigerator.
Caitlyn Erhardt says
This recipe SCREAMS Fall! Wonderful recipe, I can't wait to make it for my son!
Pam Greer says
I've made applesauce in my slow cooker, but I haven't tried my Instant Pot yet! You are so lucky to have an apple tree!
Matt @ Plating Pixels says
Never made applesauce but it looks super easy with an instant pot!
Alina | Cooking Journey Blog says
Apple sauce is a fall season must. And homemade always is better, especially when you have an instant pot!