Like many who grew up in New England, I was fortunate to have an apple orchard within town limits. Just when the nights finally started to cool off was about when Christiansen’s would open their big stand on Hwy 102, and we would stop in once a week for fresh cider and a big white bag of apples. I can still remember the smell of just-picked macintoshes simmering on the stove as my mother made sauce.
Having settled on the front-range in Colorado, I don’t have such an orchard handy anymore, but I do have plenty of apples at in-season prices, trucked in from the western slope and elsewhere. Making applesauce is one of my autumn traditions; I hope you too enjoy this incredibly simple, sugar-free celebration of the season.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. of fresh organic apples, any variety. Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, and Macintosh are all good choices. If in doubt, go for what’s on sale. Note: Apples are the #1 pesticide offender (see EWG’s Dirty Dozen list), so its always best to choose organic.
- 2 c. water
- 2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. nutmug
Directions
Wash, core and slice apples. I like to halve the slices as well. Remember that the more you cut them up, the smaller the skins in your end product. (I don’t advocate peeling apples; it’s a shame to toss away all those vitamins and fiber!)
Place the apples in a 2 qt. saucepan and add 2 cups of water. Cover, bring to a boil, and simmer until soft, about 15 minutes. Add cinnamon and nutmeg. Mash the apples with a potato masher until the chunks are well-dissolved. Continue to simmer, uncovered, for 15 more minutes or until all water is absorbed and sauce reaches desired consistency.
Enjoy by itself, on waffles or with a side of pumpkin bread. It freezes very well so don’t be afraid to double the batch!
For Babies: Toss a portion of the applesauce into a blender or small food processor and blend until smooth. Portion it into ice cube trays, and transfer frozen cubes to an airtight storage container. Take out a cube or two as needed for meals.
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I just made this and used granny smith apples as well as cranberries since I love the tart taste. Instead of using a masher I gently whirl them in my food processor….
LOVE!!
What a great idea to freeze in ice cube trays! I never thought of that for applesauce…thanks!
Totally! It’s a great trick for any pureed baby food, from peas and carrots to squash and peaches!