Crispy sweet apples combined with warm spices and a sprinkle of orange zest. The orange zest provides a unique flavor to the sauce, but you can skip them if you prefer.
They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Apple sauce is another way to enjoy apples if you are not a fan of eating the fruit raw. Today, we will be making a healthier version without refined sugar.
Applesauce can be used as a substitute for eggs and fats in most baked goods. For instance, If a recipe calls for one egg, you can substitute with a quarter cup of applesauce, this helps with the texture of the baked goods. Whenever I use this homemade spiced zesty applesauce in my baking, I reduce the amount of sugar I use because the applesauce already packs some natural sugar.
Another way to enjoy applesauce is with yogurt, oatmeal, pancakes, ice cream, baked goods, or by itself. It also pairs well with pork chops for a delicious dinner.
Which apples make the best applesauce?
There are varieties of delicious apples out there, but it’s essential to pick a select few when preparing homemade applesauce. Look for apples that are sweet or mildly sweet like the golden delicious apples, Fuji, Jonagold or Mutsu. You also need a little tartness, apples like Mcintosh, Cortland, Jonathan, Winesap, Newtown Pippin, and Braeburn provides that mildly sweet, tart, crisp, juicy and aromatic flavor.
After selecting the apples, it’s time to peel, core and chop. If you are like me and love kitchen gadgets that simplify life in the kitchen, then you have to get an apple peeler/corer. I love this one here because it peels, cores, and slice the apples for you. Seriously, how awesome is that? Apples are my to go snacks, so this gadget comes in handy every day, Winning! If you don’t have an apple corer use a potato peeler or knife to peel the skin, core the center and slice into small chunks for even cooking.
This zesty spiced applesauce is super easy to make; it only takes 17 minutes or less.
How to make Zesty Spiced Applesauce
You’ll need
- Apples, I used a combination of golden delicious, Mutsu, McIntosh, and Fuji.
- Apple cider
- Water
- Granulated swerve ( any sweetener is fine)
- Ground cinnamon
- Allspice
- Orange zest
- Butter
Method:
Peel the apples, remove the core and chop the apples into chunks.
Place the apples, apple cider, water, sweetener, ground cinnamon, allspice, and orange zest in a medium-sized saucepan over medium-high heat and cook for 10-12 minutes, until they are fork tender. Add the butter and stir to combine. Mash with a potato masher or pulse in the food processor until you reach the desired consistency depending on how chunky or smooth you prefer the texture. Serve! Enjoy the applesauce with plain yogurt, spoon it over ice cream, or on hot oatmeal.
Store any leftover in the refrigerator for 7 to 10 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Are you looking for a more comforting, easy weeknight meal? Check out this creamed cauliflower and leek soup here or this deliciously favored stewed goat with chickpea curry here.
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Peace & Love
Maureen
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Zesty Spiced Applesauce
Ingredients
- 3 Medium Apples, I used a combination of golden delicious, Mutsu, McIntosh, and Fuji.
- 3 tablespoons Apple cider
- 3 tablespoons Water
- 2 tablespoons granulated swerve ( any sweetener is fine)
- 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon Allspice
- ½ teaspoon Orange Zest
- 2 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Peel the apples, remove the cores and chop the apples into chunks.
- Place the apples, apple cider, water, sweetener, ground cinnamon, allspice, and orange zest in a medium-sized saucepan over medium-high heat and cook for 10-12 minutes, until they are fork tender. Add the butter and stir to combine.
- Mash with a potato masher or pulse in the food processor until you reach the desired consistency depending on how chunky or smooth you prefer the texture. Serve! Enjoy the applesauce with plain yogurt, spoon it over ice cream, or on hot oatmeal.
Notes
Nutrition
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Oh my goodness it’s making my mouth water. Thanks for the fun recipe, will be trying it out soon!
It’s always my pleasure. 🙂
This looks nice and simple to put together but so delicious! Perfect for a weekend treat!
Thank you, it’s indeed easy.
Thank you for sharing this recipe- I adore this but have never tried to make it myself. I will now, seems more simple than I thought and how stunning is yours!
Right! Don’t be intimidated, Alexandra, I hope you give it a try soon. Thanks!
Oh this apple sauce recipe sounds so great! I really love consuming this for my pancakes and oatmeals..
Yes, Geraline! They are a perfect pair for Oatmeal and pancakes
It seems so tasty! I will try those recipe out and make a nice snack at home.
This looks amazing, and I would love to try it. Is the other version made with yogurt or is it cream?
Hi Taryn,
I am not sure I understand your question, are you referring to the white substance sandwiched in the applesauce? It’s yogurt. I hope that helps. Thanks for stopping by.
This looks so delicious! I’ve never had anything like this and can’t wait to try it. 😀
Thanks, Christa, I hope you give it a try soon.
I’ve made applesauce before using Gala and plain old gold and delicious apples and it was pretty good. I’m going to try your twist of adding lemon zest and allspice to see how that turns out. Sounds like that might be good.
Thanks, Kisha, you can’t go wrong with added flavor. I hope you try this version soon. Oh, it’s orange zest, but lemon zest would be awesome too.
Love how you amped up the flavor profile of regular apple sauce! I need to give ir a go.
Thanks, Neha! Variety they say is the spice of life. I hope you give it a go. 🙂
This recipe sounds so delicious! I love apples and I could see myself topping a Greek yogurt with this sauce, for a healthy dessert.
Oh yes! Joanna that hit my sweet food spot. 🙂
I am drooling over this recipe. Can’t imagine how delicious it will be to taste.
So delish! Kalyan 🙂
Thank you for sharing this recipe for spiced apple sauce . It looks good
Wow, this looks so great! I dont eat sugar, but my kids would absolutely love this! I will have to try it!
Hey Melissa, I used an all natural sugar, so it’s perfectly okay. I hope your kids love it. Thanks
This looks absolutely AMAZING!!! Maybe because Im preggo… but looks super delicious <3
Yay! Congrats beautiful. Wishing you some delicious food cravings on your journey. Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks for sharing this recipe.. It looks great!
Great recipes, we always have a lot of apples in the fall. But have never made apple sauce, might try this year
It seems so tasty! Thanks for the fun recipe, will be trying it out soon!
Looks absolutely appetizing. I can’t wait to try it out. I am trying to do a lot of Homemade cooking from here on out. glad your recipes are here to help and very original.
feedback: can you please take photos of the ingredients you use like the spices so i have a visual picture for when i go o look for them in store. You know how sometimes the name alone doesn’t quit cut it when you you out shopping. Sometimes if you know what the item looks like you can easily save time. Also some stores label differently.
Thank you!
That’s great, Maria. Homemade foods are great, and it doesn’t hurt to know what ingredients are on the menu. Now and then I add a picture for ingredients when it is necessary or a link on where to get the exact one I used in a recipe considering most of my viewers are outside the United States. Unless otherwise stated, any brand works for most of my recipes. Thanks again for stopping by beautiful.
This really looks good and tasty. I would love to try this recipe at home someday.