Jump to Recipe Vegan
This wildly delicious chunky maple cinnamon homemade applesauce is sure to be a go-to recipe this fall and year round! It’s thick and almost tastes like apple pie filling with the perfect amount of sweetness. Make this homemade applesauce recipe to serve alone or with ice cream for dessert or use it as a sauce for savory foods like pork chops and chicken.
Whether you make homemade applesauce often or you’re totally new to it – you’re going to LOVE this simple homemade applesauce recipe!
I personally like my applesauce thick and chunky, not watery, with lots of flavor which is exactly what you’ll get here.
The sauce turns out with a flavor and texture similar to apple pie filling, only in sauce form.
You could even puree it to get a really smooth sauce, but I love the texture you get just by mashing the apples.
Just as good as the taste is the time it takes to make it! From start to finish, you’ll be done in 45 minutes.
Homemade applesauce doesn’t get any better!
What You Need to Prepare this Homemade Applesauce Recipe
I used 5 sweet apples (honeycrisp) and 3 tart (Granny Smith). You can use a mix of sweet and tart to get the perfect flavor, or all tart if you prefer it less sweet.
Here’s everything you’ll need for this maple cinnamon applesauce:
4 lbs medium apples (about 8-9)watermaple sugar (I prefer this too syrup, although syrup can work here as well)ground cinnamonteaspoon nutmeglemon juice pure vanilla extract
How to Make the Best Chunky Homemade Applesauce
Place the apples, water, maple sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon and the nutmeg in a dutch oven or large saucepan.
Cook uncovered over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes or until apples are soft and broken down.
For chunky applesauce, use a potato masher to smash the apples to your desired consistency.
If you want smooth applesauce, you can use an immersion blender to blend it smooth right in the pot.
Stir in the lemon juice and vanilla, taste, and add the additional teaspoon of cinnamon if desired.
Cool slightly before serving. You can also cool completely, and then cover and chill in the refrigerator before serving.
Save leftover applesauce in a tightly lidded jar in the refrigerator for up to one week or up to a few months in the freezer.
Recipes Substitutions and Additions
As I mentioned earlier, feel free to experiment with different apple varieties in this recipe.
In my opinion, a mix of sweet and tart apples is best since you get both flavor profiles.
Keep in mind that different apple varieties have different textures and some will break down more quickly than others when cooked.
You can adjust the cook time and heat on your stove to best suit the apples you’re using.
For the maple sugar, you can sub in coconut sugar or maple syrup.
The spices can also be adjusted to preference, using cinnamon only or adding in a bit of ginger and allspice or cloves.
I hope you’re ready for a seriously delicious homemade applesauce recipe that’s sure to become a new favorite!
Grab your apples and start peeling because it’s time for begin – let’s go!
Chunky Maple Cinnamon Homemade Applesauce Recipe
Chunky Maple Cinnamon Homemade Applesauce {Paleo, Vegan}
This all purpose, wildly delicious chunky maple cinnamon homemade applesauce is sure to be a go-to recipe this fall and year round! It’s thick and almost tastes like apple pie filling with the perfect amount of sweetness. Have it alone or with ice cream for dessert or use it as a sauce for savory foods like pork chops and chicken – you can’t go wrong! Prep Time: 10 minutesCook Time: 30 minutesCourse:Dessert, Sauce/SideCuisine:fall, Paleo, thanksgiving, VeganKeyword:apples, applesauce, paleo, veganServings: 8 servings
Print this RecipeDid you make this recipe?Leave a review from votes
Ingredients
4lbsmedium applesabout 8-9 peeled, cored, and cut into 1” chunks*6tablespoonswater1/3cupmaple sugar1tablespoonground cinnamondivided into 2 + 1 teaspoons.1/2teaspoonnutmeg1tablespoonlemon juice1teaspoonpure vanilla extract
Instructions
Place the apples, water, maple sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon and the nutmeg in a dutch oven or large saucepan.Cook uncovered over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes or until apples are soft and broken down. For chunky applesauce, use a potato masher to smash the apples to your desired consistency. If you want smooth applesauce, you can use an immersion blender to blend it smooth right in the pot.Stir in the lemon juice and vanilla, taste, and add the additional teaspoon of cinnamon if desired.Cool slightly before serving. You can also cool completely, and then cover and chill in the refrigerator before serving. Save leftover applesauce in a tightly lidded jar in the refrigerator for up to one week or up to a few months in the freezer. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
*I used 5 sweet apples (honeycrisp) and 3 tart (Granny Smith)
Nutrition
Calories: 158kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 4mgPotassium: 277mgFiber: 6gSugar: 32gVitamin A: 126IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @PaleoRunningMomma on Instagram and hashtag it #PaleoRunningMomma
Want More Paleo + Vegan Apple Recipes? Try One of These!
Caramel Cinnamon Baked Apples
Maple Pecan Apple Crisp
Chewy Apple Pecan Cookies
Apple Cinnamon Paleo Hot Cereal
Apple Cinnamon Homemade Granola
Note: This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Paleo Running Momma!