Looking for a fresh bowl of homemade applesauce for dinner tonight? This Instant Pot Applesauce recipe is super quick and easy!
For another idea, serve a big bowl of homemade cranberry sauce and don’t forget a side of dinner rolls! You’ll make everyone happy with these simple additions to dinner.
Table of Contents
Why this Recipe is Best
Have you been to an apple orchard lately? If the answer is yes, then YOU need today’s quick and easy Instant Pot Applesauce recipe!
Side dishes are something I tend to fall short of when it comes to dinner. I’m all good creating the main course, like this Slow Cooker Balsamic Beef, but then when dinner comes, I’ve completely forgotten to make something to go with it.
And my family loves having applesauce with dinner, thankfully, since this is what I serve most days! Of course, homemade applesauce would be the preference, but who has time to peel apples, boil, mash, can, etc?
I mean, if you do, more power to you! You’ll find me canning my fresh vegetables in the summer, making homemade salsa verde and strawberry jam. But come fall, when school is back in session, I need something quicker.
- Instant Pot applesauce is ready in less than 30 minutes!
- Only 4 ingredients needed!
- The flavor is so fresh and delicious!
Try it with ice cream! Who needs pie crust and all of that to enjoy Apple a la mode? Scoop a warm dish full of fresh homemade applesauce into a bowl and serve with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. SO GOOD.
Applesauce also pairs very nicely with these Oven baked Pork Chops!
Ingredient Notes
- Apples – I use Crunch Pak Gala apple slices, but any variety of apple – or combination of different apples – will work for this recipe. You’ll need about 2 lbs. total. (See more below on apple varieties.)
- Liquid – You need to add 1/2 cup of liquid to the Instant Pot for cooking the applesauce. Water works great, or you can sub some apple juice or apple cider for extra flavor.
- Sugar – The sugar here is optional and depends on the sweetness of your apples and how sweet you want your applesauce. You can always taste after it cooks and add if needed when blending.
- Cinnamon – This adds a great warmth and depth to the applesauce, but it’s optional so you can leave it off if you want a more plain applesauce.
- Lemon – A touch of lemon juice helps brighten the applesauce, and is recommended if you’re using fresh apples, but it’s also optional.
Easy Instructions
STEP 1. Prep the apples. Peel and slice your apples and add to the Instant Pot along with 1/2 cup of water (or apple juice or apple cider).
STEP 2. Optional add-ins. Add the sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice, if using.
STEP 3. Seal and cook. Close the Instant Pot and pressure cook (manual) for 6 minutes. Once done, allow it to Natural Release for 6 minutes. Then quick release until the pressure is out.
STEP 4. Blend it up. Use an Immersion Blender and blend the applesauce until desired consistency. If you don’t own an Immersion Blender, you can use a regular blender or a food processor.
Tips and Tricks
- Any apple that you would use for baking is a great option for applesauce. A mixture of varieties can add great flavor. (I used Crunch Pak Gala apples, which are already prepped and ready to go.)
- To peel or not to peel? It’s up to you! If you chose NOT to peel, you’ll want to blend the applesauce a little smoother. I did this with the Immersion Blender and it worked just fine.
- Sweetness: This is a personal preference. You might not need to add any sweetener. Or you could do 1/2 tablespoon to start and stir in another 1/2 tablespoon when blending if it needs it. You can use white sugar, light brown sugar, or a little bit of honey or agave or pure maple syrup.
- You can make this applesauce smooth or chunky, however you prefer yours to be. (A great perk of making homemade!) For smooth, use an immersion blender or regular blender and blend until completely smooth. For a chunkier applesauce, use a potato masher to give it a chunky base. You can also do a bit of both; mash some and blend some!
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use a crock pot instead of an Instant Pot to make this applesauce. Add the peeled and cored apples to the crockpot, along with the sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice (if using). No water needed. Cook on low for 4 hours then use an immersion blender to blend it up.
Once cooled, store the applesauce in a covered container or mason jar in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 10 days (if it lasts that long!)
Our favorite way to enjoy homemade applesauce is warm, fresh from the pressure cooker. You can also serve it cold. Once cooked, allow it to cool at room temperature then cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and serve chilled.
More Apple Recipes
One slice of this Butter Pecan Apple Skillet Cake with Bourbon Caramel Sauce and you’ll name this your favorite dessert ever eaten.
Delicious and moist, this Apple Cake with Honey Glaze is filled with apples, cinnamon and nuts! It’s a great addition to any brunch, or just enjoy with a cup of coffee on Saturday morning!
Hot Apple Crumble with a big scoop of Ice Cream is a delicious treat! Serve this for an American summer holiday, or for a cold winter’s dessert.
More Easy Recipes
- Cole Slaw Recipe
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Loaded Potato Salad
- Hashbrown Casserole Recipe
- Ritz Cracker Mac and Cheese
- Instant Pot Apple Crisp
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section below!
Instant Pot Applesauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lb Crunch Pak Gala apple slices or 2 lbs any apple of choice
- ½ cup water or apple juice/cider
- 1 Tablespoon sugar optional
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon optional
- ½ lemon juiced, optional
Instructions
- Start by peeling your apples. I used sliced Crunch Pak apples, so grabbing a paring knife and peeling the apples took no time at all. For about 1 quart of applesauce, you’ll need about 2 lbs of apples.
- Toss your apples into the bottom of the pressure cooker and add 1/2 cup of water. Or for a deeper flavor use apple juice or apple cider.
- Add 1 Tbsp of sugar. Totally optional, but if you like your applesauce sweetened, this is a good guide.
- If you’re looking for cinnamon flavor, add in 2 tsp cinnamon.
- If using fresh apples, you may want to squeeze half a lemon in there.
- Close the Instant Pot and pressure cook (manual) for 6 minutes. Once it is done, allow it to Natural Release for 6 minutes. Then quick release until the pressure is out.
- This is where an immersion blender comes in handy! Open the pressure cooker and blend until desired consistency. If you don’t own an Immersion Blender, you can use a regular blender or a food processor.
- Once smooth (or chunky, whichever you prefer), place in a quart size mason jar or bowl. Serve warm or refrigerate until ready to use. ENJOY.
Notes
- Any apple that you would use for baking is a great option for applesauce. A mixture of varieties can add great flavor. (I used Crunch Pak Gala apples, which are already prepped and ready to go.)
- To peel or not to peel? It’s up to you! If you chose NOT to peel, you’ll want to blend the applesauce a little smoother. I did this with the Immersion Blender and it worked just fine.
- Sweetness: This is a personal preference. You might not need to add any sweetener. Or you could do 1/2 tablespoon to start and stir in another 1/2 tablespoon when blending if it needs it. You can use white sugar, light brown sugar, or a little bit of honey or agave or pure maple syrup.
- You can make this applesauce smooth or chunky, however you prefer yours to be. (A great perk of making homemade!) For smooth, use an immersion blender or regular blender and blend until completely smooth. For a chunkier applesauce, use a potato masher to give it a chunky base. You can also do a bit of both; mash some and blend some!
Looks so perfect! Definitely a must try! It looks so delicious!
thank you
Once you’ve had homemade applesauce, you never want to try the store-bought stuff. I can’t believe how watery applesauce is from the supermarket. It’s really gone downhill. I’ve made applesauce on the stove and it is so good. I’m eager to see how it comes out using an Instapot because of the convenience factor. Thanks for sharing Aimee.
This was absolutely delicious! I followed the recipe exactly and made no changes. Another one of your recipes has pleased my family. Thank you for sharing!
Looks so perfect! Definitely a must try! It looks so delicious!
Looks so much easier than the stovetop version! I’m pinning this so I can make it when my parents share their abundant apple harvest with us.
Homemade applesauce is so good and so easy to make! Great recipe!
This looks fantastic!! My kids would LOVE it!!!
My kids love applesauce! Such a great idea to use an instant pot and get it done FAST!
Love the idea of making applesauce in the Instant pot!!! Such a great idea and so simple!
Homemade applesauce is the best! Thanks for a recipe for the instant pot.
I can’t wait to try this!!!