Start by peeling your apples. For about 2 cups of applesauce, you'll need about 2 pounds 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 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!