Slow Cooker Cinnamon Applesauce
ShareHomemade slow cooker cinnamon applesauce with easy to follow canning instructions. This classic side dish can easily be customize to your taste preference.
This is a first for me, times two! Okay, sorta. I’ve made a similar mixture for the filling of these ridiculously simple and completely delicious apple cinnamon pop-tarts and of course the mixture for the apple cinnamon fruit leather tasted similar too. Which by the way, if you haven’t made either – you’re seriously missing out.
How different can various apple-cinnamon items really taste, right? But this is a first for making actual applesauce. And I knew it needed to have cinnamon. I’m completely obsessed with cinnamon. I wasn’t sure how chunky or smooth I wanted it to be though. I left it more towards smooth with slight chunks. I’m a smooth everything kind of girl… smooth applesauce, smooth peanut butter and smooth Biscoff. I’ve never in my life bought chunky. But I can totally see eating a chunky version of this applesauce.
It’s like eating pie, but easier. No chewing required. I guess this means when we serve applesauce to babies and kids, they’re getting a little slice of pie. Maybe I should rethink my dinner sides. More applesauce, less veggies. Not that I’m really crazy about most veggies anyway but that’s besides the point.
As simple as applesauce is, I made it easier by using the slow cooker. Sure, it takes longer but it means you don’t have to monitor it. No standing about in the kitchen just waiting. And with three kids running around, I rarely have the opportunity to do that. The slow cooker means I can toss it in and let it do it’s thing. It quietly and efficiently works for me, while also allowing me to not worry about little people underfoot.
The second first is that I canned this awesomeness and it worked! I only had one issue and it was my own first time canner issue that I resolved quickly with the second batch. Yup, I made this twice in one day resulting in 3 quarts of applesauce and an empty apple bag. I need to go back and restock asap. A house without apples is a scary thing.
Canning was so much easier than I expected it to be. The only downside is I have a smallish stockpot and a gigantic seafood stock. I need something in the middle that will accommodate larger jars.
Whether you prefer to make a little at a time or a large batch and can, you absolutely should whip up some homemade applesauce. My kids love it even more than store bought.
Slow Cooker Cinnamon Applesauce
Ingredients
- 12 C apples
- 1/2 C water
- 1 tbsp boiled cider optional
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 C granulated sugar
Instructions
- Peel, core and chop apples. Add all ingredients to slow cooker. Toss gently and cover. Cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6. Mash with a potato masher to desired consistency.
- If canning, sterilize jars, lids and rings. Bring water to a boil in a large stockpot, large enough to cover jars with 1-2" of water.
- Fill jars leaving 1" of space at the top of your jars. Remove any air bubbles. Wipe jars clean before adding lids and rings.
- Process jars in a boiling water bath, with 1-2" of water above jars. Cook according to your elevation (I cooked mine for 20 minutes). Carefully remove jars, allowing them to cool on a towel for 24 hours.
- Listen for 'pops' that is your lid sealing. Any jars that do not seal should be chilled and used within several days. Label and store sealed jars in a cool, dark location.
Notes
It’s always important to have a classic like this in your repertoire! Definitely making this soon. I need some comforting fall fruit!
Yum! You need to restock your apples!!
A house without apples is scary indeed! This looks great. I have a canning phobia but need to tackle it head on soon!
Yay for canning! I love homemade apple sauce there is nothing better!
Nothing like a bowl of applesauce and yours looks perfect!
This looks delicious, but I’m suddenly smitten by the idea of apple-cinnamon pop tarts. Wow!
Yuuuum. I almost bought a ton of honeycrisp to make applesauce with earlier this week. I think I need to do it after seeing this.
I’m posting a similar recipe next week! Love homemade applesauce. I don’t actually can mine but maybe I should (I usually eat it too fast :))
Oh my goodness! Now I know what to do with all the HUGE apples I bought from trader joes!
This looks amazing, Rachel! I can’t imagine how good homemade is over storebought!
I’d like a big bowl of that please!
Yum! I’m glad to see your kiddos love this more than store bought! You’ve obviously made them into little foodies! :) It’s hard to get kids to eat anything that isn’t processed these days!
This looks like perfect applesauce!
Congrats on the canning success!! I really want to learn to do it (I even got a book for Christmas last year), but I just haven’t made it a priority.
Saw this on twitter and had to check it out! Looks amazing, Rachel!
This is almost too easy to be true….almost! Definitely need to try it out.
You absolutely do!
I like to add a little bit of vanilla extract to my applesauce. It freezes well too for those that don’t like to can. We like to serve ours warm with either vanilla yogurt or a scoop of ice cream. I like the idea of using the crock pot. Going to try it now. Thanks for sharing!
Enjoy!
E when I make applesauce I freeze it in ziplock type bags. They lay nice and flat in the freezer and tthey don’t take up a lot off room.
Thanks for the great tip, Joyce!