Two Easy Ways to Make Delicious Applesauce

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Two Easy Ways to Make Delicious Applesauce

Once you discover the joy of making applesauce at home, you’ll realize that store-bought versions can’t compare. It’s one of the simplest things you can create in your kitchen, and the taste is absolutely delightful!

Why Make Homemade Applesauce?

Here are three compelling reasons to start making your own applesauce this season:

• Incredibly Simple: Making applesauce is a breeze, even for first-time canners using backyard apples or market finds.
• Save Money: If you grow your own apples or receive them as gifts, making applesauce can save you money. Apples are at their ripest and cheapest during the season—perfect for preserving!
• Control Ingredients: Making applesauce from scratch allows you to avoid unwanted additives like corn syrup and choose wholesome ingredients that you trust.

Best Apples for Applesauce

Some apple varieties are better suited for making applesauce:

• Golden Delicious
• Crispin
• Fuji
• McIntosh
• Gravenstein
• Braeburn
• Ida Red

However, as long as the apples are tasty when eaten raw, any variety can be used. Consider blending sweet and tangy apples for a balanced flavor or sticking with one type for simplicity.

Essential Ingredients

To make applesauce, you only need:

• Apples of any kind (in any combination)
• Water

Remember: the riper the apples, the better your sauce will be!

Making Applesauce: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Washing the Apples

If you’ve picked apples from a tree, a light wash will suffice. For market or ground apples, give them a thorough rinse under running water. Remove any unusable parts.

Step 2: Peeling, Coring, and Cutting

Peel your apples using a knife or a manual apple peeler. Coring and cutting can be done based on your desired texture—chunky or smooth. Keep the peels for dehydrating or vinegar making if you like!

Step 3: Cooking the Apples

Place the chopped apples and ½ cup of water in a large pot. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the apples break down (about 20 minutes). Adjust the water for your desired consistency. Blend for a smoother texture if desired and add spices or sweeteners to personalize your sauce.

Step 4: Enjoying or Preserving

For immediate consumption, let the applesauce cool and enjoy! It lasts about 10 days in the fridge. If freezing, use airtight containers for up to six months. For long-term storage, consider canning.

Step 5: Canning the Applesauce

To can applesauce for a year-long shelf life, prepare your water canner. Fill sterilized jars with applesauce (leaving ½-inch headspace), remove air bubbles, and process in boiling water for 20 minutes. Allow jars to cool slowly for best results.

Experimenting with Quince

A fantastic twist on traditional applesauce is to incorporate quince. Using a 50:50 ratio of apples to quince enhances flavor and texture. If intrigued, why not give it a try?

Delicious Applesauce Cake Recipe

Once you’ve made applesauce, use it in recipes like this simple applesauce cake:

• 2.5 cups self-raising white flour
• 4 eggs
• 1¾ cups unsweetened applesauce
• 1 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
• ⅓ cup lard or butter
• 1 tsp. cinnamon (plus optional spices)
• ½ tsp. salt
• 2 tbsp. honey (added near the end)
• 2 tbsp. powdered coconut sugar for dusting

Baking Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Mix wet ingredients before adding dry ingredients. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Drizzle with honey in the last five minutes of baking.

Conclusion

Making homemade applesauce is not only satisfying but also opens the door to numerous delicious recipes. Enjoy the simplicity and flavor of your homemade creation for months to come!

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