Fuji apples are excellent for applesauce.
Applesauce is a puree of boiled apples that is very easy to make at home. Since many people prefer to customize the spice and sweetness of their applesauce, homemade applesauce is a great way to get around unsatisfying store purchases. For people with bumper apple crops, applesauce is also an efficient way to store apples over the winter. Once prepared, applesauce can be used in a variety of foods or eaten on its own, and is a very popular baby food in many parts of the world. You can also make applesauce with young or beginning cooks to teach them a quick, basic recipe that’s also fun to eat.
Cinnamon is often used to flavor applesauce.
To make applesauce, start with three to four pounds (about two kilograms) of apples that are suitable for baking or cooking. Gravesteins, Granny Smiths, Fujis, McIntoshes, Jonathans, Golden Delicious, and Pippins are all great choices for applesauce. Many cooks also like to mix several varieties in a batch for a more complex flavor. Peel the apples and remove the core; an apple is still a useful tool for this task. Once peeled, cut the apples into large chunks and throw them into a large pot.
Applesauce is often flavored with nutmeg.
Add a cup of water, the juice and zest of one lemon, a pinch of salt, and three or four cinnamon sticks to the applesauce. Other seasonings such as ground cloves, nutmeg, or allspice can also be used and mixed in at the end. Also, you will need up to three-fourths of a cup of sugar. Mixing light and dark sugars is a great way to adjust the flavor, and use less sugar if you want to make a tartier applesauce.
Granny Smith apples make good applesauce.
Bring the pot to a boil, cover, and simmer for about 30 minutes, until the apples are tender. Remove cinnamon sticks and puree. For thicker applesauce, use a potato masher or large wooden spoon. For a smooth puree, use a blender, food mill, or food mill to achieve the desired smooth texture.
Once you’ve made the applesauce, you can freeze it for up to a year. It also keeps refrigerated for several days, or can be canned and stored in a cool, dry place. If you are making applesauce and intend to can it, be sure to follow safety procedures for canning boiling water to ensure the applesauce remains safe and healthy to eat.