Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Applesauce Recipe (2024)

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This is Janice, co-founder of 5 Minutes for Mom, with a homemade brown sugar and cinnamon applesauce recipe that is so delicious and so quick to make, you will want to whip up a batch every week. Thanks to Kenwood for sponsoring this post.

Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Applesauce Recipe (1)

When I was growing up, my mother always made homemade applesauce.

Yes, somehow as a working mother with four children, my mother still made time to can pounds and pounds of peaches and pears, make all of the jam we ever ate, and cook up big batches of applesauce.

I am not sure what age I was before I tasted store bought canned fruit or jam. But when I did, I realized how lucky we were to have my mother’s canned fruit, jam, and applesauce. Nothing can compare to the fresh taste of homemade.

Yet, now as a mother myself, I have fallen into the habits of convenience and have never canned a jar of fruit, reaching instead for the cans at the grocery store. And while I did make homemade baby food when my children were babies, I haven’t made applesauce since.

But this week, I was inspired by the Kenwood Triblade Hand Blender to go back to my applesauce making roots. And now I am hooked. I will definitely be making our applesauce myself from now on. (And since I just polished off the last bowl from this batch, I will be making more applesauce again tomorrow.)

This Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Applesauce is the most delicious, decadent applesauce I have ever tasted. It is like an indulgent dessert and yet it is only a quick and simple applesauce.

Why this Applesauce is SO Delicious

Applesauce can only be as good as the ingredients you put in.

So, for this batch, I used organic apples, freshly squeezed lemon juice, cinnamon sticks, and a rich organic brown sugar made by Wholesome Sweeteners that I bought at our health food store last week.

I used a blend of organic Spartan apples and organic Ambrosia apples. And because I was using the Triblade blender to blend my applesauce, I cooked the apples with their skins to add more flavor and nutrients to my applesauce.

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Peeling apples takes so much time, so skipping this step allows me to easily throw together this applesauce and have it ready in no time. Now that I don’t have to peel apples, and I can puree the applesauce in the pot, I really will be making this applesauce on a regular basis.

As well, I have this apple cutting tool I bought from Pampered Chef years ago that turns the entire apple-prep into a ten second job.

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To speed up cooking, I also made a few quick chops to my apple slices. And squeezed some lemon juice on them to keep them from discoloring.

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Then I added them to a pot with about a 1/2 cup of water, 1/4 cup brown sugar, a couple cinnamon sticks, and the rest of the juice from the lemon.

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I brought it to a boil, then reduced the temperature to simmer, and within thirty minutes I had this fragrant apple stew.

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I turned off the stove and allowed the pot and the apples to cool. Once they were cool to the touch, I simply grabbed the Triblade and blended my apples right in the same pot!

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Having to pour applesauce a few cups at a time into a blender to puree is enough to keep me from making applesauce, so having an immersion blender like the Triblade is such a huge time saver. And it makes so much less mess to clean up.

The Kenwood Triblade Hand Blender is not like any immersion blender I have used before. The Hand Blender HB724, which I received to review from Kenwood, comes with different attachments for different tasks — a stainless steel TriBlade wand, SoupXL blending wand, Puree Masher, Metal Balloon Whisk, 16oz (2 cups) Chopper with lid and 25oz (3 cups) Beaker with lid.

For my applesauce, I first tested out the Puree Masher. This is a great tool for pureeing and mashing directly in your pot and worked well creating a soft puree of my apples. I was also very impressed that it didn’t splatter or spit and created no mess at all.

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But since I had left the skins on my apples, I wanted to try out the metal triblade wand to completely blend up all the skin.

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The Triblade Hand Blender worked so fast and SO well that when I put my applesauce through a sieve to catch the last bits of skin, there were only two tablespoons of small skin pieces in the whole batch. (Don’t you lovemy sieve — it is my mother’s, which she used as a child in my grandmother’s kitchen!)

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The Best Applesauce I Have EVER Tasted

After a quick run through the sieve, which I did right into the bowl I was serving the applesauce from, I had the most incredible applesauce I have ever touched on my tongue.

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It was rich and full bodied, with a fine, silky texture. And to treat myself for working oh so hard capturing its perfection with my camera, I topped it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Oh yes, this applesauce is a delicious dessert indeed!

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Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Applesauce Recipe (17)

Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Applesauce

A delicious and easy recipe for homemade brown sugar and cinnamon applesauce.

4 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Author: Janice Croze

Ingredients

  • 3-4 lbs of organic apples 12-14 apples
  • 1/2 cup of water
  • 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
  • 2-4 cinnamon sticks or 1-2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 Tbsp lemon juice or juice of 1 lemon
  • pinch of salt

Instructions

  • Cut apples into slices or chop into chunks (do not peel apples)

  • Cover the bottom of a large pot with water (approx. 1/2 cup of water)

  • Add cut apples, sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice and salt

  • Bring to boil

  • Reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes or until apples are soft

  • Allow to cool in pot

  • Remove cinnamon sticks

  • Use an immersion blender to blend apples in pot

  • (Or if you do not have an immersion blender, blend in portions in blender)

  • For a fine applesauce, pour through a sieve or mesh strainer

  • Serve warm or cold

  • Store refrigerated for up to a week, freeze for up to a year, or can

Written and photographed by Janice Croze, co-founder of 5 Minutes for Mom.

Please Note: I received product from Kenwood to review and test out in my kitchen, along with compensation for my time to create and publish this recipe. All opinions are entirely my own.

Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Applesauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How much cinnamon to add to store-bought applesauce? ›

Start by toasting a half-teaspoon of your favorite ground baking spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, allspice) in a small skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant. Transfer to a small bowl to stop the cooking, then stir in a pinch or two of the spice into your applesauce, adding more to taste.

What to add to applesauce to make it taste better? ›

The mellow sweetness of toasted sugar adds complexity. Apple cider vinegar helps brighten cooked fruit. Using skin-on fruit improves both flavor and color in the finished product. Aromatics like cinnamon, orange peel, and rose water intensify the flavor of the apples.

Why is my homemade applesauce Brown? ›

Enzymes. Enzymes are naturally occurring substances in foods that promote the normal ripening process. Enzymes in apples cause oxidation (browning) when cut surfaces are exposed to air. This can occur when the apples are peeled or during the canning process.

Why is cinnamon applesauce so good? ›

Cinnamon adds to the cozy, warm flavors of the applesauce and also provides a boost in antioxidants for more disease-fighting benefits. And of course, when it's homemade, there's no preservatives or unnecessary added sugar!

How much cinnamon do I use? ›

Numerous human studies have confirmed the beneficial effects of cinnamon, showing that it can lower fasting blood sugar levels and improve hemoglobin A1c, a marker of long-term blood sugar control ( 23 , 24 ). The effective dose is typically 1–6 g, or around 0.5–2 tsp. of cinnamon per day ( 24 ).

How much cinnamon powder to use? ›

The concern with eating too much cinnamon relates to its coumarin content, which in excessive amounts, could increase your chance of liver damage. Sticking to no more than half a teaspoon daily is also a good idea because different types and brands of cinnamon might have different quantities of coumarin in them.

How to jazz up applesauce? ›

I add cinnamon for some autumnal spice, but you could leave it out and/or add other warming spices like ginger, nutmeg, or clove. Then, add a tiny splash of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice to liven it up. Ta da! Meet the best applesauce you've ever had.

Why does my homemade applesauce taste bitter? ›

"The seeds are tannic," Martinez explains. "Cooking them with the apples will impart a bitter flavor."

Why do you put lemon juice in applesauce? ›

As apples cook down, they lose some of their natural acidity, so the lemon helps with that and makes applesauce taste better. If you do not love lemon, try orange juice instead. We use orange juice instead of lemon juice when making our easy apple crisp.

What apples should I avoid when making applesauce? ›

At the same time, avoid apples that are mealy in texture and turn to mush when cooked down. Many cooks avoid Red Delicious for that reason. For a well-rounded applesauce, our Food Editor recommends stewing up a mix of a few different apples.

Is it OK to leave homemade applesauce out overnight? ›

According to the USDA, food that has been left out of the fridge for more than two hours should be thrown away. That's because between 40° F and 140° F (what the USDA calls the "Danger Zone"), bacteria grows incredibly fast and can make you sick.

Can you overcook apples for applesauce? ›

Recipe Tips and Tricks

If overcooked, the applesauce will have less flavor. Stick to the cook times listed in the recipe for the best results.

Is applesauce with cinnamon good for you? ›

Is Cinnamon Applesauce Healthy? Cinnamon applesauce is healthy because the ingredients are simple and the wonderful fact that apples are rich in phytonutrients (antioxidants). Yup, and there's more!

Is applesauce with cinnamon good for your stomach? ›

Mix 1 teaspoon carob powder or cinnamon powder with 1/2 cup applesauce (use half this amount for children). Cinnamon has antimicrobial, demulcent (soothing), and astringent (tissue-tightening) properties to help fight infections, tighten tissue, and stop diarrhea. Eat several times per day or until symptoms resolve.

How long does cinnamon applesauce last? ›

Once they have cooled slightly, remove the cinnamon sticks and mash the apples with a fork or back of a spoon. Allow the mixture to cool completely before placing it in a sealed jar. The applesauce will last in the refrigerator for a week or two and you can freeze it for later too!

How to improve store-bought applesauce? ›

13 Ways To Add Flavor To Applesauce
  1. Keep The Skins On. ...
  2. Try A Variety Of Apples. ...
  3. Lemon Juice Is A Non-Negotiable. ...
  4. Dried Fruits Add Lots Of Natural Sugar. ...
  5. Seeds And Nuts Give Even More Fall Vibes. ...
  6. Pears Pair Well. ...
  7. Toasted Baking Spices Are An Easy Way To Increase Flavor. ...
  8. Pumpkin Spice Isn't Just For Lattes.
Sep 24, 2023

How do you spice up jar applesauce? ›

Whether you're starting with jarred applesauce or making your own, there are so many flavors that complement it. Try sprinkling it with warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, allspice, or pumpkin pie spice.

How do you incorporate cinnamon into liquid? ›

Instructions
  1. If using cinnamon sticks, break them into smaller pieces.
  2. Place the cinnamon sticks or powder in a saucepan with water.
  3. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 15-20 minutes.
  4. Turn off the heat and allow the mixture to cool.
  5. Strain the water to remove cinnamon remnants.
Aug 24, 2023

Can you add cinnamon to baby applesauce? ›

Add cinnamon to the following standard baby foods to help spice up their flavor: apple sauce. yogurt. bananas.

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