Food Recipes Sauces, Condiments and Preserves Easy Homemade Applesauce 5.0 (1) 1 Review A mix of sweet, tart, and crisp apples gives this simple stovetop applesauce balanced flavor and just the right texture, while brown sugar and warm spices round out every spoonful. By Breana Lai Killeen Breana Lai Killeen Breana Lai Killeen, M.P.H., RD, is a food editor, recipe developer, farmer and dietitian who has worked in all facets of the food world. She has more than 20 years of experience cooking professionally, pouring wine, and creating editorial and digital content for top brands. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on September 3, 2026 Save Rate PRINT Share Close Credit: Food & Wine / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Sally McKay / Prop Styling by Keoshia McGhee Active Time: 15 mins Total Time: 35 mins Yield: 2 1/2 cups Jump to recipe Using a combination of sweet, tart, and crisp apples produces applesauce with more balanced flavor and body than relying on a single variety would.Three-quarters cup water provides enough moisture for the apples to soften on the stovetop while allowing excess liquid to evaporate during cooking.A potato masher makes it easy to control the final consistency, whether you prefer applesauce with some texture or a smoother finish. Homemade applesauce requires little more than apples, water, and a saucepan, but choosing the right apples makes a noticeable difference. This easy stovetop version combines several varieties — Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Pink Lady, and Golden Delicious — so no single flavor dominates. Sweeter apples lend body and mellow fruitiness, while tart apples bring brightness and keep the finished sauce from tasting overly sweet. A small amount of light brown sugar reinforces the apples’ caramellike notes, and cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg add gentle warmth without overwhelming the fruit. The Ultimate Guide to 85 Apple Varieties, From Heirlooms to Hybrids Get out your potato masher A potato masher is ideal for homemade applesauce because it gives you complete control over the final texture without requiring another appliance. The broad mashing surface quickly breaks down tender cooked apples while leaving behind small pieces for a pleasantly textured sauce. Mash just a few times for a chunkier consistency, or continue until mostly smooth. Because you can mash the apples directly in the saucepan, there’s also less equipment to handle and wash after cooking is finished. For a silky consistency closer to commercially prepared applesauce, use an immersion blender. The 8 Best Potato Mashers, According to Our Tests Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen: The sweetness of apples varies considerably, so adjust the brown sugar to suit the fruit; for lightly sweetened applesauce, start with two tablespoons.Apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice can replace the cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg for an easy one-ingredient spice substitution.Keep the apple pieces close to 3/4 inch so they soften evenly during the relatively short simmer. This recipe was developed by Nicole Hopper; the text was written by Breana Killeen. Keep Screen Awake Ingredients 2 pounds (about 4 large) mixed apples (such as Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Pink Lady, and Golden Delicious), peeled, cored, and chopped (about 6 cups) 3/4 cup water 1/4 cup packed packed light brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt 1/16 teaspoon ground allspice 1/16 teaspoon ground nutmeg Directions Stir together all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until apples are very tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from heat. Mash applesauce in saucepan using a potato masher until desired consistency is reached. Serve warm, or let cool completely, about 1 hour. Make ahead The applesauce can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to one week or frozen in airtight freezer-safe containers or zip-close freezer bags for up to six months. Cook this recipe and more in the MyRecipes app. Get the App Save Rate Print Loading shell for RecipesUgcThreaded1 Vue component in Globe.