Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce
It’s finally here. Time to admit that fall has arrived. I can’t possibly continue to be stubborn about this any longer. The days are cooling down, pumpkin spice latte’s are calling my name, and we went apple picking. Apple picking is NOT a summer activity. So I’m caving. And this non-coffee-drinking-girl is going to get a pumpkin spice latte ASAP!
Making your own applesauce is really simple. Hubby and I don’t eat applesauce except during the fall when I make huge batches on the weekends. I usually make cranberry applesauce because I love the combination of apples and cranberries. But this year I wanted to try out a new recipe. This applesauce is very cinnamony and delicious. And I made it extra thick! I love eating it warm. Makes me think of apple pie. Especially when you top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
While I’m talking about apples, do you have one of these apple peeler, corer, slicer things? They’re AWESOME. It’s one of two uni-tasker we allow in the Beantown Baker kitchen (the other is the garlic press). Hubby really enjoys using this contraption partially because it’s fun to use and partially because he knows he’ll get more apple goodies if he helps out. If you have one in the back of your cabinet collecting dust, I recommend pulling it out while it’s apple season!
One Year Ago: Garlic Naan and Chicken Tikka Masala
Four Years Ago: The Cone Method
Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce
Yield: Makes ~3 cups
Ingredients:
6 apples, peeled and cored
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup water
Directions:
Cut the apples into large chunks and put them in a heavy pot over medium heat; add the brown sugar, salt, lemon juice, cinnamon and water.
Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to low.
Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the apples are extremely soft and mushy.
Using a potato masher or fork, mash the apples together until you have an applesauce-like consistency.
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
Mmm I love jam, and this looks great for strawberry season! I unfortunately don’t like blueberries — would you adjust the other ingredients if you minus them? Also where do you get canning jars? Yay, fun summer project!
yumventures – You can def leave the blueberries out. Follow the link through to Ina’s original recipe. It doesn’t have blueberries in it. The comments on the Food Network website did say that it was a bit sweet with the sugar listed in the recipe, so keep that in mind.
I’ve never made homemade jam before…but wow this sure does look delicious!
It would be great in some thumbprint cookies or linzer cookies…yumm.
I’ve never had strawberry & blueberry jam before. That looks divine!
Oh, this looks wonderful! I’ve never made jam before but it’s on my list of things to try, this looks like the perfect way to get started. I love berry combos like this. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Does this recipe require pectin? I’ve heard that pectin is found naturally in raspberries so you don’t need it for that kind of jam, but wasn’t sure if it applied to strawberry as well. I am new to making jam but am excited to try!
Sarah – This recipe does not require pectin.
Hey there.. I have done your strawberry/blueberry jam, and I’m tellin ya,, it was sooooo goooood. Not too sweet either. My problem was, it never would really thicken, and I checked it on a saucer I kept in the freezer. It remained runny,, but ohh sooo good. I gave it away to family and they loved it. I’m just preparing to do more,, fingers crossed, I do hope it gets a little thicker this time. If I were to put the slightest amount of pectin I’m wondering what would happen?????? I noticed this posting is from 2010
beantownbaker — June 15th, 2013 @ 11:44 am
I think a little bit of pectin could help thicken the jam. If you try it, I’d love to know how it turns out.