Instant Pot Applesauce is so quick to make, and absolutely DELICIOUS even without any added sugar! Simply combine peeled and cored apples along with cinnamon and spices and let the pressure cooker do all of the work for you. This recipe is the best snack for a fall afternoon or even as a dessert!
Homemade applesauce in the Instant Pot is THE recipe you need to make this Fall.
If you are a pressure cooker newbie this is a great foolproof recipe to start with. (And make sure to check out this post to learn How to use an Instant Pot!)
Even if you’re a seasoned pro, you’re going to fall in love with this simple snack!
There’s something magical that happens when you dump a bunch of apple chunks into the pot. Within 10 minutes those firm apples turn into mush and are super soft, tender, and absolutely delicious!
Not to mention, if you pick the right apple varieties to use you won’t even need any additional sugar! The pressure of the Instant Pot cooks the apples down until their sugars are naturally released resulting in perfect sweetness.
This recipe is also super adaptable. Add extra cinnamon or apple pie spice, or leave it out completely if you prefer a plain version.
Enjoy some as a snack, then use the rest in recipes! Make up some Applesauce Muffins or substitute it for oil in other tasty baked goods.
Applesauce isn’t just for the kids, anymore!
Ingredients
The simple ingredients you need to make Instant Pot Applesauce include:
- Apples. For one batch of applesauce, you’ll need 3 pounds, or about 5 to 6 large ones. The type of apples will affect how sweet or tart the flavor will be. Honeycrisp is very sweet apple that breaks down easily when cooking. Granny Smith is lightly tart and will help balance out any sweet varieties. Gala is right in the middle on sweetness, but also has a wonderful texture when cooked. McIntosh has a similar level of sweetness to gala apples. Fuji is another common type that is easily found at grocery stores with a mild sweetness. You can use only one type, but it’s best to use a mixture of apple varieties for the best taste. You also want to use softer apples that will break down easily when cooked.
- Water. You will only need ⅓ cup of water. The apples release quite a bit of their own moisture while cooking and will make up the difference.
- Spices. Cinnamon and nutmeg are the most common ground spices to use in applesauce. Use an Apple Pie Spice blend for the most complex flavor profile. You can also leave the spices out if you prefer a plain applesauce.
- Lemon Juice. Adding freshly squeezed lemon juice after cooking is optional, but it will extend the shelf life for a few days. The citric acid also helps to keep the applesauce from browning and oxidizing too quickly.
Expert Tip: The best combination to use for homemade applesauce is a mixture of honeycrisp, granny smith, and gala apples.
How to Make Instant Pot Applesauce
These are the steps to follow to make this Instant Pot Applesauce recipe:
Prepare the Apples
Before you can start whipping up that applesauce, you need to prepare them to be cooked.
Wash the unpeeled apples under running water and remove any stickers.
Peel the apples using a vegetable peeler and then core and cut them into large, 2-inch chunks.
If you need additional information, you can learn more about how to cut an apple.
Cook in the Instant Pot
Add the cut apples to a 6-quart Instant Pot along with the water and spice(s).
Cover the Instant Pot with a lid and ensure the pressure release valve is sealed. Using the manual mode, pressure cook on high for 7 minutes.
Mash the Apples
Quick release the pressure valve as soon as the timer goes off.
Mash applesauce using a potato masher until it is to your desired consistency. If you prefer, you can use an immersion blender. But be extremely careful with the hot apples.
This is where you can mix in fresh lemon juice too, if desired.
Serve
This recipe is delicious when enjoyed immediately while warm.
If you prefer it cold, refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. And then add a sprinkle of cinnamon for extra flavor.
Get creative with this recipe! Take breakfast up a notch by putting some applesauce on your favorite pancakes or waffles or mix it into yogurt.
Meal Prep and Storage
- To Prep-Ahead: Make a big batch and enjoy all week long.
- To Store: Place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7-10 days.
- To Freeze: Add applesauce to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 4-6 months.
- To Reheat: Warm defrosted applesauce in the microwave or on the stovetop.
FAQs
Using a combination of honeycrisp, granny smith, and gala apples is recommended for the best flavor.
This recipe is already naturally sweet, but you can always add more sweetener if you’d like. Pure maple syrup, honey, agave nectar, and coconut sugar are great natural sweeteners to add. Regular white sugar and brown sugar may also be used.
Applesauce makes a great lower calorie and lower fat alternative to oil in many baked good recipes. Replace half of the oil for the best taste and texture in breads and muffins. Cakes and cookies are a bit more technical and will need to be individually tested.
If you’d like to make baked goods with no oil at all, try out these Applesauce Muffins.
When applesauce is made with no sugar added it is a relatively healthy dish to snack on. Most applesauce recipes are completely gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and Whole30 approved. Avoid applesauce if on a low-carb diet since it has a lot of carbohydrates even without any sugar added.
While it is not absolutely necessary, it is best to peel apples for a smooth consistency.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Mix it up. Use different varieties of apples to change up the taste.
- Similar in size. Cut the apple into uniform pieces so they cook evenly.
- Apple pie spice. This spice blend gives a complex flavor.
- Squeeze of lemon. Extend the self life of the applesauce by adding lemon juice.
- Satisfy the sweet tooth. Make it sweeter by adding in natural sweeteners.
More Apple Recipes
Plenty of apples on hand? Try these other recipes:
- Applesauce Muffins
- The Best Apple Crisp Recipe
- Healthy Apple Bread Recipe
- Fall Harvest Salad with Apples
- Gluten-Free Applesauce Cake
- Air Fryer Apple Crisps
- Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats
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Ingredients
- 3 lbs. apples mixed variety, about 5-6 large apples
- ⅓ cup water
- ½ tsp. cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. nutmeg
- 1 tsp. lemon juice optional
Instructions
- Peel the apples using a vegetable peeler.
- Core and cut the apples into large 2-inch chunks.
- Add cut apples to a 6-quart Instant Pot along with the water and spice(s). Cover the Instant Pot with a lid and ensure the pressure release valve is sealed.
- Using the manual mode, set the Instant Pot to High pressure and cook for 7 minutes. Quick release the pressure valve as soon as the timer goes off.
- Mash applesauce using a potato masher until it is to your desired consistency. Mix in lemon juice and serve immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to 7-10 days.
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Notes
Meal Prep and Storage
- To Prep-Ahead: Make a big batch and enjoy all week long.
- To Store: Place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7-10 days.
- To Freeze: Add applesauce to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 4-6 months.
- To Reheat: Warm defrosted applesauce in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
can I cut this recipe in half? if so, would I only have to cook it for 3.5 minutes?
You might run the risk of getting the burn error if you cut this recipe in half as you need a certain amount of liquid in a 6-quart Instant Pot in order to avoid this. You can try it, but it will probably still need to cook it for at least 4-5 minutes. Let me know how it turns out!
How many pints would this recipe make?
3 pounds of apples should make about 2 pints of applesauce.
This was so delicious and came out great! We absolutely loved this recipe. Thank you for sharing.
Yay! So happy you’re enjoying the recipe. It’s one of our faves, too! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment 🙂
OH MY GAWD!!!! This recipe is amazing! I didn’t add nutmeg cause I’m not too fond of it but this applesauce tastes JUST LIKE apple pie filling!!! DELICIOUS! I just wish I made more than 7 apples!!!
Lol I know right?! And it’s so easy to make!! So happy to hear you enjoyed it so much. Just curious – but what type of apples did you use? Thanks so much for your comment and rating!