It truly is starting to look a bit like fall at our house. It's a cool, gray 60 degrees and in the backyard, our walnut tree is starting to throw down a sprinkling of yellow leaves. I've even seen a few leaves blowing sideways past my kitchen window today, which is one of my favorite things. It's also sounding a bit like fall here, too. My current playlist is a mixture of Harry Potter, Enya, Anne of Green Gables, and Lord of the Rings. In case you didn't know this about me: I'm a collector of movie soundtracks. What do you listen to when fall rolls around?
Oh, and last but not least, it's starting to smell like fall. Winter squashes roasting, homemade chicken broth bubbling, shortbread bars baking, and homemade applesauce simmering. A sweet friend of mine who lives on a farm (lucky, lucky, girl!) generously loaded her super cute wire basket with apples from their trees and brought them over to my house. Thank you, Katie! I don't know how many apples we unloaded, but let's call it a bushel. I just want to use the word bushel more often. Anyway, with apples a-plenty, I have plans: apple crisp, applesauce, apple baked oatmeal, and hopefully apple cider, too!
First up was applesauce. And it was such a cinch! Of course, borrowing my mother-in-law's apple peeler-corer-slicer made all the difference in the world. (Thanks, Judy!) Hadley was able to stand on a chair and help me churn the handle of the peeler and then dumped each finished apple into the crockpot. It was the highlight of her weekend. I have made homemade applesauce one other time a few years ago and remember not being very impressed, but I'm completely happy with this batch. I love how it turned out with this tiny amount of cinnamon. It's just a hint of spice, enough to really bring out the sweetness of the apples.
Easy Homemade Crockpot Applesauce
10-12 large apples*
juice of 1 lemon
1 1/2 cups water
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
Peel and core apples. Cut into 1-inch chunks and place in a crockpot. Or, use an apple peeler-corer-slicer and just toss them in. In a small bowl, juice 1 lemon and then whisk in water and maple syrup. Sprinkle cinnamon over apple chunks and pour lemon-water mixture over all. Cover crockpot and cook on low for about 4 hours, or until apples are very soft and easily fall apart when stirred. Mash apples to desired consistency using a potato masher, or an immersion blender. I was able to get mine as smooth as I wanted it just by stirring with a wooden spoon. If applesauce is too thick, add a few tablespoons of filtered water and stir well. Let cool, place in glass jars and store in the fridge.
NOTE: Applesauce will become much, much sweeter once it has cooled. Resist the urge to add more sweetener until you've chilled the applesauce overnight. Taste it cold, and then decide if it needs more maple syrup. My apples were very tart and I thought I would need a lot more sweetener, but it's actually just perfect! I loved how it turned out with this tiny amount of cinnamon. It's just a hint of spice, enough to really bring out the sweetness of the apples.
*Any kind of tart and crisp apple works well- but free apples from your friend's farm are the best!
7 comments:
YES! i seriously thought i didn't like apples until i started apple picking with friends. oh my. the first 26 years... wasted. ;) i'm making crockpot applesauce right now! i'm gonna do your recipe next, as i have PLENTY (yikes!). i'm eating many apples a day, and i still have almost 2 bags. i think i bought 25 lbs of apples. :) :) :)
and peaches. gotta figure out how i'm going to can those! (a whole lot less of those, though... )
thanks for the recipe, internet friend!
I actually live in the town where Johnny Appleseed died and was buried. This weekend is the Johnny Appleseed Fair and it is my favourite weekend of the WHOLE year. You should take a road trip east sometime and come. You would absolutely love it.
There's fall arts and crafts, and antiques and a settlers/pioneer village with furs and beads and little wooden swords and bows. There's kids games and musicians and Abe Lincoln walks around the fair.
And the food. Oh dear Lord. The food is to die for. Apple everything and fresh cider straight out of the press. And kettle corn and stews cooked in huge cast iron cauldrons over an open fire. Homemade rootbeer in frosty glass bottles.
And before you leave, you always have to walk up the hill and throw an apple on Johnny's grave.
You would definitely love it. If you ever want to come let me know. We'd love for you to join us!
I have to make this applesauce. It looks wonderful! I love using my mom's apple corer/slicer/peeler too. Its such a wonderful tool!
Your blog always makes me feel cozy! So looking forward to fall and the upcoming holidays and will definately be trying the applesauce.
I love homemade apple sauce! I canned it for the first time last year and it makes me so happy to have that goodness on the shelf. I canned it in my big stock pot - a few jars every time I made it. I used honey - but so excited to try that warm maple flavor this time. Thanks Summer.
How much applesauce did your recipe make? I'm trying to decide if I want to do the whole thing, or half the recipe. :)
Hi Hannah! My batch made the amount pictured in the post... maybe 3-4 pints?