Homemade Applesauce

An autumn kitchen project to make with your child — fill the house with the smell of the season while you and your child make a quart of delicious homemade applesauce.

Time: 30–40 minutes 
Yield: Makes a quart or a bit more.

I made applesauce every autumn with my Waldorf-inspired preschool program. Most children love applesauce, and not many have made it themselves.

It's hard work —slicing and peeling the apples, then mashing them with a hand-cranked food mill. It was always a joy to see their satisfied looks as they enjoyed the applesauce they had worked so hard to make.

Materials

• About 12 medium-sized tart apples, or 5 pounds of apples 
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2–4 tablespoons maple syrup or sugar (optional)
• 8¾ cups water, divided

• A sharp knife or apple peeler/corer/slicer (children LOVE this tool!)

• A potato masher, food processor (I use this stainless steel food mill in my preschool), or fork for mashing the apples

Method

1. Create a lemon bath for your apples. In a large bowl, combine 8 cups of the water with the lemon juice (reserve the remaining ¾ cup of water for cooking). Set aside.
2. Prep your apples. Wash, peel, and core your apples — with a paring knife or an apple peeler/corer/slicer if you have one. Place them in the lemon bath right away to prevent browning.
3. Cut the apples. Remove the slices from the lemon bath one at a time and cut them into 1–1½-inch pieces, returning them to the bath as you go.
4. Start cooking. Put the remaining ¾ cup of water in a medium pot. Drain the apples and add them to the pot. Add the sugar now, if using. Cook over medium heat until the water begins to simmer.
5. Add the cinnamon and gently stir. Cover the pot and turn the heat to low.
6. Simmer 15–25 minutes, stirring every few minutes. Add water ¼ cup at a time if it evaporates.
7. Mash. Cook until the apples are quite soft and falling apart, then remove from heat and mash. Use a fork or potato masher for a chunkier sauce; for a smoother one, use an electric food processor, immersion blender, or a hand-cranked food processor (my favorite way!).
8. Enjoy hot or cold. Store leftover applesauce in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator; it will keep for 7–10 days.

More for the apple season

Pair your applesauce with a gentle apple story and more early-autumn resources:

• The Star House — our Purple Day audio story about a little apple tree that wished it were a star.
• Autumn on the Purple Day Podcast — more gentle autumn stories and circle times, by season.
• A free week of Autumn Storytime — songs, a story, and a craft to enjoy together.

Storytime in the Schoolhouse®

Homemade Applesauce is one small taste of Storytime — a gentle daily rhythm of songs, stories, and creative play to share with your child.  Sample a free week of Storytime in the Schoolhouse.