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
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About 12 medium-sized tart apples, or 5 pounds of apples (see the note on varieties below)
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1 tablespoon lemon juice
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2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
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8¾ cups water, divided
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A sharp knife or apple peeler/corer/slicer (children LOVE this tool!)
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A potato masher, food processor (I use this stainless steel food mill in my preschool), or fork for mashing the apples
Method
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Start cooking. Put the remaining ¾ cup of water in a medium pot. Drain the apples and add them to the pot. Cook over medium heat until the water begins to simmer.
- Add the cinnamon and gently stir. Cover the pot and turn the heat to low.
- Simmer 15–25 minutes, stirring every few minutes. Add water ¼ cup at a time if it evaporates.
- 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!).
- Enjoy hot or cold. Store leftover applesauce in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed container; it will keep for 7–10 days.
Want more like this?
Homemade Applesauce is one small taste of Storytime — a gentle daily rhythm of songs, stories, and creative play to share with your child.
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