This Instant Pot applesauce recipe is so easy to make you will never go back to store bought again! Homemade ingredients give this it’s wholesome taste with just a touch of spice and sweetness. This homemade applesauce recipe will be a big hit with your family. 
Homemade Applesauce
Making your own homemade applesauce is so simple. Now that I’ve learned how to do it, there is no reason to ever buy store bought applesauce again. You can get all those delicious flavors at home without all the added sugar!
I am the queen of quick and easy snacks and meals for my kids so when I first thought about making my own applesauce, I dismissed it. When I got my Instant Pot and made Instant Pot Yogurt for the first time, I realized that this appliance was going to be a game changer for my family. I am now able to make some of the staples that my family eats on a weekly basis in a matter of minutes using my pressure cooker. When you figure out how to convert recipes to your Instant Pot you will be using it for a ton of your favorite recipes.
Best Apples for Applesauce
The great thing about this Instant Pot Applesauce recipe is that you can use just about any apples you might have on hand. For this particular recipe I used Gala apples because I love the sweetness that they give the sauce.
We also like to use Honeycrisp mixed with Granny Smith when we make our homemade applesauce recipes. Other apples that could work would be Fuji and Golden Delicious. Generally, you want a combination of sweet and tart apples for the best homemade applesauce.
When we can find them in season, Honeycrisp apples are always on hand in our home. It is my son’s favorite. Granny Smith apples are great because they are firm and give a bit of tartness that makes the applesauce delicious.
One apple to avoid for homemade applesauce is Red Delicious. While they are, well… delicious to eat raw, they aren’t great for baking or in most other recipes.
How to Make Applesauce In An Instant Pot
Peel, core and chop apples into large pieces. If you are in a hurry, you can buy an Apple Corer and Peeler for pretty cheap, and it will make quick work of this step!
Place into instant pot. Add sugar, water, cinnamon and nutmeg and mix well. 
Place the lid on the instant pot and seal shut. Close the pressure release valve. Set the instant pot to manual, high pressure for 5 minutes.
When cooking cycle is complete, naturally release pressure for 15 minutes. Quick release pressure and open pot. Use a potato masher to mash apples into smaller pieces or use an immersion blender to puree about half of the mixture, then stir well to mix.
Storage and Freezing
You need to store homemade applesauce in the refrigerator in an airtight container. It should be good in your fridge for up to 10 days.
You can freeze homemade applesauce. Just let it cool to room temperature. I like to put mine in freezer bags and make sure all the air is out of them. Lay them flat in the freezer so that they freeze that way. They should be good in your freezer for up to 3 months. You can thaw them out overnight in your refrigerator.
Makes 4 cups or 2 jars shown.
How to Make Applesauce in your Slow Cooker
Adapting this recipe to use your slow cooker is simple. Basically you are going to add everything to your slow cooker crock without the water and then cook on low for 4-6 hours. For this version, we recommend tossig your apples in a little bit of lemon juice as well.
When finished mash or use the immersion blender to blend until it is at the desired consistency and texture you want. This homemade applesauce can be stored in the fridge for up to 10 days.
Instant Pot Applesauce
Ingredients
- 3 lbs apples about 5 large apples (I used Gala apples)
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Instructions
- Peel, core and chop apples into large pieces. Place into the Instant Pot.
- Add water to apples.
- Add sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Place the lid on the instant pot and seal shut. Close the pressure release valve. Set the instant pot to manual, high pressure for 5 minutes. When the cooking cycle is complete, naturally, release pressure for 15 minutes. Quick release pressure and open pot.
- Use a potato masher to mash apples into smaller pieces or use an immersion blender to puree about half of the mixture, then stir well to mix.
Notes
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Sharing of this recipe is encouraged and appreciated. Copying of full recipe to any social media is prohibited.
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cora Russell says
I must be the only person having problems with this. When I make my applesauce in the Instant Pot, even before the pressure is up, and pressure cooking starts, I get the burn signal. What am I missing?
Mom says
Try putting the liquid in first and layering the apples on top. Usually the burn signal happens when there isn’t enough liquid in the bottom of the pot.
Mare says
Really easy & fun to make with my daughter. Great use of apples that weren’t as crispy as they were when we bought them a week beforehand & rather than throw them out, we got to use them! We followed the recipe to a T but found that it was a bit too sweet & had too much cinnamon. We’ll tweak it next time to our liking but again, great easy recipe. Thanks!
Mom says
I am glad you liked this! I love making this with my kids too!