How to Make Homemade Applesauce in the Instant Pot

A Quick and Easy Guide to Making Homemade Applesauce in the Instant Pot

In need of a quick, easy, and deliciously homemade applesauce recipe? Your Instant Pot is ready to deliver this cozy treat faster than you can say “orchard fresh.” Perfect for snacks, sides, or as an ingredient in a variety of dishes, homemade applesauce not only tastes better than store-bought, but it’s also a delightful way to use up any surplus apples you might have lying around. So, let’s get straight to turning those juicy apples into a smooth, cinnamon-infused delight.

What You’ll Need

Before we get started, let’s gather our ingredients. For this recipe, you’ll need:

• 10 medium-sized apples (I prefer a mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp for a balance of tart and sweet)
• 1/2 cup of water
• 1/4 cup of granulated sugar (optional, depending on how sweet you like your applesauce)
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon (also optional, but highly recommended for that warm, comforting flavor)

The Steps

Now that we have everything we need, let’s get cooking!

1. Peel and Core Your Apples

   Start by peeling your apples and removing the cores. I find it easiest to quarter the apples first, then cut out the core from each piece. Once that’s done, chop the apples into chunks – they don’t have to be perfect, as they’ll be getting cooked down anyway.

2. Add Everything to the Instant Pot

   Next, add your apple chunks to the Instant Pot. Pour in the water, and sprinkle over the sugar and cinnamon, if using. Give everything a good stir to make sure the apples are evenly coated.

3. Cook Your Applesauce

   Secure the lid on your Instant Pot, making sure the valve is set to “sealing”. Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. Once the cooking time is up, let the pressure naturally release for 20 minutes, then carefully turn the valve to “venting” to release any remaining pressure.

4. Blend Your Applesauce

   Finally, use an immersion blender to blend your applesauce right in the pot until it’s as smooth or chunky as you like it. If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can also carefully transfer the applesauce to a regular blender – just make sure to let it cool a bit first to avoid any blender mishaps!

And there you have it – homemade applesauce, made right in your Instant Pot. This recipe is a staple in my house, especially during the fall when apples are at their peak. It’s delicious served warm or cold, and can be used in a variety of ways – try it on pancakes, stirred into oatmeal, or even just eaten straight from the bowl!