This delicious homemade slow cooker applesauce recipe only uses three ingredients!

It’s officially apple season! The first time I made this wonderful homemade applesauce, I thought it would be a long, laborious process involving smashing 25 apples by hand or something like that. 

Thankfully I was OH so wrong. 

My friend Cristina shared this easy Crock-Pot recipe with me years ago. When I asked how she made it, she was all, “Oh I just throw the apples in a pot with some cinnamon, it’s totally easy” and my mind was BLOWN.

I had no idea! So I did a little research and found she was totally right. (Not that I didn’t believe her of course.) You can make it even easier than I did — check out some of my tips later in the post. 

This is my favorite recipe to make after a fall trip to the apple orchard! 

Here’s the recipe I use in my slow cooker – I throw it all in and we have delicious applesauce a few hours later. **See my tips for types of apples to use later in the post! 

Three ingredient homemade crockpot applesauce 

Ten to 12 apples — peeled*, sliced, cored

1/2 cup sugar*

Cinnamon and/or other spices

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience.

I may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links. 

The first step is the only one that takes time – peeling, coring and cutting up the apples. 

Thankfully I have an apple peeler/corer/slicer:


This one is called the Peelota. Ha! I don’t think they’re made anymore, but this apple peeler is beautiful and will hold up even better than my plastic one.

It ROCKS:

It makes quick work of getting the apples cored and peeled. 

 

You do NOT have to peel apples for applesauce! It will turn out just as delicious with peels intact.

The apples looked like this when I was done peeling and slicing:

I just cut the apples in half from the top. 

If you don’t have a peeler, you’ll want to slice them up or cut into large chunks. This slicer/corer is super handy for cutting apples into easy pieces:

What apples are best for applesauce?   

Almost any apple is fine! It depends on your preference — sweet or tart? 

• If you like tart apples go with a Granny Smith. 
• I prefer sweeter sauce so always go with an apple like Jonathan, Fuji, Gala or Honeycrisp. 
• Softer apples will cook up faster — varieties like Golden Delicious, McIntosh and Fuji will make the process go quicker. 
• Mix two or three varieties in homemade applesauce for great flavor!

Red Delicious apples don’t heat well and will not turn out as well in applesauce.

All you do is dump the apples in the crockpot and sprinkle on as much cinnamon as you like:

I add a couple dashes of nutmeg too — YUM! 

The original recipe calls for 1/2 cup of sugar, but I find you can use less and it’s just as delicious. You may not even want to add it — taste test the applesauce a couple hours in to see if you want to add some sweetness. 

No need to stir while cooking — just pile them in, put the lid on and set the Crock-Pot to cook on high for four hours.

The smell while these cook is AMAZING! Who needs candles? Just make homemade applesauce every day!    

We like it chunky (name that movie) so I call it done after about four hours. If you like thinner applesauce, you can use a potato masher to mash out any chunks. 

Watch yours to see when to take it off of the heat: 

It is especially delicious warm right out of the slow cooker. It’s like a dessert really — have you ever heated up your applesauce? 

Variations on this homemade applesauce recipe: 

• Add more spices to give it a bit of a kick — clove, allspice and my nutmeg addition are all perfect.
• Pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice are also delicious! 
• If it’s too watery for your taste, strain the juice and keep for apple cider. (Add brown sugar, cook for a few more hours and then strain.)
• Make this recipe much faster with a pressure cooker!
• If your kids like to “dip” their foods, try it with cinnamon graham crackers.

This simple applesauce is SO GOOD and so easy:

And not too horrible for you either!

What to do with extra applesauce:

• If you let it keep cooking and add brown sugar, you’ll end up with slow cooker apple butter! 
• Eat with vanilla ice cream for a delicious dessert.
• Pile on warm crepes or waffles.
• Use it to make donuts or apple bread (replace the pumpkin in my easy pumpkin bread recipe with applesauce).
• Jar the applesauce for lovely fall or holiday gifts. I gifted my homemade salsa last year and this will be our gift this year.
• Warm and add to the top of your oatmeal at breakfast. 
• Use it instead of apple slices in my amazing Mountain Dew apple dumplings!:

There you go – have I blown your mind? Or all you thinking, duh Sarah…it’s totally easy. 

I really had no idea. Now go get some apples and cook it up! You will thank me. 🙂 

These apple recipes include cozy apple desserts, breakfast ideas, and more! They’re perfect for making after apple picking or on any crisp fall day.

Have you gone apple picking yet this fall? I haven’t, but I’m already dreaming about all the apple recipes I’ll make once I do. I’ll toss raw apples into fresh fall salads, pile them on my morning overnight oats, and of course make cozy apple desserts like apple cake and apple crisp.

In case you’re looking for fall apple inspiration, I’ve rounded up these and more of our best apple recipes below. Some are sweet, some are savory, and all of them are perfect for fall. Make one after a trip to an apple orchard…or on any cool day. Happy apple season, friends!

Apple Desserts

Apple Crisp

I make this classic apple dessert every single fall! With a buttery brown sugar and oat topping, it’s so much easier than pie…but just as delicious.

Apple Cake

This apple cake is amazingly moist, warmly spiced, and easy to make in one bowl. It goes QUICK in our house, but on the rare occasion we have leftovers, I love eating a slice for breakfast.

Apple Pie

You can’t make a list of apple recipes and not include apple pie! I add a little lemon zest to the cinnamon-spiced filling for a bright, fresh twist.

Applesauce Cake

Tangy cream cheese frosting takes this simple spice cake over the top.

Baked Apples

Don’t feel like chopping apples for a pie or crisp? This recipe is the apple dessert for you! You’ll top apple halves with a brown sugar and cinnamon crumble, then bake until they’re soft and juicy.

Apple Oatmeal Cookies

These healthy apple cookies are totally vegan and gluten-free. Oat flour and whole rolled oats give them a delicious soft texture, and almond butter adds nutty depth of flavor.

Apple Crumble

An oat-y, nutty topping covers a thick layer of cinnamon-spiced apples. Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (or whipped cream), this recipe is my idea of a perfect fall dessert.

Apple Breakfast Recipes

Overnight Oats – Apple Pie Variation

These apple pie-inspired overnight oats are my favorite fall breakfast! I stir cinnamon and applesauce into the oats for cozy depth of flavor and top them off with sautéed cinnamon apples, fresh apples, and toasted pecans.

Apple Muffins

These moist, tender muffins are packed with juicy chunks of apple. I often enjoy them plain for breakfast, but when I’m craving more of a treat, I add a brown sugar crumble topping and a powdered sugar glaze.

Homemade Applesauce

This homemade applesauce is one of the simplest apple recipes on this list…but it’s also one of the best. Thick, sweet, and tangy, it’s far more flavorful than store-bought applesauce. Enjoy it on its own, or try it in a breakfast bowl with granola and yogurt!

Cinnamon Apple Scones

Dotted with diced apples and topped with a cinnamon glaze, these cute little scones are a festive fall treat. Tip: They freeze perfectly. I love to keep a stash on hand for grab-and-go breakfasts on busy mornings!

Savory Apple Recipes

Waldorf Salad

My fresher spin on this retro salad features a creamy, tangy Greek yogurt dressing. I love it with crackers or over greens for lunch.

Spinach Salad

This lush salad has a delicious mix of sweet and tart flavors. I love how the tart cranberries, feta, and tangy dressing balance the sweet apples and candied pecans. It’s always a crowd-pleasing side dish at a fall meal.

Sweet Potato Soup

I toss a whole apple into this creamy fall soup! It brings out the sweetness of the sweet potatoes, helping their flavor pop against the savory seasonings here.

Roasted Delicata Squash with Apples

This elegant side dish is practically fall on a plate! Creamy roasted delicata squash plays off hearty kale, savory herbs, pearl onions, and crisp apples. A tangy apple cider vinegar dressing ties it all together.

Farro Salad

Every fall, this salad is one of the apple recipes I make most often. Packed with nutty farro, salty pecorino, sweet dates, crisp apples, and bitter greens, it’s such a fresh, filling lunch!

Butternut Apple Cranberry Sandwich

Aka the ultimate fall sandwich! Crisp apples like Honeycrisp or Pink Lady are best here—I love how their crunch contrasts with the tender roasted squash.

How to Make a Cheese Board

Apples+cheese are a match made in heaven! If you need an easy appetizer for a fall gathering, simply slice apples and set them out with a few types of cheese to make a quick grazing board. Grapes, crackers, olives, and/or fig jam are nice additions too.

Kohlrabi Apple Slaw

When I come home from a fall farmers market with apples and kohlrabi, I always make this slaw. It’s super refreshing, filled with the crunchy kohlrabi, crisp apples, fresh herbs, and a tangy mustard dressing.

Beet Salad with Goat Cheese & Balsamic

Tender, sweet roasted beets and crisp, tart apples team up in this show-stopping fall salad. It’s one of my favorite recipes to make for fall gatherings. To get ahead, I always roast the beets a day or two in advance.

Best Apple Recipes: Easy Apple Crisp

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 55 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Serves 6

This easy apple crisp is one of our favorite apple recipes!

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

• Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease an 8×8-inch baking dish.

• Prepare the apples: In a large bowl, place the chopped apples, flour, brown sugar, lemon juice, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Toss to coat the apples, then spread evenly in the prepared baking dish.

• Make the topping: In a medium bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Use two forks, a pastry cutter, or your hands to work in the butter until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over the apples.

• Cover the baking dish and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the apples are bubbling. Uncover and bake for 10 to 15 more minutes, or until the apples are tender and the topping is golden brown and lightly crisp.

• Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.