Quick and Easy Homemade Applesauce Recipe in the Microwave (2024)

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This Microwave Applesauce recipe is full of flavor and ready in no time. homemade applesauce is the best and when I figured out you could make it in the microwave it became a go-to snack and side dish for the family! It’s an essential treat for fall!

Quick and Easy Homemade Applesauce Recipe in the Microwave (1)

Why you’ll love this apple sauce

I make extra of this easy Microwave Applesauce so that I have tons to stuff in my face. This is one of my favorite recipes. Ever. It is so easy and fresh and have I mentioned easy?

This post gets wordy. You can use the ‘jump to recipe’ button at the top to bypass all my words and get to the printable recipe card.

I love when fall rolls around! It’s my favorite time of year to make this super delicious and easyMicrowave Apple Sauce Recipe! But really this recipe works any time of year!

While it does take a few minutes to chop up the apples, once you put them in the microwave, your work is pretty much done. My kids LOVE this simple side dish recipe as a snack too!

I usually make applesauce in the microwave to serve with Christmas dinner. Well, I make it a day or two ahead so that I don’t have to do anything on Christmas day. (It stores and reheats really well!)

I came across the recipe in Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food magazine, years ago, and have been making it ever since (with some minor alterations). Her Cinnamon Applesauce is also delish.

Quick and Easy Homemade Applesauce Recipe in the Microwave (2)

Ingredients

Quick and Easy Homemade Applesauce Recipe in the Microwave (3)

This recipe calls for Granny Smith apples, which give it a nice tart flavor and have a really nice texture when cooked.

A little bit of fresh lemon juice brightens everything up. And spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger give it tons of flavor!

What I love about making apple sauce at home is that you can control how much sugar you add! I try to get by with the least amount possible.

How to Make Microwave Applesauce

Step 1

Peel and chop the apples. Add them to a 2-quart microwave-safe dish.

Don’t forget to cut two extra apples for your kids. If you don’t they will take the ones that are meant for your recipe whenever you turn your back.

Quick and Easy Homemade Applesauce Recipe in the Microwave (4)

Step 2

Add the ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, lemon juice, sugar and salt.

I adapted this recipe from Martha Stewart. I add a bunch of different spices that I love. Like ginger, and cloves. Not a major change but I’m sure Martha would still clutch her pearls at the mere suggestion. (More on Martha below…).

Quick and Easy Homemade Applesauce Recipe in the Microwave (5)

Step 3

Mix everything together then place the covered dish in the microwave. Cook on high for 5 minutes (about halfway).

Step 4

Mash the apples with a fork. I like to leave it really chunky though, but this is totally my personal preference.

Step 5

Cover then cook in the microwave for another 5-10 minutes. You just want to make sure the apples are tender and cooked through.

Quick and Easy Homemade Applesauce Recipe in the Microwave (6)

And then you eat it. It is yummy warm but I think it is even better cold.

This applesauce is super tasty and aside from a little cutting and stirring is pretty hands-off. It’s a great side dish for holiday meals or anytime you’re serving pork chops.

The flavor is absolutely crave-worthy!

You’ll love this easy Applesauce Recipe. It’s a great side dish for dinner or a perfect snack!

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of apples are best for applesauce?

The green apples make it a smidge more tart than normal applesauce which I love. But if you want something sweeter, go with red delicious.The texture of apples can be different between the varieties but for apple sauce, I think you can’t go wrong with a Granny Smith!

Is applesauce served hot or cold?

I think this is a personal preference! If I make this before dinner, then I will serve it warm. But it’s SO tasty cold too! I wouldn’t heat up the leftovers for subsequent meals. But you totally could if you think that would taste better.

Top Tips

  • If you don’t love a certain spice, just leave it out! You can truly make this recipe your own.
  • If you want this to be silky smooth, you can use an immersion blender to take care of any chunks.
  • Don’t be afraid to use less or more sugar depending on how you like your apple sauce. You could also use a more natural sweetener like honey.

Pin to save this delicious homemade applesauce recipe for later.

Make sure you don’t lose this recipe by saving it for later! Also, for more recipes make sure you’re following me on Pinterest, Instagram and like my page on Facebook. If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a star rating and tag me in your pictures!

Adapted from

Remember when Martha Stewart went all cray cray on bloggers not being all that and they all got in an uproar? I was not one of them. I didn’t totally disagree with some of the things she said.

She was absolutely correct that I don’t test my recipes to within an inch of their life. If I had a million dollars, a test kitchen and support staff, then yes, I would test my recipes more.

But she is wrong that I am not an expert. I am an expert in anything I do within the walls of my home. Because that is where I am free to make whatever I do completely my own and put my spin on it.

When I choose to share some of those things with my readers it is mostly to inspire them. If they make one of the recipes that I share and then make their own changes to it, that is what it’s all about for me.

In my opinion, there is always room for improvement. This is why I made Martha’s Microwave Applesauce Recipe better. OH SNAP! Yeah, I said it.

More easy recipes with apples

  • Easy Greek Yogurt Dip for Apples
  • Delicious Honey Apple Dip
  • Apple Cookies with Butterscotch
  • Spiced Apple Cider
  • Apple Juice Mojito Recipe
  • Crockpot Apple Dump Cake

Quick and Easy Homemade Applesauce Recipe in the Microwave (7)

Easy Microwave Applesauce

With tart green apples and warm spices, this quick and easy Microwave Applesauce recipe makes a perfect side dish or snack idea. With just a few ingredients and a few minutes, you can make a big batch!

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin RateSave

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 57kcal

Author: Sharon Garofalow

Ingredients

  • 6 medium Granny Smith apples peeled, cored and cut into roughly 1/2″ chunks
  • 1/8 cup sugar
  • 1/2 lemon juiced (approximately)
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/8 tsp ginger
  • 1/16 tsp clove use more if you like it, but it is a really strong flavor
  • coarse salt

Instructions

  • In a 2-quart microwave safe dish with a lid, combine apples, sugar, lemon juice, spices and salt.

  • Cover and microwave on high until very tender, 10-15 minutes, stirring halfway through.

  • Mash apples with a fork (leave larger chunks for an overall chunkier texture).

  • Serve warm or cold.

  • Store covered inrefrigerator for up to a week.

Notes

*Adapted from Martha Stewart’s Cinnamon Applesauce Recipe*

  • If you don’t love a certain spice, just leave it out! You can truly make this recipe your own.
  • If you want this to be silky smooth, you can use an immersion blender to take care of any chunks.
  • Don’t be afraid to use less or more sugar depending on how you like your apple sauce. You could also use a more natural sweetener like honey.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 57kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 104mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 50IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @CupcakesCutlery or tag #cupcakescutlery!

Quick and Easy Homemade Applesauce Recipe in the Microwave (2024)

FAQs

Is lemon juice needed to can applesauce? ›

Adding sugar to applesauce is optional…. However, lemon juice is not an optional addition. Lemon juice is added to help preserve the apples' natural colour and to assure the acidity of the finished product, since different varieties and harvesting conditions can produce apples of lower acidity.”

What makes applesauce taste better? ›

The mellow sweetness of toasted sugar adds complexity. Apple cider vinegar helps brighten cooked fruit. Using skin-on fruit improves both flavor and color in the finished product. Aromatics like cinnamon, orange peel, and rose water intensify the flavor of the apples.

Which apples make the best homemade applesauce? ›

For a basic applesauce, use McIntosh and Golden Delicious apples. Golden Delicious is a soft apple variety with a mellow flavor, so it cooks down easily and provides a great foundation for your applesauce. McIntosh apples are slightly tart and crisp, but soften easily, making them a stellar choice for pies and sauces.

How do you make homemade applesauce Rachael Ray? ›

Add the apples and apple juice to a large saucepan. Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are soft. Remove from heat and let the apples cool for 5 minutes. Add the apples and their juice to a blender and blend to the desired consistency; serve warm or chilled.

What can I use instead of lemon juice in applesauce? ›

If you don't have any lemon juice, just substitute it with some apple cider vinegar. If the applesauce is too think, add more water to think it out. In this recipe we added lemon zest. You could also try adding orange zest.

What if I forgot to add lemon juice to my canned applesauce? ›

If your recipe called for lemon juice and you forgot to put it in, your mixture will not be acid enough for safe canning. You have to open the jars and put the mixture into a sauce pan. (If you made the jam or jelly recently and you carefully remove the lids without damaging them, you can re-use the same lids.)

What apples to avoid when making applesauce? ›

Stay away from Red Delicious apples when making sauce. They don't mix well with heat and get undesirably mushy and unpalatable. If you're looking to add a little color to your sauce, keep the skin on while it cooks.

What does applesauce do to your gut? ›

Digestive Health

The soluble fiber in applesauce, in the form of pectin, can be helpful in treating digestive issues, such as diarrhea and constipation. It can help to neutralize the effects of irritable bowel syndrome. Pectin also acts as a prebiotic, which feeds good gut bacteria and promotes good digestive health.

Why did my homemade applesauce turn brown? ›

Many people report that the top of the jar of applesauce gradually turns brown. What is happening is the sauce has not been heated adequately to stop all enzymatic reactions and there is enough oxygen in the headspace to react with the enzymes.

Why is my homemade applesauce pink? ›

If you leave the skins on, you'll end up with pink applesauce, like mine, if you've used red apples. You'll want to puree the applesauce if you've left the skins on and strain it, otherwise, it can get “stringy” and I don't care for that texture.

What kind of apples does Mott's applesauce use? ›

Conversation. What kind of apples does Mott's use for applesauce? a) Golden Delicious.

How long does homemade applesauce last? ›

And in case you're wondering, varieties like Honeycrisp, Fuji, and McIntosh are the best apples for applesauce. How long will homemade applesauce last? It'll stay good for four to six days stored in the fridge. You could also can it to make it last longer, but that's a lesson for another day.

Do you need to add citric acid when canning applesauce? ›

The lemon juice/citric acid debate.

The apples have enough acidity that you can can them safely without adding anything! Even if you decide to add a little sugar to the jars, there is no need to add additional acid to the mixture.

Do you need lemon juice to can? ›

Use bottled lemon juice in all canning for safest results. Whether adding lemon juice to tomatoes to acidify them safely or adding lemon juice to a jelly or jam, the best and safest choice is bottled lemon juice. Here's why. Bottled lemon juice is standardized, or uniformly acidified, per FDA regulations.

What can I use instead of lemon juice in canning? ›

Lime juice

Lime juice is the best substitute for lemon juice, as it can be used as a one-to-one replacement and has a very similar taste and acidity level ( 5 ). In fact, when canning or preserving food, it's the ideal substitute for lemon juice because it has a similar pH level.

Why add lemon juice when canning? ›

Testing has shown that some current tomato varieties have pH values at or above pH 4.6; a few have values of pH 5 or even higher. Adding the recommended amount of bottled lemon juice or citric acid lowers the pH of all tested varieties enough to allow for the safe process of water bath canning.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Arielle Torp

Last Updated:

Views: 5770

Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Arielle Torp

Birthday: 1997-09-20

Address: 87313 Erdman Vista, North Dustinborough, WA 37563

Phone: +97216742823598

Job: Central Technology Officer

Hobby: Taekwondo, Macrame, Foreign language learning, Kite flying, Cooking, Skiing, Computer programming

Introduction: My name is Arielle Torp, I am a comfortable, kind, zealous, lovely, jolly, colorful, adventurous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.