Instant Pot Applesauce (No Sugar Added)

Make a batch of delicious Instant Pot applesauce in less than 15 minutes in your pressure cooker. Made with simple ingredients, this recipe has no added sugar, and it turns out perfectly every time. It’s vegan and gluten-free.

Applesauce is one of my favorite recipes come fall and it’s a great way to use up all of those yummy seasonal fruits.

Making applesauce used to involve hours of simmering, stirring, and watching over the stove. But with the Instant Pot, it is so easy and quick to make a delicious sauce in a fraction of the time. This easy homemade applesauce recipe is the perfect combination of sweet and tangy. It’s naturally sweet without the need for any added sweeteners.

Why You Will Love This Recipe!

Quick and Easy: I like that the Instant Pot drastically reduces cooking time, making it a breeze to whip up delicious applesauce in under 30 minutes.
No sugar added: With no added sugars or preservatives, this recipe keeps the apples’ natural goodness intact, offering a wholesome treat for all ages.
Perfect for Meal Prep: I like that this versatile applesauce can be made in bulk and stored, providing a healthy snack option for busy weeks.

Healthy Applesauce Ingredients

To make this homemade applesauce, you will need:

Apples: You can use any kind of apples in this recipe. I like to use sweet apples like Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, or Pink Lady for a burst of flavor.
Apple cider (or water): Apple cider enhances the robust and earthy apple flavor. You can use apple juice if that’s what you have, or water.
Ground cinnamon: Cinnamon and apples go together so well and is a great way to add a little warm sweetness. You can also add other spices like nutmeg or ground ginger.
Lemon juice: Use fresh lemon juice rather than bottled, it so much zingier.

Find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card below.

How To Make Instant Pot Applesauce

Add ingredients: Place all the ingredients into the Instant Pot.
Seal and cook: Close the lid and set the valve to the “Sealing” position. Select the “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” setting and set the timer for 6 minutes.
Release pressure: When the cooking time is up, carefully turn the valve to the “Venting” position for a quick release of pressure. Once the pin drops, it’s safe to open the lid.
Blend: Use an immersion blender to blend the cooked apples to your preferred consistency.
Taste and adjust: Taste the applesauce and stir in more cinnamon if desired.

TIPS FROM NELI’S KITCHEN

Recipe Notes and Tips

If you prefer more chunky applesauce, you can mash the cooked apples with a masher or just blender less with the immersion blender.
Pick the best sweet apples and make sure they are ripe and juicy.
Taste the applesauce and adjust the seasoning to your likening. You may need to add a sweetener depending on the tartness of the apples and how sweet you like the applesauce.
I like my apples peeled but you can either peel the apples or leave them unpeeled, it’s totally down to your preference. So you can easily save yourself the step of peeling the apples.

The taste of homemade applesauce is amazing! And the fact that with the help of my pressure cooker I can have applesauce ready in minutes is unbeatable. Once you taste this no-sugar applesauce, you will never want to buy store-bought apple sauce.

Serving Ideas

Topping ideas: Don’t limit your applesauce to a solo snack! It’s fantastic drizzled over gluten-free pancakes, swirled into yogurt, spread onto a sandwich, or mixed into a warm bowl of Instant Pot oatmeal. The possibilities are endless—top your favorite breakfast items for a burst of flavor and texture.
Add to cakes – for example try this moist and delicious Applesauce Cake.
Side Dish: Applesauce also makes a delightful side dish. Pair it with savory dishes like roasted pork medallions, baked juicy chicken breasts, whole roasted chicken, roasted turkey breast, or even sausages for a sweet and tangy contrast that brightens up the meal. This classic applesauce is perfect to serve alongside your favorite fall sides like Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Roasted Butternut Squash.

Storing Suggestions

Refrigerator: Once you have made the Instant Pot applesauce, let it cool completely before storing it in an airtight container or jar. Keep it in the fridge and it will keep well for up to 10 days. You can use it straight from the fridge or let it come up to room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
Freezer: Applesauce freezes well, so it’s a great way to preserve those fall apples. Let the apple sauce cool to room temperature and place it in freezer bags or freezer-safe containers. Remove as much air as possible and it will keep for up to 6 months. Defrost it in the fridge or at room temperature.

Canning Applesauce

This cinnamon applesauce is great for canning as well. Follow these steps:

Clean equipment. Sterilize your jars, clean your lids & rings, and have a clean workspace.
Make applesauce by following the recipe below.
Fill jars. Pour applesauce into warm jars leaving 1/2″ of headspace. Wipe jar rims clean. Place lids and rings securely on the jars.
Process in a water-bath canner. Process for about 20 minutes (adjust cooking time for your altitude, if necessary). More details and instructions for water-bath canning.
Store. Canned applesauce is good for up to a year when stored in a cool, dark place.

Recipe FAQs

What are the best apples for apple sauce?

I prefer to use apples that are naturally sweeter. That way I don’t have to add a sweetener to the applesauce. But if you prefer you can also use a combo of sweet and tart apples. Honey crisp, Gala, Golden Delicious, Fuji, and Mcintosh are all good options. I would avoid using Red Delicious because they get mushy when heated.

Do I need to peel the apples?

I recommend to peel the apples because leaving the skin on results in small bits of peel in the applesauce, which gives it a gritty texture.

How to sweeten homemade applesauce?

If you like your applesauce on the sweeter side, try adding honey, maple syrup, or agave. Each brings a unique flavor profile – honey adds floral sweetness, maple syrup lends a rich, earthy tone, and agave offers a light, neutral sweetness.

More Easy Apple Recipes

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Instant Pot Applesauce

Make a batch of delicious apple sauce in less than 15 minutes in your Instant Pot. Made with simple ingredients, it's the perfect fall side dish. Vegan and gluten-free. Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 6 minutes

Total Time: 11 minutes

Servings: 6

Ingredients

3 lbs apples, of your favorite apples, peeled (or unpeeled), cored and cut in chunks
½ cup apple cider, or water
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Instructions

Place all the ingredients into the Instant Pot.
Close the lid and set the valve to the "Sealing" position. Select the "Manual" or "Pressure Cook" setting and set the timer for 6 minutes.
When the cooking time is up, carefully turn the valve to the "Venting" position for a quick release of pressure. Once the pin drops, it’s safe to open the lid.
Use an immersion blender to blend the cooked apples to your preferred consistency.
Taste the applesauce and stir in more cinnamon if desired.

Video

Notes

You can either peel the apples or leave them unpeeled, it’s totally down to your preference.
If you prefer more chunky applesauce, you can mash the cooked apples with a potato masher or just blender less with the immersion blender.
Taste the applesauce and adjust the seasoning to your likening. You may need to add more sweetener depending on the tartness of the apples.

Nutrition

Calories: 171 kcal
Carbohydrates: 45 g
Protein: 1 g
Fat: 1 g
Saturated Fat: 1 g
Sodium: 29 mg
Potassium: 263 mg
Fiber: 6 g
Sugar: 34 g
Vitamin A: 122 IU
Vitamin C: 11 mg
Calcium: 17 mg
Iron: 1 mg

Nutrition Disclaimer: Nutritional values are estimates and may vary with ingredients, brands, and portion sizes. For accuracy, use your preferred nutrition calculator.