3 Ingredient Homemade Applesauce In Crockpot

Last Updated on September 25, 2025 by Jamie Saechao

Learn how to make easy, 3-ingredient homemade applesauce in a crockpot with these simple steps!  

Fall is the perfect time for apple picking, and we often end up with excess apples. This simple recipes is our favorite way to celebrate apple season!  

I love how flexible this homemade apple sauce recipe is.  Besides water, you only need 3 ingredients: apples, cinnamon, and a little bit of sugar.  

This easy recipe is a great way to celebrate the flavors of fall, and it’s also fun to make with your kids!  

Slow cooker applesauce can be frozen for a year as well, it’s the perfect way to store apples for a long time. 

By the way, this recipe smells amazing as it simmers… like stepping into an apple orchard in peak fall season!  

Looking for more apple recipes?  Check out my delicious caramel apple muffins or apple crumble muffins here!

Ingredients

You need just a few simple ingredients for this recipe:

• Apples: you can use any variety of apples.  Tart apples like Granny Smith will give more zing to the sauce, while sweet apples like will make for a sweet sauce. 
• Sugar: I use white sugar in this recipe, but you can use brown sugar if you prefer. 
• Cinnamon: Cinnamon adds the warm, distinct flavor of fall.
• Water:  A little water helps liquefy the apple sauce. 
• *Nutmeg: optional.  We love adding even more spice to our sauce.  Consider adding a pinch of nutmeg for more flavor (about 1/4 tsp).

Notes:  You can make this recipe into an unsweetened applesauce by simply leaving out the sugar!  Add a little more spice if you’d like. 

Use any kind of apples you like:  Honeycrisp apples, pink lady, and Gala are all good options.  Keep in mind that softer apples like Red Delicious may soften faster.

Personally, I think a combination of sweet and tangy makes the best applesauce!

Variations

• Add cinnamon sticks on top of the apples for a festive touch and more robust flavor
• Substitue maple syrup for the sugar for a natural option. 
• We have used pumpkin pie spice instead of cinnamon and it is DELISH!
• Leave out the sugar!  For a no sugar option, simply leave it out!  The applesauce will be less sweet.

How To Make Easy Crockpot Applesauce:

​Step 1: Peel and core apples and chop them into pieces.  We use our apple peeler + corer. 

Step 2:  Place the chopped apples in the crockpot and sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon over the top.  Pour the water into the crockpot and cook the apples on high for 4 hours. 

Step 3: Stir the apples with a whisk or spoon until desired consistency is achieved. For a smoother texture, use an immersion blender.  Texture is personal preference- you can go for a chunk or smooth applesauce!

Recipe Tips

• For chunky applesauce simply stir the cooked apples for a shorter time period. 
• To cook on low setting, extend the cooking time to 7-8 hours. 
• Experiment with spices to make your own custom flavor!  You can always add more or less cinnamon and nutmeg.

For more delicious homemade snacks try these sourdough cheese crackers, paleo hot chocolate, or pumpkin muffins!

Storage

Transfer to ziploc bags or an airtight container and refrigerate for 10-14 days. 

To freeze, first let the applesauce cool completely. Place in a freezer-safe container or mason jar and store for up to one year. Thaw by placing in the refrigerator for a day or two. 

Let me know if you try this delicious fall recipe -you will find your kids love this recipe even more than store-bought applesauce!