I used to eat applesauce all the time when I was a kid. Then I kind of got tired of it, and moved on. Now I’ve fallen in love with it again, not only because it’s delicious, but also because it really helps sooth the constant burning in my throat.

The more natural a food is, the better it is for you. I don’t think anyone will argue that, will they? While I don’t really have a problem buying applesauce from the store (you can find it in a glass jar, unsweetened, organic, or at the very least, a kind that only has three ingredients), we all know that homemade is a much better option.

A few weeks ago, my parents bought some apples from Costco. Unfortunately, they were mealy and mushy, and their stems smelled moldy. Ick. At first I thought about baking them into something, but then my dad suggested I try to make applesauce with them. Challenge accepted!

Not that it’s a huge challenge, really. In fact, this is one of the simplest recipes ever – and one of the most delicious, too!

Homemade Applesauce (egg, nut, dairy, gluten, and soy free)
makes about 6 cups

Ingredients:
– 4 lbs. gala apples
– 2 1/4 cups water
– Juice of 1 lemon
– a dash of cinnamon (optional)

Directions:

1. Peel, core, and dice the apples into 1-inch pieces. It’s ok if some of the skin is left on (hey, it’s fiber, right?).
2. Place the apple pieces in a Dutch oven (non-reactive steel or enamel would work, too). Pour the water over top, squeeze in the lemon juice, and add the cinnamon. Stir.
3. Heat over high heat, and bring to a boil.
4. Once boiling, lower heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for about 20 minutes, or until apples are tender.
5. Remove from heat, and allow to sit, covered, for about 20 minutes.
6. Using a potato masher, mash the apples until they’ve reached the desired consistency (I’m not a fan of chunky applesauce, but it’s up to you!).
7. Serve warm or cool to room temperature before refrigerating.
8. Enjoy!

Notes:
– You could definitely use a mix of apples if you want. I think adding some tart Granny Smiths would be a great way to change up the flavor. I used galas because it was what we had, and because I didn’t need to add any sugar, as they’re naturally a very sweet apple.
– This is super good served with a bit of granola!
– Because it doesn’t have any preservatives in it, this applesauce is best eaten within five days.

Yum. I’ve made myself hungry by writing this post! I’m off to go get a snack! 🙂

Have a happy Thursday!