Slow Cooker Apple Sauce: Vegan, Sugar Free

Homemade apple sauce is a simple pleasure. Just a few ingredients and 4 hours in a slow cooker and you have a simply delicious and healthy indulgence. This is one of those recipes where you can add or subtract ingredients and make it your own idea of perfection. I started making apple sauce when my children were little. I would buy fresh in season organic apples and can apple sauce for the year. It is a wonderful and simple first food for babies.

There are so many varieties of apples to explore! Each apple can bring an exciting new element to  your apple sauce. I always use several different apples in my sauce! Honey crisps make a very sweet sauce, granny smiths make a more tart sauce. Combine your favorite apples to make a sauce that is unique to you!

Try a bowl full while it is warm! But be warned… once you have homemade apple sauce, store bought will never be the same!

Slow Cooker Apple Sauce

Ingredients:

• about 12 apples
• 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2 – 1 cup water

Optional ingredients:

• 2 Teaspoons cinnamon or two cinnamon sticks
• 2 Teaspoon vanilla or one vanilla bean
• 1/4 Cup honey
• 1 cup of another fruit.. cranberry, strawberries, cherries

Instructions:

Peel and core all the apples. Chop the apples into one inch chunks.

Put the apples, lemon juice and water in the slow cooker. Stir well.  Add in any extras you want and stir again. Cook on high for about 4 hours stirring occasionally.

Once the apples are soft mash with a fork or a potato masher until desire consistency. For a smooth sauce use an immersion blender and blend until smooth.)

If using cinnamon sticks or vanilla bean remove them before mashing or blending!

Taste and add sweetness or more spices to taste.

Pour into canning jars and store in the refrigerator or process in hot water bath to store longer.