Effortless, “dump and go,” homemade applesauce made in Instant Pot without any sugar! A versatile applesauce recipe that you can relish as is or use in baking or other desserts or make delicious Apple-flavored waffles or pancakes. 

As much as I love fresh apples, I love applesauce(in fact more than the kiddo), apple-based desserts(linked below), and pickles as well. IMO, the combination of apple and cinnamon is heavenly.

Instead of grabbing a piece of chocolate or other sugary treats, a ¼ cup of this naturally sweetened apple sauce would be perfect, especially if you follow any specific diet. 

What’s so special about this applesauce,

• No added sugar. The sweetness naturally comes from apples making it a healthy snack.
• You can customize this applesauce to taste by combining different apples. Make it tangier by using more granny smith or sweeter by adding more gala! Also, make it smooth or chunky. Ahh, the perks of making things from scratch at home!
• Effortless to make. It’s a dump-and-go Instant Pot recipe, and you don’t need to babysit.
• Kids friendly and toddler friendly. 

Ingredients required

We only need five ingredients for this recipe. All we need is some apples; I used a mix of gala and honey crisp, lemon juice, a pinch of salt, ground cinnamon, and water. The detailed measures are in the recipe card, and don’t forget to check the FAQ session. 

Dietary specifications & storing suggestions

This Instant Pot apple sauce is naturally vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free. Make sure you cool the apple sauce before storing them in air-tight containers or jars. I have stored it for up to 10 days in the refrigerator. You can also freeze them for more extended use. Just thaw them before using them. 

How to use the applesauce

While you can relish the applesauce, you can also use it in various dishes. 

• It’s naturally unsweetened so that you can use them in baking. Skip the ground cinnamon if you are exclusively making this for baking as an egg replacer. 
• Add it to your pancake batter or waffle batter and make delicious apple-flavored pancakes or waffles.
• Add this applesauce to your cooked oatmeal for additional flavor. 
• You can also add it to your beverages and mocktails. 

How to make apple sauce in Instant Pot?

• Add the peeled and chopped apples, lemon juice, salt, ground cinnamon, and water into the inner pot of the Instant Pot.

• Mix well. Close the Instant Pot. Ensure the sealing ring is in place and set the vent to the sealing position. Cook the apples at high pressure for 10 minutes, and after the cooking is done, naturally release the pressure. 

• Then carefully open the Instant Pot, and here is how the cooked apples look.

• With a back of a spoon or ladle, mash the apples thoroughly.

• Here are the mashed apples and let them cool completely before storing them in an air-tight container. 

Recipe notes

• You can make this on the stove-top too. Add the apples and water to a saucepan and cook until the apples are soft and mashable. Then add the lemon juice, cinnamon, salt and mash it well. Cook for a minute and turn off the heat.  
• Similarly, you can make pear sauce also or add one or two pears along with apples. 
• Please check the FAQ section for other options and variations.

Frequently asked questions

Explore other apple recipes

PS:  If you try this Instant Pot applesauce, please don’t forget to comment and rate this recipe. If you have any questions, please leave a comment, and I will get to it ASAP. Make sure to follow me on my Pinterest for more healthy and delicious ideas! Follow me on Instagram or join my Facebook Group for more recipe updates! You can also sign-up for my newsletter for weekly updates.

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