How do you like dem apples? (Homemade Applesauce Recipe)

Every year there are guaranteed to be at least 3 pies at my family's Thanksgiving dinner table. One is my favorite: Dutch Apple. One is my mom's favorite: Pumpkin. The third, my brother's favorite, is pecan. Now, you don't need to tell me that having three pies for Thanksgiving is excessive, but we all know that Thanksgiving is a pie holiday. I'm not one to break tradition, so I go with the flow.

There are some things I've made recently - macaroni and cheese, baked beans, salad dressing, tomato sauce - that have made me say "Why would I ever buy this pre-packaged or store-bought ever again?" Pie is not one of those things. Since I eat it once or twice a year, I've never really attempted the whole pie/pie crust ordeal.

I'm sure it would be fun to try someday, but let's be honest, do I really need to just "bake a pie" on an idle weekend afternoon so that it can sit in the kitchen and mock me until it finally wins and I have to spend the rest of the week at the gym to atone? Just because it's not my favorite doesn't mean it wouldn't tempt me. Sorry, pie.

On the other hand, I recently saw an applesauce recipe on Simply Recipes and I've been craving some sort of apple-y goodness ever since. To quell my sweets craving, I adapted the recipe to involve a little less lemon and a little more brown sugar and OH MAN. All this needed was a big, fat scoop of vanilla ice cream and you'd have bliss in a bowl.

Brown Sugar Applesauce

3-4 lbs. Golden Delicious apples (I used 7 small ones)
1 T. Fresh Lemon Juice
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 cup water
3 slices of lemon peel (cut with a vegetable peeler or paring knife)
1 3" cinnamon stick

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients in a large stockpot and set to a boil. Let cook, uncovered for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until apples are tender.

2. Remove from heat and discard three pieces of lemon peel and cinnamon stick. Let apple mixture cool down and puree in a food processor, blender, or mash with a potato masher. Since I have none of the above, I cleverly used a pastry cutter and mashed the apples right in the pot.

3. This can be served hot or cold. Since I made it, I've eaten it both ways and much preferred it hot.

4. To adapt the recipe, I'd use a little less white sugar next time, because I like the nutty flavor that dark brown sugar adds to the sauce. If you use a sweeter apple you could probably get away with way less white sugar also. As good as this was, it was, it definitely felt more like an indulgent dessert and in no way, shape or form the "healthy snack" that applesauce was meant to be. I'll likely try again this weekend with a different kind of apple -and maybe a little vanilla ice cream.

What's your favorite way to eat applesauce? Tart? Sweet? What kind of apples do you use?

Comments

[sforshner]

I love Simply Recipes!

[Cora]

This sounds really good, similar to Barefoot Contessa's applesauce, which I love. I think the citrus enhances the apples. I've used a mixture of apples successfully, but I can't wait to add in some Honey Crisps - now my all-time fav apple in the world!

[gazellesoncrack]

I love pie - hands down favorite dessert. yum.

[cooknkate]

I've made this Applesauce recipe and it is really wonderful. That lemon just does something perfect to the fruit.

Your photos in this post look great!!!

[renée]

you are the second person this week to inspire me to make applesauce. not sure what kind of apples to use though - it has been a while since i whipped up a batch (and can't remember). i love to throw a chunk of ginger into the mix. i'm excited to try out the lemon zest. i wonder if the two would go together. hmm...

[Maris]

Sforshner - Simply Recipes is my go-to whenever I need a good, classic recipe. I also think Elise has such great ideas so I go there for inspiration when I want to create my own!

Cora - I love Honeycrisp apples! I discovered them recently and I like that they're big and not too tart!

Gazelles - The only pies I've made are with pre-made pie crust. I'm going apple picking today so maybe I'll be inspired to try it! The farmstand near my mom's makes amazing fresh pies though. Even though I'm not huge on pie in general, those are hard to say no to!

Kate - The lemon added a really nice touch. At first I was skeptical but it added a great flavor. I was worried that it would make the applesauce too tart but I added plenty of brown sugar to make sure that didn't happen.

Renee - Ginger and lemon zest would definitely go together! I think the lemon would complement the flavors nicely but as long as you add a modest amount it wouldn't overwhelm the sauce.

[Pam]

The only time I ever eat pie is on Thanksgiving and I always go for a small slice of apple topped with those delicious cinnamon crumbles and a scoop of vanilla ice cream (of course). So I think I may LOVE that apple sauce. I'm definitely going to give it a whirl. Thanks for the recipe!

I think I might try it with HoneyCrisp apples, too. They are my all-time favorite apples. :)

[nicoleantoinette]

This looks insanely delicious. I always use a combination of apples for a more complex flavor. I particularly like Fuji, Golden Delicious, and Granny Smith.

Just don't use the mushy, watery apples like Red Delicious or Gala.

[Daryl]

Really cute title!!!

[stylishhandwriting]

That looks absolutely DIVINE! I love applesauce, any way, and I'm definitely going to have to try this. I'm a HUGE apple pie fan, and this looks just as good.

[clumbsycookie]

Who needs pie with these great applesauce? I allways do mine with brown sugar too. But I have to tell you, 3 pies for thanksgiving sound very good as well! I would eat a big slice of each one without a problem!

[Jamie]

I love applesauce. That looks so soo good too!