How to Make Apple Sauce With Fresh Apples

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Last Updated on September 18, 2025 by Kiersten

This DIY apple sauce is the perfect fall recipe made with fresh apples and warm cinnamon. A cozy staple for baking, canning, or spooning over pork.

If you find yourself with a ton of apples this fall after a trip to the local orchard, definitely add this homemade cinnamon apple sauce to your kitchen rotation.

I make apple sauce for the kids to have as a snack year round but it also gets used as a base when I can Amish apple butter for holiday gifts, bake my almost famous carrot cake, and for a simple but very delicious condiment on savory pork or chicken dishes.

You can use any type of apples you have on hand, just adjust the sugar amount to account for the variety of apple. Red apples and golden delicious apples will require less brown sugar as they are naturally more sweet than the tart Granny Smith green apples.

When given the choice, as you’ll see in the recipe, I like to use a blend of both sweet and tart apples to reduce the amount of sugar added.

Take advantage of the culinary freedom to play with different varieties of apples to find your family’s perfect blend.

How to Make Delicious Homemade Apple Sauce

Ingredients:

• 4 large red apples
• 2 large green apples
• 1/2 cup brown sugar (I only buy this brown sugar made with molasses)
• 1 cup filtered water
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon (optional)

The Brown Sugar I Use and Why It Matters:

For this apple sauce, I always use a natural brown sugar made with cane sugar and real molasses. It gives the sauce a deep, rich flavor that tastes like fall in a jar. A little goes a long way, and it makes all the difference in obtaining that warm, caramel finish without overpowering the apples.

If you’ve only used conventional brown sugar, try switching to one made with cane molasses. You’ll taste the difference immediately.

This is the only brown sugar I use in my kitchen.

Instructions:

Wash, peel, core, and chop the apples. 

Add the apples to a medium pot along with the brown sugar, water, and cinnamon. Cover with a lid.

Bring the mixture to a very low boil over medium heat then reduce the heat to low for a simmer. 

Simmer for about 45 minutes. Stir the apples every now and then to encourage softening. 

Remove from the heat and mash the apples with a potato masher or fork. If you like a very smooth consistency, use a countertop blender or a hand immersion blender to puree the apples. 

Store the homemade apple sauce from scratch for up to a week in the refrigerator.

To can for pantry storage, transfer to a clean quart-sized mason jar and use the water bath canning method.

More Apple Recipes to Try

Sourdough Apple German Pancakes (Dutch Babies)

Homemade Amish Apple Butter Recipe (Step by Step)

Amish Apple Cake with Caramel Glaze

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