All you need is three ingredients - apples, cinnamon, and salt - to make this super easy, unsweetened, Instant Pot Applesauce recipe. Perfect for cozy snacking or to use in baked goods.
Prep Time5 minutesmins
Cook Time20 minutesmins
Total Time25 minutesmins
Servings: 6
Ingredients
1/2cupwater
3 - 4 poundsmixed apples, cored, peeled or unpeeled, and cut it into 2-inch piecesI use Honeycrisp, Ambrosia, Golden Delcious
1 cinnamon stick
1/4teaspoonkosher salt
Instructions
Place 1/2 cup water, apple chunks, and cinnamon stick in the Instant Pot.
Close the lid, then turn Venting Knob to Sealing Position. Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 5 minutes. Allow to Naturally Release for at least 10-15 minutes. Release any remaing pressure and open the lid carefully.
Remove cinnamon stick and using an immersion blender, or potato masher, blend the applesauce to desired consistency. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt. Taste the applesauce and add a pinch of more salt, if necessary. My applesauce is always sweet enough but you can sweeten to taste with a little honey or maple syrup, if desired.
Notes
A few tips:
Add lemon juice to the apples. This is optional and I rarely add the lemon juice. It will, however, help with the colour of the applesauce more vibrant.
Release most of the pressure naturally. Cooked apples can become foamy and a quick release could cause the pressure valve to clog. Allow the pressure to naturally release for at least 10 - 15 minutes.
Wait to sweeten your applesauce until it’s finished. This way, you can taste and adjust the sweetness based on the apples you brought home, and you won’t end up with a sickly sweet batch of sauce.
Don't omit the salt! You only need a pinch but it really goes a long way in bringing out the nuanced flavour of the applesauce.