Instant Pot Cinnamon Applesauce
Making cinnamon applesauce at home is a snap with an Instant Pot! Use your favorite apple variety for this delicious naturally sweet snack.
I don’t know about you, but over the years we have gone through a lot of applesauce in this house. Sometimes it feels like we are single-handedly fueling the applesauce and granola bar industry.
Fortunately we also love going apple picking in the fall, so it didn’t take long before I started making cinnamon applesauce at home. Now I make it all year long!
Did you know you can make your own cinnamon applesauce in just about an hour? This recipe is so quick and easy thanks to the Instant Pot, which cooks the apples down in a fraction of the time it takes on the stove or in a slow cooker.
This classic snack tastes even better when it’s homemade!
Ingredients for cinnamon applesauce
You’ll need:
Apples – Use your favorite apple variety, depending on how sweet or tart you like your applesauce. You can also use a mix of apples to get that perfect blend of flavors!
Water – A small amount of water is added to help the apples cook. It also helps thin the sauce.
Lemon juice – Lemon helps the apples not get overly browned and balances the sweet flavor.
Ground cinnamon – Be careful to not add too much cinnamon at the start of the recipe. Use the recommended amount, and then add more to taste after cooking the apples.
That’s it!
How to make this recipe
First, you’ll need to core the apples and cut them into chunks. You can peel the apples if you want to, but because they get blended up you don’t need to. Plus, the apple skin adds fiber!
Add the apples to the Instant Pot. Pour in water and lemon juice, then sprinkle cinnamon over the top. Do not stir.
Place the lid and make sure the knob is set to Seal. Cook at Manual High Pressure for 5 minutes.
When the time is up, let pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then release the rest of the way.
Use an immersion blender to blend the apples to the desired consistency. You can also transfer the apples to a blender, but be careful and make sure to vent the blender, as the apples will be very hot!
pro tip
If you don’t have a blender, you can also use a potato masher. Peeled apples will work best if you have to mash by hand.
Transfer the cinnamon applesauce to airtight containers. Let cool to room temperature, then store in the refrigerator.
Storage tips
Homemade applesauce will keep for about 1 week in the refrigerator, when stored properly. I recommend keeping it in the coldest part of the fridge, which is the back.
You can also freeze the applesauce. I like freezing it in smaller portions such as in ice cube trays. Once frozen, pop the cubes out and store in a freezer bag. Then you can thaw the cubes as needed.
Keep in mind that the thawed cinnamon applesauce will be a little watery compared to fresh made, but it will still be delicious!
Cinnamon Applesauce
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 5 pounds apples
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Core apples and cut into chunks. (Peeling is optional, but recommended if mashing by hand.) Add to the Instant Pot.
- Pour water and lemon juice over the apples, then sprinkle on the cinnamon. Do not stir.
- Place lid and set to seal. Set to Manual High Pressure for 5 minutes. It will take about 20 minutes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure before the timer starts.
- Once the timer goes off, let sit for 10 minutes to release pressure naturally, then release remaining pressure.
- Remove the lid and blend apples with an immersion blender, or transfer carefully to a blender. You can also mash by hand with a potato masher.
- Transfer applesauce to airtight containers, with the lid ajar to release steam, and let cool to room temperature, then place lids and store in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Cook time includes 20 minutes for Instant Pot to come to pressure.
- Makes about 2 quarts (8 cups).
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate based on online calculators and provided as a courtesy. Any nutritional information should be used as a general guideline only.
