Apple Sauce:
A Simple Treat That Elevates Many Meals

A Simple Dessert, or a Dressing/Sauce for Pork

Photo of Susan Gast
Susan Gast, Author and Food Preservation Enthusiast
Susan has been dehydrating and preserving foods for over a decade, sharing practical, tested methods that help readers make healthy, long-lasting meals at home.

Apple sauce isn’t just for kids’ lunchboxes—it’s a versatile kitchen essential! Whether you’re spooning it warm over vanilla ice cream, serving it alongside pork, or swapping it in for oil when baking, this simple sauce adds natural sweetness and comfort to any dish.

✅ Quick Answer: How do you make apple sauce?
To make apple sauce, cook peeled, diced apples with a little water, lemon juice, and cinnamon until soft, then mash or blend to your preferred texture. Add optional mix-ins like raisins, cranberries, or apricot jam for extra flavor.

With just a few basic ingredients (and dehydrated apples if you have them on hand), you can whip up a batch in minutes—no store-bought jars required.

Apple sauce atop vanilla ice cream in a bowlVanilla Ice Cream with Homemade Apple Sauce

Dehydrated Apples: The Secret to Effortless Homemade Apple Sauce

Got dehydrated apples on hand? You can easily make apple sauce by rehydrating them in water and cooking them down into a thick, flavorful blend. Customize it with spices like cinnamon or nutmeg, or add a touch of honey for extra sweetness.

If you're working with fresh apples, no problem! Check out my guide to dehydrating apples so you can stock up for future batches of homemade apple sauce.

Why Apple Sauce and Pork Are the Ultimate Pairing

Growing up, my mom always added a dollop of apple sauce alongside pork chops, and it became a staple at family dinners.

My apple sauce recipe is easy and quick to make. It’s also featured in my Recipe eBook, with some fun additions like dehydrated cranberries and raisins.

I also add a tablespoon of apricot jam—it gives the sauce a subtle tartness and thicker texture.

Looking to reduce your sugar intake? Try Polaner Sugar-Free Jams. They’re just as delicious as their sugary counterparts.

Get Polaner Apricot Jam on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases. The price you pay does not increase.  Read disclosure here.


Polaner Sugar Free Apricot Jam
Top of Recipe

Apple Sauce Recipe

Making apple sauce is as simple as it gets!

If you're using dehydrated apples, be sure to rehydrate them first in a little warm water.

Don’t worry if the apples look a little brown—they will still taste great. The added raisins can be used "as is," but you will need to rehydrate the dried cranberries before adding them to the mix. We're going for a soft texture, not crunchy!

Ingredients

  • 1 apple, peeled and diced
  • dash of cinnamon
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons of lemon juice
  • tablespoon of water
  • handful of dehydrated cranberries
  • handful of dehydrated grapes (raisins)
  • 2 dessertspoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon apricot jam

Instructions

  1. Peel the apple and dice it into small-to-medium pieces.
  2. Toss the apple pieces with the lemon juice in a non-stick pan.
  3. Add the water and cinnamon, stirring well.
  4. Stir in the raisins and rehydrated cranberries, and cook for about five minutes over medium heat.
  5. Add the brown sugar and stir, letting it cook for another minute on low heat.
  6. Stir in the apricot jam and mix thoroughly. Serve warm!

This sauce is so easy to make, yet so rewarding.

Nutrition Information

  • Servings: 4 servings
  • Calories: 114kcals
  • Fat: 0.2g
  • Protein: 0.5g
  • Carbohydrates: 29.7g
Bottom of Recipe

Peel Apples Faster!

Short on time? Try this Norpro apple (and potato!) peeler - works great!

It's sturdy clamp holds it to the table top.

Make sure your table has enough overhang for the clamp to grip onto!

Norpro Apple Master-Apple, Potato, Parer, Slicer & Corer

As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases. The price you pay does not increase.  Read disclosure here.

Flavor Boosters: Raisins, Cranberries & More

Want to add a touch of natural sweetness to your apple sauce? Try mixing in homemade raisins or dried cranberries for extra depth of flavor.

Cinnamon, cranberries, grapes (for raisins), brown sugar

When making raisins, start with seedless grapes—red or black varieties work best. Simply dehydrate them until they shrink into chewy, bite-sized pieces. Black grapes create those classic dark raisins, while red grapes give a slightly tangier flavor.

For cranberries, a quick blanching step before dehydrating helps them dry evenly. Read more about dehydrating berries here. Store your homemade dried fruit in an airtight container at room temperature, or refrigerate for longer freshness.

Once you try making your own, you’ll never go back to store-bought!

Creative Twists: Unique Apple Sauce Flavor Ideas

Apple sauce in a dish, with cinnamon sticks

The possibilities with apple sauce are truly endless!

  • Add nutmeg or cloves for a warm, spiced flavor.
  • Mix in fresh blueberries or pears for a unique twist.
  • Try stirring in three-fruit marmalade for a tasty zing.

Let your creativity shine with these delicious combinations!

Learn how to dehydrate pears for even more options!


20 Taste-Tested Easy Recipes

20 Taste-Tested Easy Recipes eBook or Paperback

How to Make
EASY MEALS

containing dehydrated food...
that even your kids
and spouse will eat!

Buy Now orange button

🍕 Pizza! 🥧  Shepherd's Pie! 🥘  Beef Stew! plus
Cauliflower Soup and Cauliflower Mash, along with crazy Carrot Soup!

Decadent Desserts: Carrot Cake and Cranberry Pineapple Pie!
and more...

Fresh food ingredient amounts are included for when you have fresh food on hand.
See which recipes are included here.


Everyday Ways to Use Apple Sauce

Apple sauce is a multi-purpose ingredient:

  • Use it as a topping for pancakes, waffles, or French toast.
  • Add it to smoothies for a natural thickener.
  • Substitute it for sugary sauces in baking recipes.

Next time you’re in a pinch for a recipe sweetener, grab a jar of apple sauce—it’s a healthier, more natural choice!

Dive In!—It's Really Easy to Make

A female making apple sauce in a pan

We enjoyed our sauce warm, straight from the pan, spooned over French vanilla ice cream.

It was absolute heaven in a dish!

This recipe doesn’t take more than five minutes to prepare, giving you just enough time to let your ice cream soften slightly in the bowls.

Double the recipe to serve more people and store leftovers in the freezer. And yes, you can skip the apricot jam, but trust me—it adds a little zing and thickens the sauce beautifully.

How to Fix Runny Apple Sauce (Thickening Tips)

If your apple sauce seems a bit runny, simply continue heating it. The extra liquid will evaporate, leaving you with a thicker consistency.

For smoothies, this sauce makes an excellent addition. It’s also a perfect base for fruit leathers—check out this fruit rolls page for more information and creative ideas!

Apple Sauce FAQs: Tips, Tricks & Storage

Can I make apple sauce with dehydrated apples?

Yes! Rehydrate dried apple slices in warm water, then cook them down just like fresh apples. Add cinnamon, honey, or jam for extra flavor.

How long does homemade apple sauce last?
  • Store homemade apple sauce in the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze it in airtight containers for 2–3 months.

    • Is apple sauce healthy?

    Apple sauce is naturally fat-free and a good source of fiber and vitamin C, especially when made without added sugar.

    Can I use apple sauce in baking?

    Yes—apple sauce is a great substitute for oil or butter in muffins, cakes, and breads. It keeps baked goods moist and reduces fat content.

    How do I make chunky vs. smooth apple sauce?

    For chunky sauce, mash apples lightly with a fork or potato masher. For smooth sauce, blend with a hand blender or food processor.

    Apple sauce really is one of those simple, heartwarming recipes you’ll find yourself making again and again—whether spooned over pork chops, swirled into smoothies, or enjoyed on ice cream.

    And if you love easy comfort foods, don’t miss the free 5 Dried Food Recipes You’ll Actually Love PDF below, featuring favorites like carrot soup, minestrone soup, split pea soup, spicy beef jerky, and banana cinnamon rolls.

    Get 5 Dried Food Recipes You'll Actually Love

    5 Easy Dried Food Recipes free PDF

    Here's where you can get your copy of our all new
    5 Dried Food Recipes (That Actually Taste Great)
    They're my all-time favorite easy dried food meals!

    Get it here right now.

    For Free!

    You Might Like These

    You Might Like These


    Before You Go...

    If you enjoyed this page, tap the ❤️ in the lower right-hand corner.
    It saves this page to your Grow bookmarks so you can find it again later.

    You’ll also see quick share buttons to copy the link, post to Facebook,
    or save it straight to Pinterest.