I bought a bag of apples for snacking, but it turns out they weren’t as crisp and sweet as I like them – so, they became applesauce!
Apple sauce isn’t really a thing here in Cape Town: it’s not something you’ll easily find in the supermarket (unlike in the US, for example). But it’s a really great thing to have on hand. Here are some ways to use it:
- Stir a couple of spoonfuls into your oatmeal as a natural sweetener;
- Use it as an egg replacer and/or to replace the oil next time you bake a cake;
- Make granola with it;
- Enjoy it in a sandwich with peanut butter (i.e. instead of the jam);
- Just eat it by the spoonful!
Store-bought applesauce will often have quite a bit of added sugar, so by making it yourself, you can decide exactly how sweet to make it. Over time, you could reduce the sugar content as your palate changes, or use sweeter apple varieties to reduce the added sugar.
If you make more than you’ll use in a week, store it in a jar (with space at the top) and freeze. It should keep for a few months. Or if you know you’ll use smaller quantities, freeze it in an ice cube tray overnight, and pop them into a freezer bag.
Easy Homemade Applesauce
Ingredients
- 4 medium apples (about 480 g)
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 pinch salt
Directions
- Peel, core and chop the apples into chunks.
- Place all the ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Simmer for about 30 minutes until the apples are soft.
- Cool before blending (in a jug blender or with an immersion blender) – or leave it chunky!
- Store in a jar in the fridge.