Homemade Applesauce in a Dutch Oven
here’s something about making applesauce from scratch that feels grounding. The smell of apples simmering with a little sugar and lemon fills the whole house with cozy fall vibes, and the process itself is simple enough to do on a busy day at home.
This week, I made a big batch in my Dutch oven and thought I’d share the recipe here.
Ingredients
¾ cup water
2 tbsp sugar
Juice from half a lemon
5 lbs of apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
Directions
In your Dutch oven, combine the water, sugar, and lemon juice. Bring it to a gentle boil.
Add the sliced apples, cover with the lid, and turn the heat down low.
Let the apples cook for about an hour, stirring every 10–15 minutes.
When the apples are soft and fragrant, remove from heat.
For a smoother sauce, blend with an immersion blender. For a more rustic, chunky version, simply mash with a fork or potato masher.
Store in jars or containers - in the fridge if you’ll eat it within a week, or freeze for later.
A Few Notes
Different apples will give you different flavors. I like to mix sweet and tart varieties for balance.
You can adjust the sugar or even skip it if your apples are naturally sweet.
This makes the perfect side dish, snack, or even topping for pancakes or oatmeal.
Homemade applesauce is one of those recipes that reminds me it doesn’t take much to create something nourishing and comforting. A little time, a few ingredients, and you’ve got jars of cozy goodness to enjoy all week.
If you’d like to try this yourself, I linked my favorite Dutch oven here (Affiliate Link). It’s one of my most-used kitchen pieces — sturdy, reliable, and perfect for recipes like this.
Happy cooking, friend. 🍂
