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This recipe for No Peel Instant Pot Applesauce is a quick way to make delicious homemade applesauce without the hassle of peeling the apples. It's perfect for a healthy snack or a side dish with your favorite meal. Plus, it's a great way to use up any apples you have on hand that are starting to get a little too soft.
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Check out my Zucchini Bread with Applesauce and my Instant Pot Pork Loin Roast for more apple recipes!
No peel Instant Pot applesauce is a variation of the classic homemade applesauce recipe that skips the step of peeling the apples. By leaving the skins on, you not only save time but also retain more of the nutrients and fiber found in the apple peels.
It's a healthy and easy snack that can be enjoyed warm or chilled. It's a great way to use up any extra apples you have on hand, and you can customize the sweetness and spice level to your liking.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy. With just a few simple ingredients and an Instant Pot, you can make homemade applesauce in no time.
- No peeling required. Skipping the step of peeling the apples saves time and effort, and also adds extra nutrition and fiber to the applesauce.
- Healthy. This recipe uses natural sweeteners and spices, making it a healthy snack.
- No preservatives. By making your own applesauce, you can avoid the preservatives and additives found in store bought varieties.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Apples: You'll need about 3 pounds of apples for this recipe. It's best to use a variety of apples to get a more complex flavor, but any type of apple will work.
- Water: You'll need water to help create steam and build pressure inside the Instant Pot.
- Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness to the applesauce. You can adjust the amount of sugar based on your personal taste preference.
- Ground Cinnamon: Adds a warm and cozy flavor to the applesauce.
- Salt: Added to balance out the sweetness of the applesauce.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1:
Add the chopped apples to the Instant Pot. Pour in the water.
Step 2:
Sprinkle the brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt over the top of the apples. Give everything a quick stir to distribute the spices.
Step 3:
Close the lid and set the Instant Pot to high pressure for 5 minutes. When the time is up, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then do a quick release to release any remaining pressure.
Step 4:
Open the lid and use a potato masher or immersion blender to mash the apples into applesauce. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
Expert Tips
- Use a variety of apples. Using a mix of sweet and tart apples will give your applesauce a more complex flavor.
- Cut the apples evenly. To ensure even cooking, make sure to chop the apples into similar-sized pieces.
- Adjust the sweetness and spice. Taste the applesauce after cooking and adjust the amount of sugar and cinnamon to your liking.
- Mash the applesauce to your desired consistency. Use a potato masher for a chunkier texture or an immersion blender for a smoother applesauce.
Variations
- Apple Pie Spice: Use apple pie spice in place of ground cinnamon to add a more complex spice blend to your applesauce.
- Maple Syrup: Replace the brown sugar with maple syrup for a deeper, more complex sweetness.
- Vanilla Extract: Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to your applesauce to give it a warm and comforting flavor.
- Lemon Juice: Add a squeeze of lemon juice to your applesauce for a bright, citrusy flavor.
- Nutmeg: Sprinkle some nutmeg over the top of your applesauce for a warm and nutty flavor.
- Honey: Replace the brown sugar with honey for a natural, sweet flavor.
Storing & Freezing
Storing: Let the applesauce cool to room temperature before storing it in an airtight container. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Freezing: Spoon the cooled applesauce into a freezer safe container or resealable freezer bag, leaving a bit of space at the top to allow for expansion as it freezes. Freeze for up to 6 months.
Recipe FAQ's
Yes, you need to add water to help create steam and build pressure inside the Instant Pot.
Yes, you can use any type of apple you prefer, but it's best to use a mix of sweet and tart apples for a more complex flavor.
No, you do not need to peel the apples for this recipe. The skins will soften during cooking and will be blended with the rest of the applesauce.
Yes, you can double or triple the recipe to make a larger batch of applesauce. Just be sure not to fill your Instant Pot more than two-thirds full.
Other Recipes You'll Love
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You can also find my FREE Instant Pot cheat sheets here.
Instant Pot Applesauce No Peel Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 pounds apples peeled, cored and chopped
- ½ cup water
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Add the chopped apples to the Instant Pot. Pour in the water.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt over the top of the apples. Give everything a quick stir to distribute the spices.
- Close the lid and set the Instant Pot to high pressure for 5 minutes. When the time is up, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then do a quick release to release any remaining pressure.
- Open the lid and use a potato masher or immersion blender to mash the apples into applesauce. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
Notes
- Use a variety of apples. Using a mix of sweet and tart apples will give your applesauce a more complex flavor.
- Cut the apples evenly. To ensure even cooking, make sure to chop the apples into similar-sized pieces.
- Adjust the sweetness and spice. Taste the applesauce after cooking and adjust the amount of sugar and cinnamon to your liking.
- Mash the applesauce to your desired consistency. Use a potato masher for a chunkier texture or an immersion blender for a smoother applesauce.
- Storing: Let the applesauce cool to room temperature before storing it in an airtight container. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Freezing: Spoon the cooled applesauce into a freezer safe container or resealable freezer bag, leaving a bit of space at the top to allow for expansion as it freezes. Freeze for up to 6 months.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Chris Collins
Apple and cinnamon is a match made in heaven! This applesauce looks delicious, can't wait to try it 🙂
Raia Todd
Perfect! So easy and SO delicious!
Michelle
So easy to make and even better than store bought!
Roxana
That looks so good. I could eat it all by itself. So simple and easy to make too.
Heidy L. McCallum
Instant Pot Cinnamon Applesauce is one of the BEST recipes I have made in my IP to date! The kids and husband were thrilled and really enjoyed this recipe.
Tamara J.
This was the PERFECT recipe to use up some apples that were going to go bad. Now I have apple sauce stores up for baking with, or snacking on for later. Thanks for the idea!
Colleen | Bakes & Blunders
I love homemade applesauce. I usually don't even add sugar if my apples are sweet enough. And it's so easy to make in the instant pot!
simplylowcal
It's super easy to make in the IP! The sugar can definitely be left out if you prefer less sweeter applesauce.
Felicia
I am always looking for Easy and quick recipes for my instant pot! Thank you for this one and just in time for Fall hehe 😉
Angela
So many uses for this = my kids love apple sauce with pork chops and I can see needing a lot to make enough for that and snacks. Homemade is just so good.
simplylowcal
Homemade is so good and those sound like great ways to use applesauce!
Beth
I have made apple butter but never applesauce. Looks like time to change that! Thanks for the IP directions.
Lisa Ho
I have made apple butter before, would love to try your applesauce.
I don't have instant pot, I guess I will have to try using ordinary pot then 🙂
simplylowcal
It can be made on the stovetop too. 🙂
Ai | Ai made it for you
I love anything apples, especially when it's paired with warm spices like cinnamon 😀
Yasmin
Simple and easy to make. Loved it! Was really delicious! Thanks for sharing
Jazzy's Mama
Great recipe. Homemade applesauce is so much better than store bought .
Jacqueline Debono
Apple sauce is such a great autumn condiment! I love it with pork and ham!
Simone
This looks delicious... guess it's time to pull out the Instant Pot!
Nart | Cooking with Nart
Never made my own applesauce but this recipe sounds really easy and it requires only 5 ingredients. Can't wait to try this!
Lathiya
I love how Instant pot have made life easier. Making apple sauce in it should be easy. The apple sauce looks great.
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness
Wow, what CAN'T the Instant Pot do???
I was craving apple sauce the other day, but didn't have any at home. It didn't even cross my mind to make it myself! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Ashley
This is why I love picking fresh apples -- so I can make applesauce!! Can't wait to try it in my IP this fall!
Alice | SkinnySpatula
Can't wait to try this. It's really difficult to find decent applesauce in the UK.
Anita
Homemade apple sauce is the best. I love the addition of all the spices in here, making this so much better than the store-bought version.
Mama Maggie's Kitchen
Hmm this is why I love Apples! So many delicious recipes to make. This Instant Pot cinnamon applesauce looks totally mouthwatering. My son will love this.