Maple Vanilla Applesauce
A cozy homemade applesauce with maple, vanilla, lemon and cinnamon, delicious spooned warm or chilled alongside breakfast, snacks or savory dishes.
Prep 25 min · Cook 40 min · Total 1 hr 5 min · Makes about 6 cups
Ingredients
- 4 pounds cooking apples, peeled, cored, and quartered
- 4 two-inch strips lemon peel
- 3 tablespoons juice from 1 lemon
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- Seeds from 1/2 vanilla bean
- 1 cup water
- 1 tsp kosher salt
Directions
- Put all the ingredients in a large pot and set it over high heat until the mixture reaches a boil. Lower the heat so it gently simmers, and let it cook for 30 minutes.
- Take the pot off the heat, then pull out and discard the cinnamon sticks and lemon peel. Use a potato masher to crush the apples until the sauce is as smooth or chunky as you like.
- If you want a finer texture, transfer the sauce to a food processor or blender and puree it. Serve it warm, at room temperature, or chilled.