Homemade Brown Sugar Cinnamon Applesauce

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This brown sugar cinnamon applesauce is a simple and easy healthy recipe made in the slow cooker.  It’s naturally gluten-free and vegan, and can also be customized to be refined sugar free or paleo.

Scroll down for the Brown Sugar Cinnamon Applesauce recipe made in the crock pot.

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The gluten-free guide below is based on personal experience and research.  Always be sure to discuss any medical changes with your doctor for your personal medical needs. Additionally, this post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. My full disclosure isn’t that interesting, but you can find it here. 

One of the perks of living in the Northeast is the abundance of apples in the fall.  We love to go apple picking, but also get apples through our CSA.  Each fall, we take all our apples and turn them into applesauce.  It’s so simple to make and the kids love it.  We’ve experimented with many variations, but this recipe for brown sugar cinnamon applesauce is my absolute favorite!

Why you’ll love this Homemade Brown Sugar Cinnamon Applesauce

• Making brown sugar and cinnamon applesauce in your slow cooker provides a delightful, homemade flavor reminiscent of homemade apple pie filling that surpasses store-bought versions.
• It allows you to control the ingredients, ensuring a healthier and preservative-free option for you and your family.
• The slow cooker simplifies the process, making it a convenient and hands-off way to enjoy the warm, comforting aroma and taste of freshly made applesauce.

Easy Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Cinnamon Recipe Variations:

This recipe is naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan, but can easily be modified to be refined sugar-free or paleo!

Ingredients for Gluten-Free Slow Cooker Applesauce

This slow cooker cinnamon brown sugar applesauce only requires 4 ingredients.  All these ingredients can be found at your local grocery store, but you’ll find great deals on spices and sweeteners at Thrive Market.

Click here to learn more about how Thrive Market saves me money on groceries and a promotional link to save up to $20 on your first order!

To make this gluten-free crock pot applesauce you’ll need:

• 3 lbs apples (your favorite!)
• 3 tbsp Brown Sugar (or sugar substitute)
• 1 tbsp Cinnamon
• 2 tbsp Lemon Juice
• ¼ cup Water

Refined Sugar Free Crock Pot Applesauce

If going for a sugar free applesauce recipe, substitute the brown sugar for a sugar substitute.  My two favorite brown sugar substitutes are:

• Swerve Brown Sugar
  • Find Swerve on Amazon here
• and Lakanto Golden Monk Fruit
  • Find Lakanto on Amazon here

I’ve made this applesauce with each of these—it doesn’t lose any flavor! Often, Thrive Market has excellent deals on both of these sweeteners–I typically buy them at Thrive Market. You can save up to $20 off your purchase at Thrive Market by purchasing through this link.

Paleo Crock Pot Applesauce

If wanting to keep this recipe paleo, substitute a brown coconut sugar like this one that’s gluten-free.

Tools Needed for Crock Pot Cinnamon Brown Sugar Applesauce

To make this brown sugar cinnamon applesauce, you’ll need:

• cutting/chopping tools
• a slow cooker
• a stick blender

A regular knife and cutting board are fine for chopping apples, but if you plan to make this frequently, I highly recommend investing in an apple corer and slicer.  It just makes the process so much quicker!

This apple corer and slicer from OXO is super affordable and easy to use:

If you’re looking for something which requires a bit less strength, this spiralizer by Kitchen Aid will not only core and slice your apples but peel them as well.  Plus, it can be used to make veggie noodles—and I’m all for multi-functional kitchen gadgets! 

Personally, when I’m making this applesauce, I don’t peel my apples.  It tastes great, so why bother?  I just wash them, chop them, and throw them into the crockpot.

I love having a slow cooker with a timer—and they are so affordable!  You can also use an Instant Pot or the Ninja Foodie as a slow cooker, so an all-in-one appliance may be a really great choice for your family (and a space saver!)

To finish off this recipe, you’ll use a stick blender to puree the cooked apples into applesauce.  There are so many stick blenders on the market, but I have the Cuisinart.  We use this multiple times a week for soups, bulletproof coffee, and whipping up cream.

How to Make Gluten-Free Brown Sugar Cinnamon Applesauce

Step 1:

Wash, chop, and core your apples (and toss them into the crockpot).

Step 2:

Add in the lemon juice, water, brown sugar, and cinnamon.

Step 3:

Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.

Step 4:

Blend with the immersion blender until it’s the desired consistency.  If it’s too thick, add water 1-2 tbsp at a time until the desired consistency is reached.

Step 5:

Serve your crockpot applesauce with brown sugar either warm or cold!

How Long Does Homemade Applesauce Last?

Before storing the applesauce in your refrigerator or freezer, be sure it cools to room temperature. 
In the fridge, store in airtight containers for up to a week

In the freezer, store in freezer bags and freeze for 3 months.

Save this brown sugar cinnamon applesauce recipe for later!

Be sure to pin this super easy recipe to your Crock Pot Recipes Pinterest board or add it to your Yummly recipe box so you can access it quick and easy whenever you’re ready to make it!

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