Gone are the days of reaching for those convenient plastic applesauce pouches for my little ones, all thanks to this delightful Homemade Cinnamon + Brown Sugar Applesauce recipe. It’s not just good; it’s incredibly easy to make! Try it once, and you’ll see how simple it is to whip up a large batch of fresh, homemade organic applesauce in no time. The best part? Creating this from scratch means there are absolutely no hidden ingredients, giving you peace of mind with every delicious spoonful. My whole family adores this recipe, favoring its taste over store-bought options. Plus, served warm – applesauce has a dessert-like quality that’s simply delightful. Keep reading to discover the recipe!

so what’s the deal with plastic food pouches?

Plastic food pouches are so convenient and loved by kids! More often than not, I have hurriedly stashed them in my bag for a quick on-the-go treat. While convenient for travel and needing something to eat in a pinch, these pouches may not be the best for our little ones’ nourishment and development. Here are just a few reasons to reconsider those plastic pouches:

• Developmental delay. Pouches can limit a baby’s development. Babies explore food through their senses, which allows them to discover different tastes and textures. Holding a pouch doesn’t help them learn hand-eye coordination.
• Delayed oral motor development. Sucking on pouches instead of chewing can delay oral motor development and lead to feeding issues. 
• Smaller Jawbones. Mushy foods from pouches can lead to smaller jawbones and narrow airways since they are not chewing foods.
• Chemical additives. Plastic packaging can leach harmful microplastics and chemicals into food, such as BPA, which is an endocrine disruptor. Fertility is on a serious decline in this country and this is a huge contributing factor.
• Sugar content. Pouches can contain added sugars. This can lead to dental problems and picky eating. 

real Ingredients For healthy Homemade Applesauce

Organic Apples  – You will need about six pounds of organic apples. I use honey crisp apples for their juicy and crunchy qualities. You could also use pink lady, fuji or gala – but really, any apple variety will do!

Organic Lemon Juice– You’ll need the juice from the half of one lemon to coat the apple slices and keep them from turning brown.

Organic Apple Juice – You can also use apple cider or omit the juice altogether and substitute water for less sugar.

Organic Brown Sugar – Brown sugar adds sweetness and a hint of caramel to the applesauce. You can omit the brown sugar altogether for a sugar free recipe.

Organic Ground Cinnamon. Cinnamon adds a cozy, warm flavor to the applesauce, as well as some antioxidants. You can also use a cinnamon stick to infuse flavor into applesauce while it’s cooking.

What You will need

• Johnny Apple Peeler
• Dutch Oven or Large Pot
• Food Processor
• Weck Tulip Jars for Storing

To simplify the process of peeling, coring and cutting your apples, I highly suggest purchasing one of these Johnny Apple Peelers. It does all of the work for you! You’ll never go back to cutting apples any other way, ever again if you don’t prefer the skins!

Ingredients

• 6 pounds apples – approx. 12 medium apples, peeled, cored, quartered into. I used honey crisp.
• 1 cup organic apple juice
• Fresh squeezed juice from 1 lemon
• 1/2 cup brown sugar – (optional)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

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Instructions

• Place the peeled, cored, and quartered apples in a large pot.  
• Stir in apple juice, lemon juice, brown sugar (if using), 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and salt.
• Bring to a boil over high heat.
• Once simmering, reduce heat to low and cover pot with a tight-fitting lid.  Simmer on low for 30 minutes or until the apples are soft and completely cooked through.
• Once fully cooked, remove from heat.  
• For chunky applesauce, mash the apples directly in the pot using a potato masher. For smooth applesauce, add the apples to a food processor or blender and blend until smooth.
• Serve applesauce warm or cold.
• Store applesauce in the refrigerator in an airtight container like these Weck tulip jars for a few days. You can also freeze the applesauce.