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This single serving slow cooker applesauce is made with just a few simple ingredients. The apples cook until soft and tender, creating a warm, homemade applesauce with natural sweetness and a hint of cinnamon.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: All you really need are apples and water. A little sugar and cinnamon add warmth and flavor.
- Perfectly Portioned: Made for one, so you won’t have leftovers or waste.
- Hands-Off Cooking: The slow cooker does the work for you.
- Fresh & Natural: No preservatives, just pure homemade applesauce.
- Adjustable Sweetness: Add more or less sugar depending on the type of apples and your taste.
I love making this homemade slow cooker applesauce because it’s easy, fresh, and full of flavor. The apples cook down until they’re soft and tender, with their natural sweetness brought out by a touch of cinnamon.
I especially enjoy this warm applesauce over a short stack of pancakes or a single waffle, paired with pork tenderloin for one or a ham steak, or even spooned on top of homemade vanilla ice cream. It’s wholesome, comforting, and one of my favorite simple treats.
With just one or two apples, you can make any of our single serving and small batch apple recipes. Try an apple dumpling, mini apple cake, two baked apples, or an apple crisp for one.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this crockpot applesauce recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Apples: Use any variety. Sweeter apples like Fuji or Gala may need less sugar, while tart apples like Granny Smith may need more. Extra apples? Try them in apple pie oatmeal for one or small batch apple fritters.
- Water: Helps soften the apples as they cook. Add more or less depending on how thick you like your applesauce.
- Sugar: Enhances sweetness. Adjust the amount based on the type of apples used.
- Cinnamon Stick (optional): Adds warm spice and depth of flavor.
- Fresh Ginger (optional): A small piece gives a subtle zing.
Note: Apples and water alone make a delicious applesauce. Sugar and cinnamon just enhance the flavor.
How To Make Crockpot Applesauce
These step-by-step photos show how to make applesauce in a slow cooker. See the recipe card below for exact amounts and full instructions.
- Peel, core, and dice the apples.
- Add apples, water, and sugar to a 1.5-quart slow cooker. Stir, then place the cinnamon stick on top.
- Cover and cook on High for 3 hours, stirring 2 to 3 times.
- Remove the cinnamon stick. Mash with a potato masher or fork for chunky applesauce, or use an immersion blender for smooth.
Expert Tips
- Small Slow Cooker: A 1.5-quart slow cooker works best for this recipe.
- Texture Options: Mash with a fork for chunky applesauce or blend for smooth.
- Storage: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
You don’t have to peel the apples. Leaving the skins on gives more texture and may require extra blending for smooth applesauce. Peeling first makes it smooth right away. Both methods work, so it’s personal preference.
Absolutely. The natural sweetness of the apples is often enough, especially if using sweet apple varieties.
Yes! Try our stovetop applesauce recipe for an easy and quick alternative to the slow cooker version.
Yes, double the ingredients and use a 3-quart slow cooker.
About 3 hours on High in a small slow cooker.
Use 2 medium apples.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this single serving crockpot applesauce recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
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Slow Cooker Applesauce For One
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 medium apples -about 8 oz/229g
- 6 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
Instructions
- Peel, core, and dice the apples.
- Add apples, water, and sugar to a 1.5-quart slow cooker. Stir, then place the cinnamon stick on top.
- Cover and cook on High for 3 hours, stirring 2 to 3 times during cooking.
- Remove the cinnamon stick. Mash with a potato masher or fork for chunky applesauce, or blend with an immersion blender for smooth.
Notes
- Use a small slow cooker: A 1.5-quart slow cooker is perfect for this single serving recipe.
- Mash or blend: For a chunkier applesauce, mash the apples with a fork. For a smoother texture, blend the applesauce.
- Store leftovers: If you happen to have leftovers, store them in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Terrific recipe.
Thank you!