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Make this single serving mini slow cooker applesauce for one – an easy, hands-off recipe for homemade applesauce with no waste. Choose chunky or smooth texture.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: Apples, water, optional sweetener, and cinnamon.
- Perfect for One: Just the right amount with no leftovers.
- Set-and-Forget Method: The slow cooker does the work for you.
- Chunky or Smooth Texture: Mash for rustic or blend for silky smooth.
- No Preservatives or Additives: Just pure, homemade applesauce.
- Customizable Sweetness: Unsweetened, lightly sweetened, or to taste.
I love making this mini slow cooker applesauce because it’s so simple yet tastes incredible. The apples cook until perfectly tender, and their natural sweetness deepens with just a hint of cinnamon.
I especially enjoy this warm applesauce over a short stack of pancakes or a single waffle, served alongside pork tenderloin for one or a pan-fried ham steak, or even as a topping for 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 For Mini Crock Pot Applesauce
If you have any ingredients leftover from this crockpot applesauce recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Apples: Use one to two medium apples (about 8 ounces). Sweeter apples such as Fuji or Gala usually need little or no sugar, while tart varieties like Granny Smith may benefit from added sweetness. Extra apples? Try them in apple pie oatmeal for one or small batch apple fritters.
- Water: Softens the apples as they cook. Adjust the amount slightly depending on how thick you prefer your applesauce.
- Sugar: This recipe calls for 1 teaspoon added at the start of cooking. The exact amount can vary depending on the type of apple you use and your taste preference.
- Cinnamon Stick (optional): Adds warm spice and depth of flavor.
- Fresh Ginger (optional): A small piece provides a light, zesty note.
Note: Apples and water alone make a simple, naturally sweet applesauce. Sugar and spices are optional additions that enhance the flavor.
How To Make Mini 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 homemade applesauce, or blend with an immersion blender for a smooth, creamy texture.
Recipe Tip: Making Applesauce Without Peeling the Apples
If you’d like to skip peeling, you can leave the apple skins on. The skins soften as they cook in the slow cooker. For a smooth texture, blend the sauce with an immersion blender or food processor to incorporate the skins. If you prefer not to keep the skins, run the applesauce through a fine mesh strainer or food mill after cooking.
Expert Tips
- Small Slow Cooker: A 1.5-quart slow cooker works best for this recipe.
- Texture Options: For chunky applesauce, mash the cooked apples with a fork or potato masher. For smooth applesauce, blend until creamy with an immersion blender or food processor.
- Storage: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. You can leave the skins on and they’ll soften as they cook in the slow cooker. For a smooth applesauce, blend the skins into the sauce or strain them out after cooking.
Yes. Many apples are naturally sweet, so you can skip the sugar if you like. Sweeter apples such as Fuji or Gala may not need any added sugar.
On High, it takes about 3 hours. Stir once or twice during cooking for even softening.
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.
One to two medium apples (about 8 ounces total) is enough to make one portion of applesauce.
If your applesauce turns out thinner than you’d like, simply remove the lid of the slow cooker and let it cook uncovered for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally. This allows extra liquid to evaporate and thickens the applesauce.
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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Mini 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.
Easy, delicious way to prepare applesauce