There’s nothing like the cozy scent of apples cooking in the kitchen, and this No Sugar Added Slow Cooker Applesauce captures that warm, comforting flavor with minimal effort. Using just a few ingredients and no added sugar, this homemade applesauce is naturally sweet, customizable, and practically hands-off when made in a slow cooker or Instant Pot.
When I moved into this house there was an old apple tree in the yard that produced more apples than we could use, but because it was dying we had to cut it down. A couple of years ago I planted a new apple tree; I may not get to enjoy its fruit someday, but I love the idea of someone else benefiting from it. If you have an apple tree, you’re lucky — fresh apples make the best applesauce.
💛 Why You Will Love This Recipe
This slow cooker applesauce is one of those low-effort, high-reward recipes I turn to again and again. The apples provide natural sweetness so there’s no need for added sugar, and slow cooking draws out a deep, caramelized flavor. It’s kid-friendly, freezer-friendly, and works well for weight-watchers plans.
The recipe is versatile and pairs well with other sugar-free fruit sauces or jams. It’s great for serving warm or chilled and fills your home with an irresistible apple aroma.
Ingredients Needed
- 8 medium Honeycrisp apples
- Peels from 1 orange (about 3 peels)
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
Substitution Tips
- Mix sweet and tart apples (for example Honeycrisp with Granny Smith) to balance flavor and texture.
- If you don’t have lemon juice, a splash of apple cider vinegar can help preserve color and add brightness.
- For a different warm note, add a dash of vanilla or ground nutmeg.
How to Make Homemade Applesauce
Step 1: Peel, core, and slice the apples. Place the apple slices in your slow cooker or Instant Pot, then tuck the cinnamon sticks and orange peels on top. Sprinkle the allspice over everything.
Step 2 – Slow Cooker: Cover and cook on low for about 6 hours, until the apples are very tender and lightly caramelized. No stirring required.
Step 3: Remove the cinnamon sticks and orange peels with tongs. Use an immersion blender to puree the apples directly in the cooker, or transfer to a blender and blend until smooth. Adjust the texture to your preference — leave it slightly chunky or make it silk-smooth.
Instant Pot option: Seal the lid, set the steam valve to sealing, and cook on high pressure for 20 minutes, then perform a quick release. Remove peels and cinnamon sticks and puree as above.
Serving size: ½ cup.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve warm over oatmeal or yogurt.
- Spoon over vanilla or dairy-free ice cream for a simple topping.
- Use as a topping for pancakes, waffles, or French toast.
- Incorporate into baking as a natural sweetener or to replace oil in muffins, breads, and cakes.
- Enjoy chilled straight from the fridge as a healthy snack.
Choosing the Right Slow Cooker
- Pick a size that suits your household. For large families choose a 6–7 quart cooker; for smaller households a 4 quart model is usually sufficient. If scaling the recipe down, you don’t need to change cooking times significantly.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. Follow proper water-bath canning and sterilization procedures. The natural acidity in apples plus added citrus helps make it safe when canned correctly.
Absolutely. It’s a great natural sweetener and can replace oil or part of the fat in recipes for muffins, quick breads, and cakes.
A mix of sweet (Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp) and tart (Granny Smith, McIntosh) apples yields the best balance of flavor and texture.
Other Recipes to Try
-
Beer Cheese Soup
-
Mexican Macaroni Salad
-
Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup
-
Fudge Stripe Cookie Fruit Salad
If you try this Slow Cooker Applesauce (Sugar Free) or any other recipe here, please leave a star rating and a comment to share how it turned out—I love hearing from readers.
Sugar Free Applesauce
Description
This recipe is completely sugar-free and points-friendly. It can be made in a slow cooker or Instant Pot and yields a naturally sweet, comforting applesauce.
Ingredients
- 8 medium Honeycrisp apples
- Peels from 1 orange (about 3 peels)
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- ¼ tsp allspice
Instructions
- Peel, core, and slice the apples. Place them in the slow cooker or Instant Pot and add cinnamon sticks, orange peels, and allspice.
- Instant Pot: Seal and cook on high pressure for 20 minutes, then quick release.
- Slow Cooker: Cook on low for 6 hours, until very tender.
- Remove orange peels and cinnamon sticks. Puree with an immersion blender or in a regular blender until your desired consistency is reached.
- Serve ½ cup per serving.
Notes
WW points (approximate): Blue 0; Green 0; Purple 0. The sugar listed in nutrition is naturally occurring from the apples.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ½ cup
- Calories: 70
- Sugar: 14 g
- Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 0 g