• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • ALL RECIPES
  • Dinner
  • Dessert
  • Pumpkin Recipes
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
Self Proclaimed Foodie
menu icon
go to homepage
  • RECIPES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT ME
  • SUBSCRIBE
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • RECIPES
    • ABOUT
    • CONTACT ME
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Side Dish

    Vanilla Bean Honeycrisp Applesauce

    Published: September 2, 2019 · Updated: December 5, 2020 · By: Krissy · 69 Comments
    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    homemade applesauce crockpot recipe with no sugar
    Homemade applesauce made from the best apples and vanilla beans is an easy recipe! This simple crockpot applesauce recipe is also healthy since there is no sugar added.

    This recipe is so delicious, it will knock your socks off. Plus its so sweet, you won't believe it was made without sugar.

    Applesauce recipe

    Nothing says fall like homemade applesauce.  This recipe was the result of when I bought a pretty big (I think it was around 30 pounds) box of freshly picked organic honeycrisp apples at my farmer's market.

    I especially love this recipe because it's only made from a few wholesome ingredients and it's really easy to make. Plus, it's something I feel good about serving my family.

    Best apples to use:

    The key components to making this wonderful applesauce are:

    Good quality apples.  I only make my homemade applesauce with freshly picked organic honeycrisp apples.  I'm super particular when it comes to my apples and proud of it!  They are crisp, juicy, sweet and tart, which is why no sugar is required.  Take my advice on this one.

    I've never put sugar in my applesauce.  I just make sure that I start with a delicious apple and not sugar is needed.

    My two most favorite apples in the world are Pink Ladies and Honeycrisps.

    Lucky for me, the honeycrisps are in their peak season late summer and the pink ladies are in the stores in the early spring, making for year round happiness for me.

    box of organic honeycrisp apples used to make applesauce

    Ingredients needed:

    In addition to the apples, you only need the following:

    1. Vanilla beans.  Its one of my top ten most favorite things in the world and you'll never see my pantry without them.  That's a promise. The price of vanilla beans has skyrocketed since I first made this homemade applesauce, but I still think they're worth it.
    2. Cinnamon sticks.  I love the flavor of cinnamon but I don't always want the over powering flavor of powdered cinnamon.  I think using a cinnamon stick in this recipe not only flavors your applesauce perfectly, but it doesn't change the beautiful light color of the apples.
    3. Lemon juice.  It keeps your apples tart, adds a bit of acid in case you want to can for later, and keeps your apples from turning brown from oxidation.

    How to make this recipe:

    You can certainly make this applesauce on the stove top or in an Instant Pot with a few minor tweaks to the recipe.

    I personally like to use the slow cooker to make my homemade applesauce because no water is necessary, thus making the flavor the best it can be. Plus, your entire kitchen will smell like heaven.

    1. First step is to peel, core, and cut your apples thin. I've made applesauce without peeling the apples before, and although the skin adds to the flavor, I don't like it in the applesauce.
    2. Combine the apples with the vanilla bean, lemon juice and cinnamon sticks in the Slow cooker. Give them a stir, cover, and cook on high for four hours.
    3. All you'll need to do is give it a stir when its done and you'll have perfect applesauce.  BAM!
    how to make applesauce

    Canning applesauce:

    I filled up all different sizes of mason jars when I can using a water bath canning set simply because I like the way it looks.

    If you plan on canning your homemade applesauce, just add the hot applesauce to sterile glass mason jars and leave just under an inch of head space at the top of the jar.

    Attach a brand new lid and ring and place in a simmering water bath so that there is at least an inch of water covering the jars.

    I let my jars of applesauce soak in the gentle simmer, covered, for about twenty minutes. Then, I carefully transfer them to the counter and you can hear the seals pop within a few minutes.

    Once canned, your applesauce will last for several months, if not more, on the shelf.

    canning applesauce
    This Vanilla Bean Honeycrisp Applesauce recipe is so delicious, it will knock your socks off. Plus its so sweet, you won’t believe it was made without sugar.

    Vanilla Bean Honeycrisp Applesauce

    This Vanilla Bean Honeycrisp Applesauce recipe is so delicious, it will knock your socks off. Plus its so sweet, you won't believe it was made without sugar.
    4.82 from 22 votes
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 4 hours
    Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
    Scale: 4 servings
    Recipe Created By: Krissy Allori

    Ingredients

    • 5 large honeycrisp apples (peeled, cored and thinly sliced)
    • 1 lemon
    • 1 cinnamon stick
    • 1 vanilla bean

    Instructions

    • Put apple slices in large slow cooker.
    • Juice lemon, pour over apples, and toss to coat.
    • Add cinnamon stick to slow cooker.
    • Split vanilla bean and scrap seeds with knife. Add bean pod and scraped seeds to slow cooker.
    • Cover and cook on high for 4 hours. There should be no need to add water. When done, stir with large spoon to achieve desired consistency. Discard vanilla bean pod.

    Notes

    Can in water bath for 20 minutes for long term storage or store in refrigerator in airtight container up to 2 weeks.
    Recipe can easily be increased based on volume of slow cooker.

    NUTRITION INFORMATION

    Calories: 131kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 280mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 125IU | Vitamin C: 24.8mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 0.5mg
    SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTERSign up to have my recipes emailed to you. Free!

    This recipe was originally published in September 2014 and was most recently updated in September 2019.

    Related recipes:

    Since I always make more than enough applesauce, I always enjoy incorporating it into other recipes. Here are some of the best recipes to make with applesauce:

    • Applesauce Cake with Brown Butter Frosting is one of my favorites!
    • I even made some maple bourbon apple cider from a batch of applesauce that I cooked too long!
    • You can also substitute applesauce for oil in recipes like healthy zucchini bread.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. David R Grindel

      September 09, 2022 at 8:54 am

      Kissy,
      I'm trying to find the Applesauce cake with brown butter frosting but get the
      recipe for applesauce ! I downloaded your applesauce recipe. Suspect I'll need it for the cake ! Quick .. I'm drooling on my keyboard!

      Thanks,
      Dave Grindel

      Reply
      • Krissy

        September 13, 2022 at 12:37 pm

        Sorry for the late reply! If you type it into the search bar on my site, it should come up!

        Reply
    2. Elly

      April 30, 2020 at 12:03 pm

      How can I adjust the recipe to cook in an Instant Pot?? Thanks for this amazing recipe!

      Reply
    3. Doug Erickson

      May 12, 2019 at 6:20 pm

      Have you ever used mexican vannila extract in place of the bean?

      Reply
      • Krissy

        May 13, 2019 at 5:02 am

        I always have plenty of vanilla beans in my pantry, so I haven't with this recipe, however a good vanilla extract will work perfectly fine in place of the bean!

        Reply
    4. Ginny

      November 03, 2018 at 9:16 am

      The nutrition facts Say. 24grams of sugar ..is that just from the apples My husband a diabetic so I guess I won’t be able to make it.

      Reply
      • Krissy

        November 15, 2018 at 6:15 am

        Hi Ginny, All of my nutritional info is an approximation based on the ingredients. Since there is no added sugar, I put the serving size proportional to each person eating 1 1/4 cooked down apples. I'm guessing there is a lot of natural sugar, though. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    5. Samantha

      October 06, 2018 at 12:30 pm

      I made the recipe, and cooked 4 batches at a time in my slow cooker. Unfortunately, my applesauce turned out VERY lemony, as in that was the most prominent taste. I did use my citrus press to juice my lemons though, and they were a little on the large side. I’m just disappointed that it failed, since I spent $15 on vanilla beans, and a good $20 on apples. It’s a rather expensive fail, and not sure if it can be fixed. 🙁

      Reply
      • Krissy

        October 07, 2018 at 7:49 am

        Hi Samantha! I'm so sorry to hear that! I know my recipe doesn't use sugar, but you could add some to counteract the tartness of the lemon. You could also cook down some more apples and add them to the mix to help balance it out. I hope it works! Whenever I make something like this and it doesn't turn out as expected, I usually turn it into a pancake topper.

        Reply
    6. meg

      August 07, 2018 at 4:09 pm

      5 stars
      can't wait to try this recipe! &i am definitely NOT a food snob-i think all fresh apples deserve a chance to be loved! taste-test by making 1/4 batches stovetop-ready in minutes (also commented above;). that said, when i read the comments, i was struck by the rudeness of 1 angry person (in a sea of delighted ones!) who was 'disappointed.' after reading cheryl's post about the inaccuracy of the quantity of apples, the idea occured that this was most likely the cause of her burnt 'sauce (&also above-ANYTHING left unattended 4hrs will burn on high heat).i bet if you made that recipe with 5 SMALL apples&did not stir....well...[&seems like '5 large' is rather a vague amount to say it was 'followed exactly']. to me tho, recipes are a guideline-follow it once to try, then adjust to your own liking-using common sense&imagination! all good things start somewhere&your recipe inspires!! thanks for the great idea-i will enjoy making it my own 🙂 🙂

      Reply
    7. Cheryl

      June 04, 2018 at 12:12 pm

      4 stars
      I feel like this is a stupid question but.... The recipe calls for just 5 large apples and a large crock pot? I tried it this past weekend and I lost count of how many apples I put in a six quart crock and it was barely half full. I would consider the apples I used to be on a medium or small scale but I thought I compensated by using more... The apple sauce was good but I thought it was a bit tart and a little heavy with cinnamon so I wondered if I perhaps didn't use enough apples? The ratio is really one lemon to 5 (large) apples?

      Reply
      • Krissy

        June 04, 2018 at 2:40 pm

        Hi Cheryl, This was one of my first recipes and it probably needs some revisiting (meaning I should have weighed my apples first). I remember when I made this that they were VERY large apples. They were also freshly picked honeycrisps and were extremely sweet. I should have measured out the lemon juice as well to help my readers. Based on how yours turned out, I'm guessing you probably needed more apples or they weren't super sweet to begin with? Sorry the recipe wasn't well written. I'll make it again this fall when they're in season and will re-write. Thanks! Krissy

        Reply
    8. Sara Mendez

      May 13, 2017 at 8:49 pm

      I tried this for the first time today and it was fantastic! Like mind blowingly fantastic! I like applesauce, but this made me LOVE IT! I can see this being a topping on ice cream or on oatmeal in addition to just eating it right out off the jar! So good thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
    9. Jax

      November 09, 2016 at 12:38 pm

      5 stars
      Just wanted to let you know I have made this recipe a gazillion times. Its an absolute fave and a Thanksgiving must. Found it again today to send link to family out west that couldn't make it home this year (i do it by sight now but wanted something a little more exact to share). Thanks!

      Reply
      • Krissy

        November 11, 2016 at 1:55 pm

        Thanks for the great comment, Jax! Happy Thanksgiving! Krissy

        Reply
    10. Patricia

      October 20, 2016 at 12:41 pm

      5 stars
      This was not a favorite recipe for applesauce in our home. We love honeycrisp apples. However, we felt there was too much lemon juice and made it too tart. Also, the cinnamon stick did not infuse enough to have a distinct flavor. We did however, like the idea of vanilla bean. This is not a bad recipe, just not to our liking. In addition, I can't put my head around waiting 4 hours for applesauce when on the stove top it's done in 20-30 on low heat. Giving it 5 stars because you live it!

      Reply
      • Krissy

        October 26, 2016 at 5:25 am

        Well thank you for the nice rating! My apples were so sweet, I couldn't even taste the lemon! -Krissy

        Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Krissy

    A close up of a woman

    I love to create the BEST versions of your favorite recipes. If you love to cook, love to eat, or just have a deep appreciation for good food, you're in the right place! Stick around... I have hundreds of recipes for you to make. more about me...

    SUBSCRIBE to my newsletter

    Valentine's Favorites

    • Absolutely Perfect Filet Mignon
    • Chocolate Covered Strawberries
    • Broiled Lobster Tail
    • Heart Beet Pancakes
    online publications that have featured self proclaimed foodie

    Most Popular Recipes

    • Salmon Patties (Salmon Cakes)
    • Granny's Monkey Bread Recipe
    • Perfect Prime Rib Roast
    • Cajun Shrimp Pasta
    • Country Sausage Gravy
    • Absolutely Perfect Filet Mignon
    • Best Homemade Alfredo Sauce {Easy 4 Ingredient Recipe + Video}
    • Granny's Classic Meatloaf Recipe

    Footer

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    Contact

    Privacy Policy

    Nutrition Disclaimer

    Check Out Ten Acre Baker

    Meet Krissy

    Social

    Pinterest

    Facebook

    Instagram

    You Tube

    Sign Up for free emails

    Recipes

    • Dinner
    • Dessert
    • Breakfast
    • Drinks
    • Appetizers

    Self Proclaimed Foodie is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

    COPYRIGHT © 2022 SELF PROCLAIMED FOODIE®