3-Ingredient Instant Pot Applesauce

Homemade applesauce has never been easier! This Instant Pot version takes just minutes to cook with three simple ingredients.

This recipe is similar to my slow cooker applesauce, but using the Instant Pot makes it even faster. Sweet apples and cinnamon cook together into a naturally sweet sauce with no sugar added. Once you try it, you'll never want the store-bought kind again.

The key to this Instant Pot applesauce recipe is using apples that are sweet enough that you don't need to add sugar. It's perfect when you need a quick snack or to use in baking like these cranberry applesauce muffins.

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Ingredients you'll need

Just three simple ingredients make this easy applesauce.

• Apples - Choose naturally sweet varieties like Honeycrisp, Fuji, Golden Delicious, or Paula Red. You can mix in tart apples like Granny Smith if you like a sweet-tart flavor.
• Cinnamon sticks - Gently flavors the applesauce as it cooks without overpowering the natural sweetness of the apples. You can substitute ground cinnamon if you don't have cinnamon sticks.
• Water - Helps the apples cook evenly under pressure.

Kitchen tools

A few simple tools make this recipe easy.

• Instant Pot - The pressure cooker cuts the cooking time to minutes while still creating that long-simmered flavor.
• Immersion blender - Great for pureeing the applesauce right in the pot for less cleanup.

How to make it

Here's how to make this applesauce recipe step by step.

Core, peel, and dice the apples. Add apples, water, and the cinnamon stick to the Instant Pot.

Close the lid, set the valve to seal, and pressure cook on high for 5 minutes.

When it's done, let it release naturally for 10 minutes, then do a quick release to open the lid.

Remove the cinnamon sticks. Puree with an immersion blender to your preferred consistency for a smooth applesauce or mash for a chunkier texture.

Variations

Here are a few ways to change up this simple recipe.

• No peel - You can skip peeling the apples for an even quicker version. Keep in mind you'll need to puree the cooked sauce to blend the skins, and it may turn pink depending on the color of the apple skins.
• Add spice - Try a pinch of nutmeg or ground cloves for extra warmth. Or sub pumpkin spice or apple pie spice for the cinnamon sticks.
• Sweeten it up - If you like a sweeter applesauce, stir in a drizzle of maple syrup or honey to taste after cooking.

Serving ideas

This homemade applesauce is delicious warm straight from the pot or chilled from the fridge. Garnish with extra cinnamon or your favorite warm spices.

Try it over pancakes or waffles, spooned alongside pork chops, or as a snack or paired with a sandwich for lunch.

How to store

I like to store the applesauce in individual mason jars for easy serving. It will keep for several days in the refrigerator or can be frozen for longer storage.

More easy apple recipes

If you love apple recipes, here are a few more cozy fall favorites.

This Apple Crisp is a classic fall dessert with tender baked apples and a crumble topping made with pecans instead of oats.

These Apple Cinnamon Muffins are made with almond flour and fresh apples for a cozy breakfast treat.

Hot Apple Cider spiced with cinnamon is a perfect warm drink for chilly days.