Homemade Applesauce

Ingredients

• 4 pounds apples
• 2/3 cup apple juice, cider, or water
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, or to taste
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Steps to Make It

1. Gather the ingredients.
2. Wash the apples and peel them unless you will be using a food mill. Core the apples and slice each one into 8 wedges.
3. Transfer them to a large saucepan with a lid, like a Dutch oven. Add the apple juice, lemon juice, brown sugar, and cinnamon to the apples and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
4. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and simmer until the apples are very tender, about 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. The cook time will depend on the apple variety; note that apple slices that are not peeled and cored will take longer to cook.
5. Mash or purée the apples as desired using a potato masher, immersion blender, food processor, or food mill. Taste and adjust the sugar or lemon juice, if needed.