Homemade Instant Pot Applesauce Recipe

Everyone has a secret vice. Not only is it a fundamental fact of the human condition, it also makes our lives more fun and interesting. So, when we reveal the "deep dark secret" that registered dietitian and recipe developer Kristen Carli of Camelback Nutrition & Wellness confessed to, we expect that it's only going to make you appreciate her more. And that's before you hear her recipe for homemade applesauce that you make in an Instant Pot.

"I hate peeling apples," Carli said. In fact, peeling apples is Carli's "biggest pet peeve in the kitchen." But as much as Carli hates peeling apples, "it's worth it for this recipe," she said of this ridiculously efficient three-ingredient Instant Pot applesauce recipe.

"I love this [applesauce] served for a snack or dessert," she told us, "It's even delicious on top of ice cream."  

In creating this recipe for Instant Pot homemade applesauce, Carli tried out a bunch of different varieties of apple to see which, and in which combination, would produce the tastiest and most consistent result. As it turned out, the winner was Honeycrisp, a sweet, juicy and surprisingly crunchy apple that kind of looks like what you'd get if you crossed a Macoun with a Honeygold. Spoiler alert: that's because it is a cross between Macoun and Honeygold. So, if you can't find Honeycrisp, you could always go with half Macoun and half Honeygold for this recipe. However, Carli said that her next-favorite combo would be Gala and Jazz. In any event, you're going to need eight apples. Look for firm, shiny apples with as few bruises as possible and ideally no cuts. 

You'll also need lemon juice and ground cinnamon. And that's it! Gather up those ingredients, and let's get cooking.

Let's face it. Just as you have to break a few eggs in order to enjoy an omelet, you're going to have to peel some apples in order to enjoy Carli's three-ingredient applesauce recipe. Look, even she is willing to peel those apples to make this recipe, and we know how she feels about peeling apples. So, how about if we just skip the apple-whining and go straight to the peeling? 

Wash your apples, and peel them from top to bottom (but here's why you should save those peels). Then slice them up as shown, and move onto the next step.

Now we move directly to the Instant Pot portion of this recipe (we told you it was highly efficient!). Transfer the peeled apple to your Instant Pot. Add the water, lemon juice, and cinnamon. Stir well. Close the lid, and place the valve on "sealing." Set the Instant Pot to "pressure cook," and cook for eight minutes.  

In case you don't already know, it may take a few minutes for your Instant Pot to reach the correct cooking temperature. Also, once the timer goes off, release the steam valve, and step back because the steam might be very hot. When your Instant Pot is finished discharging the steam, you can open the lid. Grab a potato masher and mash the apples to your desired consistency. If you don't have a potato masher, a fork will do just fine. 

You can serve your Instant Pot homemade applesauce immediately, or you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days — or freeze it for longer. Bon apple-tit!