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If I ever have extra apples at home, I make this Instant Pot applesauce with cinnamon. I use apples, cinnamon, and honey for a version that only takes 20 minutes to make. The apples soften quickly under pressure and turn into a naturally sweet, smooth sauce ideal for baby foods, toppings, or a warm homemade snack.
Applesauce is one of those classic recipes that have been around forever, since the Middle Ages, to be exact. If you want a richer version of this applesauce, try my apple curd recipe and pair it with your next bowl of yogurt. Cooking my applesauce in the Instant Pot softens the apples quickly, while preserving their natural sweetness and flavor, which means no unnecessary refined sugar.
I started making applesauce with cinnamon after an apple-picking trip with my family. The thought of standing over a stove was unbearable, so I decided to try it in my Instant Pot instead. The first batch was so good, we had it with everything. The next week, I had to make my pear compote so we could still get our fix, but with a different fruit, for some variety.
This Instant Pot applesauce with cinnamon has been one of my favorite recipes to make as a mom. I remember making it when I began introducing my kids to solids. And now they still enjoy it just as much! As a mom and health coach, the benefits of applesauce will always impress me. It contains antioxidants known as phytochemicals, which are good for digestion and help reduce the risk of diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.
The cooking method for this recipe is what makes it stand out. It takes about 20 minutes on a stovetop but could get scorched easily, and it takes 3-8 hours in a slow cooker. With the Instant Pot, I have it done in 20 minutes and do not have to worry about scorching. Pressure cooking softens the apples quickly, while trapping the steam inside the pot, helping them break down. The apples become tender enough to mash into a smooth or chunky sauce, depending on what texture I want.
In my house, applesauce has healing properties, too. A few months ago, we all came down with a horrible stomach bug and just had to ride it out. I remembered the BRAT diet, which is intentionally bland and designed to help with nausea and other stomach problems. The “A” in BRAT stands for applesauce. Ha! I could throw this together quickly, even in my state. Best of all, it helped. Next time you are down with the stomach flu, try some bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.
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🥘 Ingredients
This Instant Pot applesauce with cinnamon comes together quickly and easily, with just a few ingredients that enhance the natural sweetness and flavor of apples. This is what I use:
Apples: Most of the time, I use Fuji apples, but Gala, McIntosh, Honeycrisp, and Golden Delicious work well too.
Water: I add water to help the apples soften while cooking.
Cinnamon: This pairs well with apples, and I use it to add warmth and a classic applesauce flavor.
Honey: I add a small amount of honey for a subtle natural sweetness. Maple syrup works well as a vegan option.
Salt: A small pinch of salt rounds out the flavors and enhances the natural sweetness of the apples.
🔪 How To Make
These are the super simple steps I follow when I make my Instant Pot applesauce with cinnamon recipe:
Prepare apples: I leave the skin on my apples for the added nutrients, core them, and cut them into similar-sized chunks. You can remove the skin if preferred.
Place in Instant Pot: Next, I place all my apple chunks in the Instant Pot and sprinkle them with cinnamon and salt. Then I pour over the honey and water and stir well.
Cook: I place the lid on the pressure cooker, set the pressure cook valve to sealing. Then I set it for 5 minutes on high pressure.
Release pressure: Once the cooking time is up, I allow for a natural pressure release for 5 minutes.
Turn the valve: Then I turn the valve to venting to do a quick release and let all of the pressure release.
Mash: I open the lid carefully, away from my face to avoid the steam. Then I mash the cooked apples with a potato masher until I reach my desired consistency.
Adjust texture: If I want it chunky, I only mash some of the apples. But if I want it smooth, I use an immersion blender.
Serve: I serve this applesauce, warm or chilled.
My #1 Secret Tip for this Instant Pot applesauce with cinnamon recipe is to use a mixture of apple varieties. I use a variety of apples that each play their own part when it comes to the flavor and cooking process. McIntosh apples break down fast, while Granny Smith adds a bit of tartness, and Fuji apples provide a natural sweetness.
Other Tips To Keep In Mind:
- Keep the skin: I recommend leaving the skins on the apples as the nutritional value is too good to waste. It will not affect the texture, as it cooks down and can be blended.
- Control the thickness: If my applesauce seems too thin, I turn on the saute function and cook it for a few more minutes to reduce the liquid.
- Use a cinnamon quill: When I want a subtle spice flavor, I add a cinnamon quill into the mix, instead of ground cinnamon, and remove it before mashing.
- Adjust sweetness: I taste my applesauce after cooking and add more honey if it is still quite tart. Or you could leave out the honey altogether and enjoy the natural sweetness instead.
- Keep chunks uniform: I make sure to cut my apples into similar-sized pieces so they soften at the same rate during the pressure cooking.
📖 Variations
These are a few ways I like to adjust this Instant Pot applesauce with cinnamon recipe, depending on the season and fruit availability:
Cranberry apple: I add 1 cup of fresh or frozen cranberries and 1/4 cup sugar to apples for a tart seasonal flavor. I love making these as party favors on Thanksgiving.
Strawberry apple: For a slightly sweeter fruit blend, I stir in 2 cups diced strawberries with the apples. When I make this variation, I hold back on the honey until I have tasted it after it has cooked. The additional fruit also means that I may need to reduce it after the initial cooking.
Peach apple: I add 12 oz of frozen peaches to the pot with the apples for a richer, slightly thinner sauce. This was a huge hit with my kids when they were babies and trying out different flavors.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
I usually make the family weekend breakfasts something special, but this Instant Pot applesauce with cinnamon has elevated our weekday staples lately. Recently, I topped my high protein overnight oats with a spoonful of applesauce, which made it taste like dessert! When fall was approaching, I went into full theme mode and served it with my pumpkin spice oatmeal, which I highly recommend if you are a fan of anything pumpkin spiced!
In my house, this applesauce is so good, we do not just use it for healthy breakfasts, we also use it for indulgent, but still healthy, desserts too. Last weekend, I was making pancakes but ran out of syrup and vegan honey; luckily, I had a jar of applesauce in the fridge. I leaned into it and used it on my healthy vegan apple pancakes. My husband loves dropping spoonfuls of this sauce onto my gluten-free apple cake, too!
🧊 Storing And ♨️ Reheating
Refrigeration: I store my applesauce in an airtight container or a boiled jam jar in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Freezing: I freeze the applesauce in small containers or freezer bags for up to 3 months.
Reheating: If frozen, I thaw in the fridge overnight. Then, to reheat, I warm it gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. If the sauce is too thick, I loosen it up with a small splash of water.
❓ Recipe FAQs
Apples naturally release a lot of liquid during pressure cooking. And some varieties contain more than others. This does not mean that you have done something wrong. When this happens, I turn on the saute function and cook my applesauce for about 5 minutes until the liquid has evaporated.
This can be done easily, and it is how I made it when I first began experimenting. I add all the ingredients to a large saucepan on the stove, bring to a boil, cover, and simmer gently over a medium heat for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. I do this until the apples are very soft, then either mash or blend.
When my applesauce is too sweet for my taste, I balance it out with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and a pinch of salt. This is why I like using a tart apple like Granny Smith in the cooking process, as it provides a natural balance.
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📋 Recipe Card
Instant Pot Applesauce With Cinnamon
If I ever have extra apples at home, I make this Instant Pot applesauce with cinnamon. I use apples, cinnamon, and honey for a version that only takes 20 minutes to make. The apples soften quickly under pressure and turn into a naturally sweet, smooth sauce ideal for baby foods, toppings, or a warm homemade snack.
Servings: 6
Calories: 89.7kcal
- My #1 Secret Tip for this Instant Pot applesauce with cinnamon recipe is to use a mixture of apple varieties. I use a variety of apples that each play their own part when it comes to the flavor and cooking process. McIntosh apples break down fast, while Granny Smith adds a bit of tartness, and Fuji apples provide a natural sweetness.
- Keep the skin: I recommend leaving the skins on the apples as the nutritional value is too good to waste. It will not affect the texture, as it cooks down and can be blended.
- Control the thickness: If my applesauce seems too thin, I turn on the saute function and cook it for a few more minutes to reduce the liquid.
- Use a cinnamon quill: When I want a subtle spice flavor, I add a cinnamon quill into the mix, instead of ground cinnamon, and remove it before mashing.
- Adjust sweetness: I taste my applesauce after cooking and add more honey if it is still quite tart. Or you could leave out the honey altogether and enjoy the natural sweetness instead.
- Keep chunks uniform: I make sure to cut my apples into similar-sized pieces so they soften at the same rate during the pressure cooking.
Serving: 0.66cup | Calories: 89.7kcal | Carbohydrates: 23.9g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 26mg | Potassium: 164.8mg | Fiber: 3.7g | Sugar: 18.7g