Recipe Courtesy of Once Upon a Chef

Enjoy this delicious chunky, homemade applesauce in the fall when apples are plentiful in the NY Capital Region or anytime of the year really as our local supermarkets stock apples throughout the year.

Servings: About 4 cups

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 pounds apples (about 10), peeled, cored and cut into 1-inch chunks (I like a combination of McIntosh and Golden Delicious)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch chunks
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons packed, light or dark brown sugar
  • Ground cinnamon, for serving (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Place the apples in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Scatter the brown sugar and chunks of butter evenly over top. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, tossing once halfway through, until the apples are very tender.
  • Mash the apples with a potato masher or fork. Taste; if the applesauce is too tart, add more brown sugar little by little until the flavors are balanced. (Note that no two batches will be the same; the flavor depends on the tartness of the apples you use.)

This baked homemade applesauce is rich, tart and sweet — almost like apple pie filling — and a world apart from store-bought.

Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The applesauce can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.