Instant Pot Applesauce
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Jun 30, 2026 
Every fall, I can’t wait to make a batch of this Instant Pot Applesauce. With just five simple ingredients and three minutes of pressure cooking, fresh apples transform into a warm, cinnamon-spiced applesauce that’s so much better than anything from the grocery store. I love enjoying it as a snack or serving it alongside pork and other cozy meals.
Applesauce is one of those foods that remind me of my mom. Every time I taste cinnamon applesauce, I am flooded with memories of her standing over a large pot, stirring, as a tangy-sweet aroma wafted through the kitchen. She always added a generous spoonful of cinnamon to the pot. On special occasions, she would even add red-hot candies to make it spicy and pink! Today’s instant pot applesauce recipe is a special homage to my mom. She kept applesauce simple, with only a few key add-ins such as sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. (Oh, and sometimes butter!) And, so, like her’s, this recipe is quick, easy and drool-worthy! Like my instant pot stewed apples, this dish is a perfect way to use up any extra apples you’ve got laying around, which unfortunately tend to go bad really fast. I love to add a heaping spoonful of this sweet stuff onto some oatmeal, over yogurt, or simply to enjoy it on its own straight from a mug for the perfect fall treat.
Lisalia – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ LOVE using my instant pot. And excited for this applesauce recipe. We have a tree in our yard and have too many apples still. Love that I can make this healthy applesauce that my family can eat all autumn long!
Table of Contents
Sommer’s Recipe Highlights
Great for Making Ahead – When autumn rolls around and the apple orchards are in full swing, I always have a batch of this cozy applesauce on hand. Everyone loves it, from adults and kids alike, and it’s especially wonderful for those picky eaters who avoid fruit!
Simple Ingredients – To make this delicious fruit puree inspired by mom’s version, all you need are some firm apples, powdered cinnamon, sugar, salt and water. Pop them into the instant pot and in just 3 minutes you have homemade apple sauce. And I am NOT kidding you, it’s seriously that quick and easy! Like my fried apples recipe, this is another fantastic way to turn apples into dessert!
Wonderful Topping – Most people usually think of applesauce as a kids’ food. But let me tell you, this better-for-you recipe is the PERFECT sweet treat. I love to pile it onto some yogurt or oatmeal for a sweeter breakfast. You can even add it some vanilla ice cream, too.
Key Ingredients and Tips
- Firm Apples – The key ingredient and the star of the show… Apples! Through the many years of making this recipe, I’ve found that the secret is to using firm apples. You can use any variety you like, from Fuji and Golden Delicious, to Honeycrisp, Gala McIntosh, Cortland or Pink Lady. I also think that Granny Smith is an excellent choice.
- Sugar – To sweeten this applesauce up, I always use granulated sugar. You don’t need to add a ton, just a little bit to accentuate the natural sweetness from the apples.
- Ground Cinnamon – To get that classic fall flavor and aroma, it’s essential to add in more than just a pinch of ground cinnamon! This is what gets the kitchen smelling incredible.
- Salt – A little bit of salt helps to balance out all the sweetness from the sugar and tartness from the apples.
- Water – Of course, water. I use room temperature water to get that sauce-y consistency. Be careful, because if you add too much water, you risk getting a runnier sauce.
How to Make
Find the full recipe with ingredient proportions, detailed instructions, and a video tutorial in the printable form at the bottom of the post.
Prep the apples – The first step in making this sauce is to prep the apples. That means peeling them, coring them, and the chopping them into wedges, about ten wedges per apple.
Transfer to Instant Pot – Then, I toss the apples into the Instant Pot with some water, sugar, cinnamon and salt. I give them a good mix so that the apples all get coated in the sugar and cinnamon mixture.
Cook – I lock the Instant Pot and let it cook on high for about 3 minutes for a chunkier version, or 4 minutes if I want a smoother variety.
Release – Once the timer is up, I perform a Quick Release and then I open the lid. I always give the applesauce a good mix before serving it. Sometimes, I like to add in a little butter for richness and sheen. It just gives the applesauce a touch of luxury. Either way, this recipe is quick to make and ridiculously delicious!
Recipe Variations
- Spices – To accentuate the fall flavors even more, stir in a dash of nutmeg and cloves. You can even add a pinch of pumpkin spice, too!
- Sweeteners – Instead of a classic granulated sugar, you can use honey or maple syrup.
- Vanilla – Add in a splash of vanilla extract to deepen those cozy flavors.
- Ginger – I love ginger, and just a little bit of fresh minced ginger adds a serious kick to this classic dish!
Serving Suggestions
In the south, applesauce is so much more than just… Well, applesauce. We love to serve it up as a side dish to a bunch of savory foods like pork chops, steak, grilled chicken and even schnitzel! It complements a simple grilled protein beautifully, adding just the right amount of sweetness.
But like I said, it’s also great for anyone with a sweet tooth. I love it as a sauce over some vanilla ice cream or yogurt. It’s also great with baked pancakes andmy easy waffles recipe, and spread onto some toast and warm cathead biscuits.
We like to enjoy applesauce as a side dish with southern meals. However, you can use it as a sauce over homemade vanilla ice cream!
Storing
Keep the sauce in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. Homemade applesauce also freezes up beautifully. I package it in gallon bags and lay it flat in the freezer. Once the bags are all frozen, you can stack them to save room in the freezer.
Frequently Asked Questions
It really only takes 3-4 minutes to cook the apples down to applesauce in an Instant Pot. The pressure cooker needs about 10 minutes to heat up before cooking starts. But once the timer begins, you’ll have incredible applesauce in less than 5 minutes!
Just like apples turn brown when cut and air is exposed to the enzymes, applesauce does the same. A simple way to fix this is to add a little bit of lemon juice to increase the acidity and preserve the color. The applesauce will also vary in color based on how much cinnamon you decide to add.
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Instant Pot Applesauce
Video
Ingredients
- 3 pounds firm tart apples, any variety
- 1 1/2 cup water
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1-3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Peel the apples. Remove the cores. And cut the apples into 8-10 wedges each.
- Place the apples wedges in the Instant Pot and add the water, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Stir to coat.
- Lock the lid into place. Set the Instant Pot on Pressure Cook High for 3-4 minutes. 3 minutes for chunky applesauce or 4 minutes for smooth applesauce.
- Once the timer beeps, turn off the Instant Pot. Perform a Quick Release and vent until the safety valve button drops. Then it is safe to open the lid.
- Serve warm, or refrigerate until ready to serve.
This was Delicious- thank you!
I used around 5lbs of apples, (weighed before peeling & coring) just because I had so many and I used brown sugar instead of white (+ an extra 1/4 c. because of the extra apples). Turned out fantastic and so much easier & faster in the IP!
LOVE using my instant pot. And excited for this applesauce recipe. We have a tree in our yard and have too many apples still. Love that I can make this healthy applesauce that my family can eat all autumn long!
I’ve always done slow cooker applesauce but got an insta pot for Christmas. I thought I’d give it so. You’re recipe is similar to the one I already do. I had 2 bags of apples so doubled the recipe. Was so yummy!
Excellent! I used 8 Gala apples and 1 cup water. Used a hand mixer to mix it all when cooked. Will definitely be making this again.
Sugar free version works deliciously as well. I pressure cook at zero and Quick release after three minutes.
Thanks for the tip, Maryann!
So easy and good. I’ll be making this often!
This is a great and easy instant pot recipe! My girls love it!
It turned out so great! My kids ate the entire batch in one sitting!
That’s rude, I’m sorry.
Applesauce is always a hit around here! I’ve never tried making it, so know I don’t have an excuse! I will definitely give it a try!
I love homemade applesauce! I didn’t know you could make it in the instapot!
Thank you for the recipe it was delicious!