Ingredients:

  • 2 lbs peeled and cubed apples
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Instructions:

  1. Prepare the fruit. Peel, core, and dice the apples into uniform 1 inch chunks. Note: Uniform size equals uniform cooking.
  2. Combine ingredients. Place the apple chunks, water, lemon juice, and cinnamon into your large saucepan to start the Apple Sauce.
  3. Initial boil. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium high heat.
  4. The simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until the apples are translucent and collapse when pressed with a fork.
  5. Cool down. Remove the pot from the heat immediately to stop the cooking process.
  6. Infuse aroma. Stir in the vanilla extract and ground nutmeg. Note: Adding these now keeps the flavors sharp.
  7. The blend. Using an immersion blender, pulse the mixture directly in the pot until the texture is completely smooth and velvety.
  8. Adjust viscosity. If the mixture feels too thick, add water 1 tbsp at a time and pulse again until it reaches your desired consistency.
  9. Prep for storage. Place a funnel over the opening of your reusable pouches.
  10. Fill pouches. Slowly pour the Apple Sauce into the pouches, leaving about half an inch of headspace.
  11. Seal and lock. Squeeze out any excess air and cap the pouches tightly to prevent oxidation.