The winter weather has encouraged our sweet tooth but our New Year’s Resolutions are discouraging dessert. Not to mention, we need something warm and filling to help take the chill off this brutal weather. This week, my family has been enjoying warm, homemade applesauce. With a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it’s a sweet treat that is reasonably healthy (1/3rd cup of homemade applesauce is approximately 60 calories and depending on the type of ice cream/yogurt you use, this dessert could easily be under 150 calories). I’ve also used the applesauce to make granola bars, muffins, and breads. It’s easy to make and awesome to eat. Bonus: my husband went to the store and got more apples for me to make a second batch this weekend!
Ingredients:
8-12 Apples (all kinds), quartered and peeled
2 cinnamon sticks
⅛ cup of sugar or sugar substitute
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Sprinkle nutmeg
Combine all the ingredients into the crock pot on low. Let simmer for 4-5 hours or until pureed. Stir once an hour.
One of the things that I like most about this recipe is that you can add other fruits into the sauce. I’ve added pears and berries that are about to go bad so they will not go to waste. I’ve even made the sauce as the innards to an apple pie. I’ve filled crescent rolls with the applesauce to make a healthier version of apple turnovers (just dust the tops with melted butter and a pinch of brown sugar), topped pancakes and waffles with it; I’ve even enjoyed the sauce cold, by itself.
Applesauce is a favorite all year long – for the kids and Daddies, too.