Date Sweetened Homemade Applesauce Recipes

THE BEST HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE

Steps:

• Combine the apples, sugar, 1 cup water and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large pot. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and cook until the apples are very soft, 18 to 20 minutes.
• Stir in the lemon juice and cinnamon. Let cool for 5 minutes or so, then transfer the apple mixture to a blender, filling no more than halfway. Remove the center cap from the lid and place it on the blender. Cover the lid with a folded kitchen towel to catch splatters and pulse until smooth. Alternatively, puree in the pan with an immersion blender.
• Transfer the applesauce to a bowl and refrigerate until cool, about 1 hour. Store leftover applesauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

DATE-SWEETENED HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE

Steps:

• Add peeled, cored, and chopped apples to a large pot (I use a 7-1/4 quart Dutch oven) along with the cinnamon sticks and lemon peel. Add 1 1/2 cups water.
• Place on the stove over medium-high heat, bring to a boil, and reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook until the apples are tender, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place the pitted dates and 1/2 cup water in the pitcher of a high-speed blender. Puree until completely smooth, adding additional water if needed to keep things going.
• If, after the 20 minutes, the apples are tender enough to mash with a potato masher, go ahead and mash them as much as possible. Otherwise, cover them back up and give them a bit more time to cook.
• Once the apples are mashed and stirrable, add the pureed dates. Stir until combined. Taste and add more sweetener if desired (see notes). Continue simmering until applesauce is the thickness you'd like. I cook it for just a few more minutes and it's usually perfect.
• Remove the lemon peel and cinnamon sticks and discard.
• If you want completely smooth applesauce, let it cool and then puree in batches in the blender.
• Store in airtight jars in the refrigerator. With a batch this big, I usually like to freeze some in jars or freezer bags to enjoy later on.

APPLESAUCE COOKIES II

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
• In a medium bowl, cream together the brown sugar and shortening until smooth. Stir in the egg, and then the applesauce until well blended. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves; stir into the applesauce mixture. Mix in walnuts and raisins. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets.
• Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until the edges start to brown. Cool on cookie sheets for a few minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.