I’m a Certified Nutrition Coach, gluten-free recipe creator, and home detoxification expert with a focus on gut health. I show burned-out women with digestive issues how to take a proactive, holistic approach to healing by sharing nutrient-dense recipes, and sustainable lifestyle tips that are easy to implement in everyday life.
This homemade cinnamon applesauce with cranberries is a delicious twist on a classic snack. Honeycrisp apples and a splash of orange juice lend natural sweetness without refined sugar. Fresh cranberries add a subtle, tart flavor and a gorgeous ruby-red color, and fragrant cinnamon adds a warming aftertaste that pulls all the flavors together.
Say goodbye to the high-fructose corn syrup, preservatives, and artificial colors found in commercial applesauce products, and hello to your new favorite healthy snack.
Cinnamon applesauce is especially yummy in the fall when the apple and cranberry harvests are well underway. However, you can make it anytime using frozen cranberries (or leave them out altogether).
Every time I make this recipe, the scent of cinnamon fills the house, and my husband says, “Mmm, it smells like Christmas!” You can’t buy that in a jar.
For more ways to enjoy cranberries in the fall, try my Cranberry-Orange Relish for the holidays.
May Promote Gut Health – Apples and cranberries are rich in fiber which promotes healthy bowel movements. Polyphenols also feed a beneficial bacteria called Akkermansia muciniphila, which plays a role in maintaining a healthy gut lining by protecting against inflammatory bowel disease.
Vitamin C – Known for supporting the immune system, collagen production, and iron absorption, cranberries are an excellent source of this essential vitamin.
Dietary Considerations
This cinnamon applesauce recipe is naturally:
Gluten-free
Dairy-free
Vegan
Refined-sugar free
Cinnamon Applesauce Ingredients
Apples – You’ll need about 1 ½ pounds of sweet apples to make homemade applesauce. Sweeter apple varieties like Honeycrisps balance the tartness of the cranberries but use what you like. There’s no need to peel the skins–just look for organic apples to reduce pesticide exposure.
Cranberries – 1 ½ cups of fresh or frozen cranberries are enough. Rinse them in a colander and discard any mushy ones.
Orange Juice – 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed OJ adds a touch of natural sweetness and a little zing to the applesauce. Use bottled OJ in a pinch.
Cinnamon – 1 tablespoon gives this cinnamon applesauce a warm, earthy fragrance. I use Ceylon cinnamon for its higher antioxidant levels, but cassia works just as well, with a slightly spicy flavor.
Pure Liquid Monk Fruit Drops – This natural, non-nutritive sweetener doesn’t raise blood sugar levels. It’s the secret to making applesauce without sugar. Look for one without sugar alcohols like erythritol, which may be linked to liver cancer and may irritate the gut.
For complete instructions see the recipe card below.
How to Make Cinnamon Applesauce
Homemade applesauce is so easy to make. All you do is combine all the ingredients in a large pot with a lid and cook on medium-low until the fruit is tender, stirring occasionally.
Once cooked, allow the fruit to cool for about 10 minutes, then process in a food processor until the desired consistency is reached.
Chunky applesauce: Pulse on low for a few seconds or use a handheld potato masher.
Smooth applesauce: Process on low, gradually increasing the speed for 1-2 minutes. Although smooth, expect some skins to remain.
That’s it! Serve warm, at room temperature, or cold. Allow it to cool to room temperature before refrigerating in a glass jar for up to 10 days. The flavor will mellow after a few days in the fridge, so know that it won’t be as tart.
Applesauce Variations
Cinnamon Applesauce (Without Cranberries)
If cranberries aren’t your thing, simply leave them out. Add an extra apple (about 2 pounds total) to maintain the same yield.
Your applesauce will naturally taste sweeter without the cranberries, and the cinnamon will be stronger. You may not need monk fruit drops–taste it first!
Unsweetened Applesauce
For the lowest amount of natural sugar, cook 2 pounds of apples, omitting the cranberries and orange juice.
Add the cinnamon for extra flavor or leave it out for a plain version. If desired, add monk fruit drops to taste. Technically it’s still unsweetened applesauce since the monk fruit doesn’t add sugar.
What to Eat with Applesauce
Here are my favorite ways to enjoy cinnamon applesauce:
With a handful of raw pecans for a healthy snack
As a spread on toast or pancakes instead of jam or syrup
Stirred into oatmeal with nuts for crunch
On a buttered rice cake
What to Do with Leftover Cranberries
Don’t let those extra cranberries go to waste! Try these ideas:
This homemade cinnamon applesauce recipe includes ruby-red cranberries for a delicious twist on a classic snack. Easy and healthier than store-bought and keeps for 7-10 days.
Ingredients
Scale
1 1/2 pounds Honeycrispapples, cored and roughly chopped (about 3–4 medium apples)
1 1/2 cups whole cranberries
2 tablespoonsfresh squeezed orange juice
1 tablespooncinnamon
Scant 1/2 teaspoonpure liquid monk fruit drops (optional)
Instructions
Cook the Fruit: Combine the apples, cranberries, orange juice, and cinnamon in a large pot with a lid. Cover and cook on medium-low until tender and fragrant, stirring occasionally, about 20-25 minutes.
Let Cool: Remove from heat and let cool for ten minutes.
Make the Applesauce: Add fruit mixture to a food processor and process on low, gradually increasing speed to high until desired consistency is reached. 1-2 minutes yields a smooth applesauce. Taste and sweeten with monk fruit drops if desired, processing until evenly sweetened.
Serve and Store: Serve the cinnamon applesauce warm, at room temperature, or cold. Transfer to a glass jar and let cool to room temperature before covering and refrigerating for 7-10 days.
