Recipe of the Month: Crockpot Cinnamon Applesauce

My kiddos love all things apple!! We love this recipe for Cinnamon Crockpot Applesauce. It's so easy to make and we like to have it right out of the crockpot, nice and warm! And no added sugar, since it's naturally sweet. ;) And added bonus-makes the house smell so good! Hope you enjoy it, too!

Ingredients
3 pounds large apples, any variety (about 6) (I love using Golden Delicious)
1/2 cup water
2 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks (optional)
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt (I just sprinkle in a little)

Instructions

1. Peel and chop the apples. Peel the apples. Quarter them through the stem, then cut out out the cores. Coarsely chop the apples into 1- to 2-inch pieces, depending on how chunky you prefer your applesauce.
2. Place all the ingredients in a slow cooker. Place the apples in a 5-quart or larger slow cooker. Add the water, cinnamon, lemon juice, and salt, and stir to combine.
3. Cook the applesauce for 4 hours. Cover and cook on the HIGH setting for 4 hours, stirring twice during cooking.
4. Purée the applesauce (optional). If you like chunky applesauce, you can skip this step altogether. But it you prefer a more smooth texture, remove the cinnamon stick, then use an immersion blender to pureé the applesauce until it reaches the consistency you like.
5. Cool and store. Let the applesauce cool to room temperature. Store in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Recipe Notes
Cooking in an Instant Pot: If you're using an Instant Pot to make this slow-cooker applesauce, set the machine to Slow Cooker once the ingredients have been added, increase the heat level to "More," adjust the cook time to 4 hours, then seal the lid.

Recipe courtesy of www.thekitchn.com