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Red Delicious Cinnamon Forward Applesauce

Red Delicious Cinnamon-Forward Applesauce

A gently simmered, cinnamon-forward applesauce made with Red Delicious apples, balanced with a touch of acidity to keep it from being overly sweet. Whole cinnamon sticks provide warmth, while a small amount of ground cinnamon reinforces aroma without overpowering. Finished rustic and lightly mashed, this applesauce is smooth yet textured, fragrant, and not sugary.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Comfort Food
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 Lbs Red Delicious apples (~5–6 medium apples)
  • 1/2 Cup Apple cider Vinegar
  • 2 Cinnamon sticks
  • 1/2 Tsp Ground Cinnamon Reduce to 1/4 Tsp for less Cinnamon Flavor
  • 1 Pinch Salt
  • 1 Tbsp Raw Sugar or Honey Optional
  • 2 Tsp Lemon juice

Method
 

Prepare the apples
  1. Peel, core, and cut into large chunks.
  2. Save the peels if you want to infuse flavor or use them for tea/snacks later.
Cold-start infusion
  1. Place apples, water (or cider), salt, and cinnamon sticks into a heavy pot.
Slow simmer
  1. Bring slowly to a gentle simmer.
  2. Lid mostly on.
  3. Simmer 25–30 minutes, until apples collapse.
Balance the sweetness
  1. Add lemon juice or vinegar, taste, and decide if sugar/honey is needed.
  2. With Red Delicious at this weight, sugar may not be needed at all.
Reinforce the cinnamon
  1. Add ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon.
  2. Stir and cook 2–3 minutes only. Taste and add up to ½ teaspoon if needed.
Mash by hand
  1. Remove cinnamon sticks.
  2. Mash gently — rustic texture is ideal.
Rest
  1. Let sit 10–15 minutes to let flavors deepen.

Notes

Yields roughly 3–3.75 cups of applesauce, depending on how chunky you like it.