Guest post from Brigette Shevy
This was one of our favorite recipes that my Mom would make for special holiday meals! It was a regular on the table for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day. The rest of the year we ate store-bought, unsweetened applesauce – so this homemade applesauce was a treat we always looked forward to! We clipped the original recipe from a Taste of Home magazine many years ago, and have made it countless times since then.
It pairs fabulously with traditional holiday foods like turkey and ham, plus I love the festive pink color it adds to the menu (am I the only one that likes having a variety of colors on my plate?). As an added bonus, it smells amazing while simmering on the stove! It can also be made up ahead of time, which is really important when we’re talking about holiday meals. You won’t find many recipes with a shorter list of ingredients! And apples are cheap this time of year.
If you’re looking for something simple-yet-elegant to add to your holiday menu, you must give this recipe a try!
Chunky Cinnamon Applesauce
- 8 medium tart apples, peeled and quartered
- 1 cup water (I use a little less)
- 1 cup sugar (or to taste – I think it’s plenty sweet with half this amount)
- ¼ cup red-hot candies
Cover and cook apples and water in a 5-qt saucepan over medium-low heat for 20 minutes or until tender.
Mash apples until desired consistency.
Add sugar and candies.
Cook, uncovered, until sugar and candies are dissolved, stirring frequently.
Remove from heat; cool.
Refrigerate until serving.
Makes 12 servings (6 cups)
Brigette is a full-time wife and mother who is blessed with three amazing bundles of energy (ages 6, 4, and 2). She enjoys music, experimenting in the kitchen, homeschooling her children, finding great deals, long-distance running, and anything chocolate.