Simple and Flavorful Instant Pot Applesauce with Cinnamon Recipe

Instant Pot Applesauce with Cinnamon is my little weeknight lifesaver when I want something cozy simmering in the kitchen but I do not want to actually babysit a pot. Some days I am in a snacky mood and I want something sweet that still feels like real food, kind of like how I think about smart swaps when I read tips like replace meals with smoothies safely tips for success. This recipe is the same vibe: simple, comforting, and flexible. You can make it chunky or smooth, super cinnamon-y or lightly spiced. And your house is going to smell like fall even if it is the middle of a random Tuesday.

Why Make Instant Pot Applesauce?

I used to make applesauce on the stove, and honestly, it is fine, but it takes attention. You stir, you check the heat, you wonder if the bottom is sticking, and somehow you still end up washing a bigger pot than you wanted to. With Instant Pot Applesauce with Cinnamon, you toss everything in, walk away, and come back to soft apples that practically melt when you stir them.

Here is why I keep coming back to it:

• Hands off cooking while you do something else, like pack lunches or answer a couple emails.
• Fast results without sacrificing that slow cooked taste.
• Easy to customize for babies, picky kids, or adults who want extra spice.
• Great for batch cooking so you have snacks ready all week.

I also love that it fits into so many moments. Breakfast side, after school snack, quick dessert, or even stirred into yogurt. If you are on a cinnamon kick like I am, you might also love this cozy bake: cinnamon knots with coffee icing. Different vibe, same warm spice happiness.

The Power of the Peels in Instant Pot Applesauce

Let us talk peels because people feel strongly about them. I used to peel every apple automatically because that is what my family did. Then one day I was in a hurry, left the peels on, and realized something: it still tasted amazing. In fact, keeping the peel can make Instant Pot Applesauce with Cinnamon taste a little more apple-y and rich.

Here is what I have noticed from making it both ways:

If you keep the peels: you get extra color, a slightly more complex flavor, and you waste less. If you have a blender or immersion blender, you can make it smooth easily after cooking.

If you peel the apples: the texture gets silky with almost no effort, even if you just mash with a fork or potato masher.

A quick tip that helps either way: wash your apples well and cut out any bruised spots. If you are using peels and you want totally smooth sauce, blending is the move. If you do not have a fancy blender, I found this helpful: how to blend smoothies without a high speed blender. The same general idea applies to smoothing applesauce too.

Also, apple plus cinnamon is such a classic combo that it makes me want all the cozy drinks too. If you are in that mood, you might want to try this: blackberry cinnamon smoothie recipe. It is different than applesauce, but that cinnamon note is so satisfying.

“I made this with the peels on and my kids still ate it without noticing. The cinnamon smell alone made it feel like a special treat. I am never going back to store bought.”

How to make Instant Pot Cinnamon Applesauce

This is the part where you get to feel like a kitchen genius because it is almost too easy. Instant Pot Applesauce with Cinnamon basically makes itself, and you can decide at the end if you want it chunky or smooth.

Ingredients you will need

• 6 to 8 medium apples, cored and chopped (about 3 pounds)
• 1/2 cup water or apple juice
• 1 to 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (start small, add more later)
• 1 to 2 tablespoons lemon juice (optional, but it brightens the flavor)
• Pinch of salt
• Optional sweetener: 1 to 3 tablespoons maple syrup, honey, or brown sugar

Step by step directions

1) Add chopped apples and water (or juice) to the Instant Pot. Sprinkle in cinnamon, salt, and lemon juice if using.

2) Lock the lid and set the valve to sealing. Cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes. If your apples are super firm, go 6 minutes.

3) Let it naturally release for 10 minutes, then carefully quick release the rest.

4) Open the lid and stir. The apples should be very soft.

5) For chunky sauce, mash with a potato masher. For smooth sauce, blend with an immersion blender or carefully transfer to a blender in batches.

6) Taste and decide if you want sweetener. Add a little at a time so you do not overdo it.

One small note from my own trial and error: the apples you choose matter. If you want naturally sweet sauce, go for Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, or Golden Delicious. If you like a tangier applesauce, mix in Granny Smith. I usually do a mix because it tastes more interesting.

Season your Sauce

This is where Instant Pot Applesauce with Cinnamon becomes your recipe, not just a basic formula. I keep cinnamon as the star, but sometimes I play around depending on what we are eating it with.

Here are my favorite seasoning options:

Classic and simple: cinnamon + tiny pinch of salt. That is it.

Warm and spiced: add a pinch of nutmeg or allspice. If you love chai flavors, a tiny pinch of cloves is great, but go easy because it can take over fast.

Extra bright: lemon juice and a little lemon zest if you have it.

Vanilla cozy: a small splash of vanilla extract after cooking.

Sweetener is totally optional. If your apples are sweet enough, you might not need any. If you are serving it as a dessert, then sure, add a little maple syrup or brown sugar. I like to sweeten at the end so I can taste first. Once it is sweet, it is hard to undo.

Serving ideas from my actual real life:

Stir it into oatmeal, spoon it over pancakes, mix it into plain yogurt, or serve it next to pork chops. Also, freezing applesauce in small containers is a quiet little act of future self kindness.

If you are already thinking about apple and cinnamon breakfasts, you might like this too: delicious apple cinnamon oatmeal smoothie. It scratches the same itch on busy mornings.

If you like Instant Pot Applesauce, check out:

Once you have a batch of Instant Pot Applesauce with Cinnamon in the fridge, it kind of inspires you to keep the cozy stuff going. At least that is what happens in my kitchen. If you want a few more ideas that fit the same wholesome, cinnamon friendly vibe, here are some fun options.

• A fruity, comforting drink like sweet potato pear cinnamon juice when you want something different but still warm and spiced.
• A baked treat for a weekend project, like those cinnamon knots with coffee icing if you want your kitchen to smell incredible.
• A quick blended breakfast like the blackberry cinnamon smoothie when you want cinnamon but you are craving something chilled.

Basically, if your pantry has cinnamon, you are never far from something cozy.

Common Questions

Do I have to add sugar?

Nope. If you use sweet apples, Instant Pot Applesauce with Cinnamon can be naturally sweet. I always taste it first, then decide.

What apples are best for applesauce?

I like a mix. Gala or Fuji for sweetness, and one or two Granny Smith for a little tang. Honeycrisp is great too, just sometimes pricier.

How long does homemade applesauce last?

In the fridge, about 5 to 7 days in a sealed container. If you want it longer, freeze it for up to 3 months.

Can I make it smooth without a blender?

You can get it pretty smooth with a potato masher if you cook the apples a minute longer and mash well. It will not be perfectly silky, but it is still really good.

Why did I get a burn warning?

This usually happens if there is not enough liquid or if sugar is added before pressure cooking. Add the water or juice first, do not add sweetener until after cooking, and make sure nothing is stuck to the bottom.

A cozy batch you will want to make again

Instant Pot Applesauce with Cinnamon is one of those low effort recipes that makes everyday life feel a little softer. You get real apple flavor, the option to keep it chunky or smooth, and a kitchen that smells like cinnamon for hours. If you want another version to compare methods and ratios, I have also looked at Instant Pot Applesauce – Tastes Better From Scratch and it is a helpful reference. Make a batch, stash some in the freezer, and do not be surprised if you start finding excuses to put applesauce on everything.

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