Autumn Apple Appeal: Homemade Apple Pear Sauce

September 7, 2022 General /FamilyRecipes

Juicy, crunchy, sour, or sweet, apples in autumn are the perfect family treat! Whether you bake them in a pie, slice them for a lunch box snack, or use them for our easy applesauce, apples pack great nutrition into every delicious bite. One medium apple has just 95 calories and 4 grams of filling fiber, and now that they’re in season, their flavor is at its peak.

Most of the vitamins, minerals, and fiber found in apples is actually in the peel, so we leave the peels on for this simple, stovetop recipe. Once blended, the cooked peels virtually disappear. Sweet soft apples such as McIntosh and Gala work best in this naturally sweet applesauce, and their red peels add a nice rosy color.

Homemade Apple Pear Sauce

MAKES 4 SERVINGS

  • 3 large apples (about 1½ pounds), unpeeled and cut into ½-inch pieces
  • 1 pear, unpeeled and cut into ½-inch pieces
  • ½ cup 100% apple juice
  • Juice of half a lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Place the apples, pears, apple juice, lemon juice, and cinnamon in a medium pot and stir to combine. Place over medium-high heat, cover, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and cook at a low boil, covered, until the apples are very tender, about 25 minutes. Stir occasionally. Let cool about 20 minutes.
  • Place the cooked fruit in a blender and blend until smooth and the peels are incorporated. (If you don’t have a blender and plan to mash the fruit with a fork or potato masher, you may want to slice off the peels first before cooking for a nice, smooth texture.)
Tip: Don’t have a ripe pear on hand? Not to worry! Add an extra apple instead or 1 cup of fresh or frozen strawberries.
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Nutrition Information per Serving (1/2 cup): 140 calories, 0g fat, 5mg sodium, 36g carbohydrate, 6g fiber, 1g protein, 20% vitamin C
Choosing & Storing Fresh Apples

Autumn is apple season, and with 7,500 kinds of apples to choose from around the world, there’s a favorite apple out there for everyone. Most apples in the United States are grown in Washington, Michigan and Pennsylvania, but this favorite fall fruit is easy to find wherever you live. To keep autumn apples looking and tasting their best, follow these tips:

HOW TO CHOOSE

At the market, look for brightly colored apples, and stay away from apples that are dull or have brown spots. To avoid mushy, mealy apples, squeeze lightly to make sure they are firm.

HOW TO STORE

Apples stay fresher for longer if you store them in the refrigerator. Even though they may look pretty when displayed on your kitchen countertop, this speeds up the ripening process.

HOW TO EAT

Apples turn brown quickly after they’ve been sliced, which quickly makes them unappealing to kids. To prevent browning, squeeze fresh or bottled lemon juice over the slices before you store them in a container or zip-top baggie.