Citric Acid Free Pear Cinnamon Applesauce
Warm, spiced, and naturally sweet, this fruit sauce is the kind of simple comfort food that earns a permanent spot in your weekly rotation. Ripe pears bring a soft, honeyed depth that rounds out the apples beautifully, while cinnamon and ginger give the whole thing a cozy, aromatic warmth. Most store-bought applesauces sneak in citric acid as a preservative, which makes homemade the only truly reliable option when you're avoiding it — and this recipe keeps things completely clean with just whole fruit, water, maple syrup, and spices. Everything simmers together in one pan until the fruit is meltingly tender, then you can mash it chunky or blend it silky smooth depending on your mood. The maple syrup adds just enough sweetness without any of the additives you'd find in processed versions. It's endlessly versatile — spoon it over oatmeal, serve it alongside a savory dinner, or just eat it warm straight from the pot.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- 1 ½ lb apples (about 4 medium), peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch chunks
- 1 lb ripe pears (about 2 medium), peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch chunks
- ⅓ cup water
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- ¾ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ⅛ tsp salt
Instructions
- 1
Combine the apple chunks, pear chunks, water, maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger, and salt in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir to coat the fruit.
- 2
Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the fruit is completely tender and collapses easily when pressed with a spoon.
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