Name: Brown Sugar Applesauce
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 3 pounds sweet apples, peeled, cored, and quartered; 1 cup water; ⅓ cup packed (2⅓ ounces/66 grams) brown sugar, plus extra for seasoning; ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon; Pinch table salt

Why This Recipe Works

For an easy applesauce (that didn't require a food mill), we started with peeled and cored apples. We cooked them in water until soft with brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt for a boost of flavor. A food processor made quick work of turning the applesauce smooth and silky.

Before You Begin

You can use any variety of sweet apple except for Red or Golden Delicious. Since apples can vary in sweetness, you can adjust the applesauce with extra sugar to taste in step 2.

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in large saucepan and bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover; and cook, stirring occasionally, until apples are very soft, 30 to 35 minutes.

Transfer apple mixture to food processor and process until smooth, about 1 minute. Adjust sweetness with extra sugar to taste. Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled. (Applesauce can be refrigerated for up to 1 week.)