This Old-Fashioned Red Hot Applesauce is a delicious twist on traditional homemade applesauce. Fresh apples are simmered with Red Hots cinnamon candies to make a sweet, cinnamon-flavored applesauce with a beautiful, bright red color. Made with just three ingredients, this vintage recipe is perfect as a snack, side dish, or a festive addition to your holiday table.
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A Note from my Kitchen
I was first introduced to Red Hot Applesauce by my mom's friend, Becky. Everyone raves about her homemade applesauce, and one year, she was kind enough to share some with me.
Now, I have to admit, I've never been a big fan of Red Hots cinnamon candies, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. But the moment I opened that jar, the wonderful smell of apples and cinnamon filled the air. I took one bite, and oh my goodness! I was hooked!
It tasted just like a cinnamon candy apple, only in applesauce form. Sweet, full of rich cinnamon flavor, and absolutely delicious. Even my husband, who has never been much of an applesauce fan, fell in love with it.
I've had plenty of cinnamon applesauce over the years, but nothing quite compares to this old-fashioned recipe. And don't let the word "hot" scare you away. The Red Hots give the applesauce a deeper, richer cinnamon flavor without making it overly spicy.
It's delicious straight from the refrigerator as a snack or a sweet treat, but it also makes a wonderful side dish. Serve it alongside ham, roasted pork tenderloin, or pork chops. The sweet cinnamon flavor is a delicious contrast to savory, salty meats. And the beautiful bright red color makes it especially festive for Christmas!
Needless to say, this has become our favorite applesauce. I hope you love it as much as we do. Enjoy! Xoxo -Katie.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
You will need the following ingredients to make old-fashioned red hot applesauce.
- Apples- You can use any variety of apples you want for this recipe. Granny Smith apples will add a nice tart flavor, while Gala and Golden Delicious apples will make a sweeter applesauce. I personally like to use half Granny Smith and half Gala for a good balance of sweet and tart flavors.
- Red Hots- These little cinnamon candies give the applesauce its sweet, spicy cinnamon flavor and pretty red color. If you can't find Red Hots, look for Cinnamon Imperial Candies. They are the same type of cinnamon candy, just sold under a different name.
- Water- Some recipes call for apple juice instead of water. You can certainly use apple juice if you have some on hand, however, I didn't notice much difference in flavor when I tried it. I wouldn't go out and buy apple juice just for this recipe.
How to Make Red Hot Applesauce
Follow these simple steps to make red hot applesauce.
- Wash apples. If removing apple peels, remove peels (see note). Remove cores and cut the apples into bite-sized pieces.
- Place the apples in a large pot. Add the water and Red Hot cinnamon candies to the pan. Cover and cook over medium-high heat for 20-25 minutes, stirring until the apples are soft and the Red Hots candies have completely melted.
- Taste the apples to see if they need any additional sugar. If the applesauce is sweet enough, remove it from the heat. If you prefer it sweeter, stir in the sugar and cook for another 2-5 minutes or until sugar has completely dissolved (see note). Remove the apples from heat.
- For chunky applesauce, use a potato masher to mash the apples to your desired consistency. For smooth applesauce, use an immersion blender or carefully transfer apple mixture to a food processor and blend until smooth.
- Allow the applesauce to cool, then transfer into an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 7-10 days, or freeze for longer storage.
Watch How to Make
Do you need to peel apples for applesauce?
If you plan to use a blender or immersion blender to puree your applesauce after cooking, you can leave the skins on the apples. Blending will break down the skins completely in the sauce and add extra fiber.
If you prefer chunky applesauce and plan to mash the cooked apples with a potato masher, I recommend peeling them first. Otherwise, you may end up with tough pieces of apple skin that do not break down completely.
How to Cook Applesauce with Cinnamon Candies in Slow Cooker
You can make this applesauce with cinnamon candies in the slow cooker. Place chopped apples, water, and candies in the slow cooker, and cover with the lid. Cook on low heat 6-7 hours or high heat 3-4 hours.
Can I make it sweeter?
This applesauce is sweet from the Red Hots, however, depending on the variety of apples you use, you may want to add a little extra sugar. I suggest cooking the applesauce first, then tasting it before adding sugar. If it needs a little more sweetness, stir in a little sugar and cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until completely dissolved.
How do you store homemade applesauce?
Allow the applesauce to cool. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 7-10 days.
For longer storage, freeze the applesauce in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Leave a little room at the top of each container for expansion. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
You can enjoy this applesauce cold, at room temperature, or gently warmed on the stove.
You'll love my Watergate Salad recipe and these vintage recipes too!
Please leave me a comment below if you make this applesauce recipe and tell me what you think about it. I would love to hear back, and so would my readers.
Also post a picture of your apple sauce on Instagram or Facebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags! I will share with my followers! xoxo!
📖 Recipe
Old-Fashioned Red Hot Applesauce with Cinnamon Candy
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Food processor, Immersion blender, or potato masher
Ingredients
- 3 pounds apples
- 11 ounces Red Hot Candies approximately 2 boxes
- 1½ cups water
Instructions
To Cook on Stove Top
- Wash apples. If removing apple peels, remove peels (see note). Remove cores and cut the apples into bite-sized pieces.3 pounds apples
- Place the apples in a large pot. Add the water and Red Hot cinnamon candies to the pan. Cover and cook over medium-high heat for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally until the apples are soft and the Red Hots candies have completely melted.1½ cups water, 11 ounces Red Hot Candies
- Taste the apples to see if they need any additional sugar. If the applesauce is sweet enough, remove it from the heat. If you prefer it sweeter, stir in the sugar (see note) and cook for another 2-5 minutes or until sugar has completely dissolved. Remove the apples from heat.
- For chunky apple sauce, use a potato masher to mash the apples to your desired consistency. For smooth applesauce, use an immersion blender or carefully transfer apple mixture to a food processor and blend until smooth.
- Allow the applesauce to cool, then transfer into an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 7-10 days, or freeze for longer storage.
To Cook in Slow Cooker
- Place chopped apples, water, and candies in the slow cooker, and cover with the lid. Cook on low heat 6-7 hours or high heat 3-4 hours.
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