While applesauce is easy on the stovetop, it’s a total SNAP in an Instant Pot. This applesauce (pear applesauceβ¦ pearplesauce?) is delicious on its own, but it’s even better added to a bowl of oatmeal or spooned over waffles for breakfast.

Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 4 medium apples peeled, cored, and cut into large chunks (I use Fuji and Pink Lady)
- 4 medium pears peeled, cored, and cut into large chunks
- 1 tsp. lemon juice
- 5 tsp. brown sugar
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp. ground cardamom
- 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in an Instant Pot. Secure the lid and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes.
- For a chunkier sauce, use a slotted spoon to remove half of the apple and pear chunks. Use an immersion blender to puree the remaining fruit and then stir in reserved fruit chunks (alternately, you can cool the mixture and puree in a blender or food processor). For a thinner sauce, do not remove any fruit before pureeing.
Nutrition
Serving: 1/2 cup
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33 Comments
Julie
January 26, 2012 at 9:39 amYummy! This looks delicious! I’ve never had “real” apple(pear)sauce.
We had home ec in middle school and got to learn how to sow, cook, and iron (seriously when did I grow up the 1940s!). Anyways, it was my favorite class too. I just loved learning how to cook different things.
The Type A Housewife
January 26, 2012 at 9:40 pmOh, you should make it! It is so easy. You can do it on the stovetop too. It tastes a million times better than the kind that you buy. π
I wish I learned how to iron in school. Seriously, I could use that.
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell
January 26, 2012 at 5:13 pmOh my goodness, that looks just divine! I love making homemade applesauce, but I’ll try your version next!
The Type A Housewife
January 26, 2012 at 9:28 pmThank you! Let me know what you think if you make it–this was my first try in a slow cooker & I think I’m going to do it this way from now on.
RJ
January 26, 2012 at 6:21 pmOh yum! We make homemade applesauce all the time during the year and this looks awesome!
The Type A Housewife
January 26, 2012 at 9:24 pmThank you! I love making applesauce too–it’s so easy, you never want to eat the jarred stuff again. π
Smedette
January 26, 2012 at 6:43 pmI’m drooling over here! I love making fruit butters and the like in my slow-cooker; the smell is amazing.
The Type A Housewife
January 26, 2012 at 9:22 pmI want to try making chai-spiced apple butter next! I’ve never attempted fruit butters before, but my mom got me a new slow cooker for Christmas, so now I’m on a slow cooking kick.
Candy
January 26, 2012 at 7:09 pmYou what I love with Applesauce?… Popcorn. I pop it from the kernels, not from the bag. So there’s no flavor (salt, butter).And then I dip it (while warm) in apple cinnamon sauce. So, thank you ma’am for another recipe I NEED to make. <3!
Candy
January 26, 2012 at 7:18 pmYou *know what I love… oops!
The Type A Housewife
January 26, 2012 at 9:21 pmPopcorn dipped in applesauce? Okay, that’s a little bit weird. π But applesauce is definitely better than butter & yellow food coloring!
BusyWorkingMama
January 26, 2012 at 9:49 pmYou had cooking as a credit? Jealous!! I didn’t discover my love of cooking until probably age 29, when I became a parent. Suddenly feeding my family well became important.
The Type A Housewife
January 28, 2012 at 5:48 pmYes! All the kids looking for easy credits took the class–I think I was the only one who was actually enthusiastic about cooking. But I didn’t really get into cooking until I started getting more health conscious. Prior to that, I cooked, but I wasn’t very adventurous–it was a lot of pasta and things involving potatoes and cheese. π
Kelly @ Texas Type A Mom
January 27, 2012 at 12:03 amYum – this is applesauce for grownups! And I love applesauce in my oatmeal it makes it so much more filling and hearty!
The Type A Housewife
January 28, 2012 at 5:38 pmMe too! I used to always use the little oatmeal packets, but since they’re so full of sugar, I’m trying to eat the old-fashioned or steel cut oats instead. But they need a little something to spice them up, and applesauce is a good addition.
Virginia from That Bald Chick
January 27, 2012 at 12:00 pmOh my yum! I’ve bookmarked, pinned, stumbled, tweeted, and shared on FB. I can’t wait to try it!
The Type A Housewife
January 28, 2012 at 5:36 pmThank you for sharing this! It is really good and I think next time, I’m going to double the recipe and freeze some (because I’m terrified of canning–I just know I will end up giving people botulism!).
Virginia from That Bald Chick
January 28, 2012 at 6:58 pmI feel the same way about canning!
[email protected] eco friendly homemaking
January 27, 2012 at 8:51 pmOh this looks really delicious. I really like applesauce and love to spice it up!
The Type A Housewife
January 28, 2012 at 5:23 pmThank you! I love applesauce too–it makes a nice guilt-free dessert.
what katie's baking
September 6, 2012 at 5:18 pm“I never have to be afraid of these people again. Because I have just witnessed them making applesauce.β hahah!
i love, love, love your blog and this recipe!
Kiersten
September 7, 2012 at 11:00 amThank you! π
C. Riphagen
September 7, 2012 at 2:53 am-gasp- I’ve been looking for something like this ever since my local Trader Joe’s stopped carrying their pear sauce. It was my favorite! Can’t wait to try! What pears do you recommend?
Kiersten
September 7, 2012 at 10:55 amHow did I miss that Trader Joe’s had pear sauce?! Too bad they stopped carrying it before I got to try it! Any kind of pear will work in this; I like to use 2 firmer ones for chunkiness and 2 softer ones for sauciness.
emishki
September 26, 2012 at 9:15 amThis looks great! Quick question – is it fresh ginger that you use or ground ginger?
Many thanks,
erin
Kiersten
September 26, 2012 at 9:44 amOops, I don’t know why I didn’t have that in there. It’s ground–I just changed the recipe. Thanks for pointing that out!
emishki
September 27, 2012 at 1:52 pmGreat, thank you! It’s in the slow cooker as I type…
Tara
November 16, 2013 at 7:46 pmPerfect! I received just the right amount of apples and pears in my CSA box and made this right away. It is a new favorite with my husband and son.
Kiersten
November 17, 2013 at 8:42 pmI’m glad you enjoyed it! π
Antri C. | Beauty Blogger & Reviewer
April 19, 2018 at 11:07 amOh my pear!! ??? it looks amazingly delicious and healthy π xoxo
http://hiddeninbeauty.com
Jenn
June 11, 2018 at 10:20 amMade this in the crockpot yesterday was to die for! Did not have cardamom thanks to a google search substituted equal parts cinnamon and nutmeg. Will definitely make again!
Hailey
January 20, 2019 at 8:09 pmReally delicious and super easy!
Denisr
May 21, 2019 at 2:05 pmEasy & delicious. Might not need the sugar, it’s pretty sweet.