Homemade Instant Pot applesauce with Red Hots will become your new favorite dessert. This easy applesauce recipe is flavored with the spicy cinnamon candy of Red Hots®.
My Grandma Bahr taught me this recipe many years ago when I helped her prepare Christmas dinner for our whole family. Her secret was to use a variety of different apples for the best flavor but also to achieve the “chunky” factor for the best applesauce! I am all about the chunks!!
On special occasions, my grandma wanted to make her traditional homemade applesauce special, so she would break out the Red Hots® which would turn the apple sauce into a vibrant red cinnamon dessert.
As times are changing, I wanted to use my Instant Pot to showcase her quick applesauce recipe. Only two ingredients are all it takes to make this easy applesauce.
How to Make Applesauce?
With only 2 ingredients to make this applesauce recipe, it couldn’t be easier! Choose a variety of cooking apples. You want to have about 7 of your apples to be “baking” apples and 3 of your apples to be “firm” apples.
Not sure which apples are which? Look on the packaging of bagged apples in the store or ask your farmers market salesperson.
What is Red Hots®?
Red Hots® are a round, bit-sized classic cinnamon candy created in the early 1930’s. They are candy coated peanuts with a delectably sweet crunch that delivers wave after wave of spicy flavor.
How Do I Make Applesauce in an Instant Pot?
Gather your ingredients to make the Instant Pot Red Hots® Applesauce. Peel, core and chop all of your apples. I like to use my corer/slicer to make quick work of this task.
Place all the sliced apples in the Instant Pot and sprinkle the Red Hots® overtop of the apples. Add the water, place the lid on the Instant Pot and line up to lock the lid into place.
Instant Pot Applesauce Cook Time
Press the Pressure Cooker button on high pressure or manual mode for 5 minutes. Make sure the valve on the lid is pointing toward the sealing mode and not the venting mode.
Once the timer goes off let the Instant Pot release naturally for 10 minutes. Follow the manufactures instruction on how to do a quick release of the pressure before opening the lid.
After 10 minutes, do the quick release while wearing oven mitts by placing the pressure valve into the venting mode very carefully!!
If there is still a lot of pressure built up in the Instant Pot, give it a few more minutes to release naturally and then try the quick release again. Make sure to use oven mitts when adjusting the pressure valve and unlocking the lid.
Set the lid aside being careful not to burn yourself with the hot steam or the hot water droplets that form on the top of the lid. Incorporate the apples and Red Hots® with a hand potato masher or an immersion blender. I like my cinnamon applesauce chunky, so I use the potato masher.
This Instapot applesauce will be watery. Turn the Instant Pot to Sauté – Less mode and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until desired thickness is achieved.
How to Store Your Instant Pot Applesauce with Red Hots®
Place your leftover Red Hots® cinnamon applesauce in an airtight container and place in the fridge for up to 6 days. Freeze applesauce in an airtight freezable container for up to 6 months.
More Instant Pot Recipes
- Instant Pot Pot Roast
- Pulled Pork in the Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Chicken Salad
- Instant Pot Chicken Vegetable Soup
Applesauce with Red Hots – FAQ
This applesauce dessert recipe can be dressed up by adding different fruit with the apples such as strawberries or raspberries. Add a dash of cinnamon, sugar or any other spice of your choice.
If you don’t have an Instant Pot but still want to make this recipe? You still can!! For many years I have made this recipe in the microwave using the same ingredients but I would only use about 1/2 cup of water. I will use about 20 apples and place them in a large microwave safe bowl with a loose fitting lid. Microwave 10 minutes, stir apples, return to microwave and cook about 5 more minutes. Use a potato masher or an immersion blender to create your applesauce.
If you like this Instant Pot Applesauce recipe then you might like my Instant Pot Pulled Pork, Instant Pot Beef Tips and Noodles, Instant Pot Pot Roast, and Instant Pot Black Rice.
Instant Pot Applesauce Recipe
Get the full recipe and nutrition calories as well as nutrition information below!
Instant Pot Applesauce with Red Hots
Instant Pot Applesauce with Red Hots will become your new favorite dessert. Only two ingredients are all it takes to make this easy applesauce.
Ingredients
- Apples, peeled, cored and chopped 3 lbs (10 medium sized)
- Red Hots, cinnamon candy 4 oz.
- Water 3/4 cup
Instructions
- Gather your ingredients to make the Instant Pot Red Hots® Applesauce.
- Peel, core and chop all of your apples. I like to use my corer/slicer to make quick work of this task.
- Place all the sliced apples in the Instant Pot and sprinkle the Red Hots® overtop of the apples. Add the water, place the lid on the Instant Pot and line up to lock the lid into place.
- Press the Pressure Cooker button on high pressure or manual mode for 5 minutes. Make sure the valve on the lid is pointing toward the sealed mode.
- Once the timer goes off let the Instant Pot release naturally for 10 minutes. Follow the manufactures instruction on how to do a quick release of the pressure before opening the lid. After 10 minutes, do the quick release. Make sure to use oven mitts when adjusting the pressure valve and unlocking the lid.
- Set the lid aside being careful not to burn yourself with the hot steam or the hot water droplets that form on the top of the lid.
- Incorporate the apples and Red Hots® with a hand potato masher or an immersion blender. I like my cinnamon applesauce chunky, so I use the potato masher.
- This Instapot applesauce will be watery. Turn the Instant Pot to Sauté – Less mode and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until desired thickeness is achieved.
Notes
How to Make Applesauce?
With only 2 ingredients to make this applesauce recipe, it couldn’t be easier! Choose a variety of cooking apples. You want to have about 7 of your apples to be “baking” apples and 3 of your apples to be “firm” apples. Not sure which apples are which? Look on the packaging of bagged apples in the store or ask your farmers market salesperson. For this recipe I used Pink Lady, Fuji and Golden Delicious apples.
What is Red Hots®?
Red Hots® are a round, bit-sized classic cinnamon candy created in the early 1930’s. They are candy coated peanuts with a delectably sweet crunch that delivers wave after wave of spicy flavor.
How Can I Make Applesauce Taste Better?
This applesauce dessert recipe can be dressed up by adding different fruit with the apples such as strawberries or raspberries. Add a dash of cinnamon, sugar or any other spice of your choice.
How to Store Your Instant Pot Red Hots® Applesauce
Place your leftover Red Hots® cinnamon applesauce in an airtight container and place in the fridge for up to 6 days. Freeze applesauce in an airtight freezable container for up to 6 months.
Nutrition Information
Yield
8Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 92Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 110mgCarbohydrates 24gFiber 4gSugar 18gProtein 1g
Note: For exact nutritional information, consult your dietitian. All nutritional information is simply a guideline.
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If you enjoy this recipe, you may like the following recipes: Venison Tips and Noodles or Homemade Dinner Rolls.
My kids love this recipe and I love how easy it is!