Vanilla Applesauce

As promised, here is the applesauce we made with some of apples we picked over the weekend.  We actually made two different kinds.  We made a classic applesauce (recipe here) that was easy and turned out really great (no picture of that one, sorry!).  But then I wanted to try something a little different, so we made a vanilla applesauce.  The vanilla applesauce was amazing!  Here the recipe for the batch we made; feel free to change the recipe according to the apples you have and how much cinnamon and sugar you like.  It's a big pot of apples; I don't think you can go wrong!

Vanilla Applesauce

7 Granny Smith apples

7 Pink Lady apples

2 cups apple cider

juice of 1 lemon

1/4 cup sugar + 3 Tbsp

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 vanilla bean

Peel, core, and chop the apples.  Place in a large stockpot.  Pour lemon juice and cider over all the apples, stir with a wooden spoon.  Add in the sugar and cinnamon.  Split the vanilla bean length-wise, scrape the vanilla into the pot, and then throw in the pod.  Stir all ingredients together.  Cover and heat over medium heat for 50-60 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes or so.  Remove from heat and remove the pod.  Break up any remaining apple chunks with the wooden spoon.  Store in the refrigerator for up to a week.  (We also froze half of ours.)

source:  recipe adapted from Martha Stewart

*Come join the fun at the My Baking Addiction and GoodLife Eats Holiday Recipe Swap sponsored by Beanilla.”