Cut up your apples into pieces (quarters are usually fine, but go with eighths for larger apples) and drop them in a Dutch Oven or other large pot as you go. If you aren’t using a food mill, you also need to peel and core the apples.
Add the apple juice to the pot and bring it all to a boil.
Lower the heat to a simmer, cover and cook for about 45 minutes or until apples are tender and falling apart.
Set your food mill over a bowl, ladle the cooked apples into the mill and grind the apples into sauce – the mill will catch all the seeds and peels. And if you aren’t using a food mill, mash the apples with a potato masher until they are consistency you like.
Let it cool a little and serve, garnished with cinnamon if you like!
Notes
Apples: You can use any apple you like for this recipe! And you can also use a mixture. Soft and sweet apples like Macintosh, Fuji, Gala and Honeycrisp will have a sweeter taste. If you like your applesauce tarter, go for Granny Smith or Pink Ladies.
Apple Juice: You need a little liquid to cook your apples, and if I have unsweetened apple juice around I use it. Otherwise I just use water.
Cinnamon: Totally optional, but I LOVE a swirl of cinnamon in my applesauce!