Recipe: Homemade Chai Applesauce


photo credit: A Good Appetite

Apple picking season is almost here in the Northwest. One way we like to enjoy the harvest is to make homemade applesauce. It brings back such wonderful memories of childhood. We were delighted to find this recipe from A Good Appetite that gives applesauce a new kick with the addition of sweet and spicy chai tea. We can’t decide what we like better, grandma’s classic version or this one!

Chai Applesauce
3 bags Stash Double Spice Chai
3 lbs apples, cored & peeled (If you have a food mill you can skip peeling & run the sauce through the food mill to get rid of the skins)
1 c water
1/2 c sugar
1 T lemon juice

In a large heavy pot add the water, sugar and tea bags. Bring to a boil and stir to dissolve sugar. Turn off heat and let sit about 10 minutes. Remove tea bags, squeezing any liquid in them into the pot.

Cut the prepared apples into slices and add to the pot with your flavoring mixture. Turn the heat to medium-high. Let cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are very soft about 30 minutes.

Use a spoon or potato masher to help smash the apples to a sauce texture. (If you left the skins on your apples run your sauce through a food mill at this point to remove them.) Stir in the lemon juice. If your sauce seems too thick for your liking add a little water to it.

Put into containers and refrigerate. Or you can put hot sauce into sterilized jars and can them in a boiling water bath for 20 minutes for pantry storage.

Makes about 5 cups.