Apple with less sugar

Applesauce

Delicious homemade applesauce recipe! There is nothing better than homemade applesauce with hand-picked apples, and it is so easy to make!

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

Nothing beats the taste of homemade applesauce, and it’s so easy to make! Every year, starting in mid summer with the Gravensteins, and through late fall with Granny Smiths and Fuji apples, my father processes dozens of batches of applesauce from apples picked from his trees. He freezes them in large quart-sized mason jars for us to enjoy all year long.

The secret to my dad’s applesauce is that he adds a couple strips of lemon peel to the apples while they are cooking, as well as some lemon juice or apple cider vinegar.

The tartness of the lemon or vinegar serves to intensify the taste of the apples, and helps balance out the sweetness of the sauce. The result is a refreshing, utterly delicious applesauce.

He also likes to mix other fruit in with the sauce. He’ll mix fresh cranberries in with the apples for cranberry applesauce, or stalks of rhubarb for rhubarb applesauce. Plums and pluots sometimes find their way into his applesauce too.

For more information on which apple varieties are best for baking, check out our Guide to Apples.

Love Apples? Try These Recipes:

Applesauce

Apples vary in their sweetness level, depending on the variety and how late in the season they are picked. The amount of sugar you will want to add will depend on how sweet your apples are, and how sweet you would like your applesauce to be. This recipe is just a guideline, please adjust the sugar amounts to your taste. You can even leave the sugar out all together if you are using sweet apples.

If you use less sugar than this recipe suggest, you will likely want to reduce the amount of lemon juice or vinegar as well. The acid in the lemon juice or vinegar brightens the flavor of the apples and balances the sweetness.

In place of the ground cinnamon you can cook the apples with a stick of cinnamon, just remove it before puréeing.

To prep the apples, use a sharp vegetable peeler or paring knife and cut away the outer peel. Then quarter the apple and use a paring knife to cut out the tough core parts from the quarters. Or use an apple peeler corer.

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Baked Apples

Classic baked apples are an easy, comforting dessert. Filled with pecans, cinnamon, raisins, butter, and brown sugar, our baked apples recipe is perfect for cozy afternoons.

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

I was in New England a few weeks ago, at the height of apple picking season. I’m guessing they’re all down now, but our apples here in Northern California are at their peak. There are so many great varieties in the market to choose from!

Our Favorite Baked Apples Recipe

We first posted this recipe in 2006, during another trip east to visit my goddaughter and her family. A gang of us went apple picking and came home with so many we spent a week cooking them into pies, crisps, and these fabulous baked apples.

The Best Apples for Baked Apples

The girls and I used Rome Beauties, a variety of apple that is particularly well suited for baking this way. We based our recipe on one from the Joy of Cooking, with butter and brown sugar, and we fancied it up a bit with chopped pecans and raisins.

Growing up we always had baked apples served with a generous portion of vanilla ice cream, a combination I highly recommend.

Simple Tip!

For more information on which apple varieties are best for baking, check out our Guide to Apples.

The Best Apple Varieties for Baking

• Granny Smith (green and tart)
• Rome Beauty (red, mildly sweet and tart)
• Honeycrisp
• Braeburn (firm and spicy sweet)
• Jonagold and Jonathans
• Pink Lady
• Melrose (cross between a Jonathan and a Red Delicious)
• Winesap (spicy tart and thick skinned)
• Golden Delicious (yellow, sweet, soft, and thin skinned)
• Corland (related to the McIntosh, crisp and slightly tart)
• Gala (mellow and sweet, use less sugar with these)

Variations on Baked Apples

• Use dairy-free butter to make them vegan.
• Vary the spices, like using pumpkin pie spice instead.
• Try nutmeg, clove, or a sprinkle of cayenne for a little heat.
• Add dried cherries or cranberries in place of the raisins.
• Use other nuts, like walnuts or hazelnuts.

How to Make Baked Apples in the Microwave

If you’re short on time, you can «bake» your apples in the microwave. Prep the apples as the recipe instructs. Put them in a deep, microwave-safe casserole with a cover. Microwave for 4 minutes and check on the apples. When they are ready, they’ll be tender and a little slouchy, but not mushy. You may need to microwave them for a total of 10 minutes, depending on the size and variety of apples, as well as the wattage of your microwave.

More Easy Apple Dessert Recipes

Baked Apples

«Rome Beauty» is the variety of apple that is best suited to baking, and is worth seeking out if you are making baked apples.

Ingredients

4 large good baking apples , such as Rome Beauty, Golden Delicious, or Jonagold

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What does fact checked mean?

At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data.

The information contained on this site is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a professional health care provider. Please check with the appropriate physician regarding health questions and concerns. Although we strive to deliver accurate and up-to-date information, no guarantee to that effect is made.

Apple Varieties With Less Sugar

During the ripening of apples and other fruits, starches turn into sugar and produce that sweet taste you know and love. The most common apple varieties produced in the United States are Red Delicious, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith and Fuji apples. While some varieties may taste sweeter than others, they contain about the same amount of sugar per serving.

Sugar Content of Apple Varieties

One cup of sliced Granny Smith apples contains 10.45 grams of sugar, offering the lowest amount among popular varieties. In order of increasing sugar content, next are the Golden Delicious, Gala, Red Delicious and finally Fuji apple providing the highest sugar content of 12.73 grams per cup. A whole apple contains a different amount of sugar than a cup of sliced fruit. For example, while an average cup of apple slices weighs about 109 grams, a whole apple may be between 129 and 260 grams depending on the variety and size.

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The Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman’s World, and Natural Health.

Arno Kroner, DAOM, LAc, is a board-certified acupuncturist, as well as an herbalist and integrative medicine doctor. He operates a private practice in Santa Monica, California.

For centuries, apple cider vinegar has been used to treat a wide variety of health ailments. It’s also a popular disinfectant and natural preservative. Today, it may be best known as a weight loss aid and a way to help control your blood sugar.

Apple cider vinegar is produced when apple cider is fermented. During this process, bacteria or yeast interact with the sugar in apples. The cider turns into alcohol and then into vinegar.

Some people drink the vinegar itself or use it as a condiment like salad dressing. Others take capsules or eat gummies.

This article explains which benefits are backed by science and which are unproven. It also lists some of the possible side effects you might experience.

Health Benefits

Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid. It also contains bacteria and lactic, citric, and malic acids. These acids are what gives the vinegar its tart taste.

Apple cider vinegar is believed to boost your health in many ways. Here’s what the research says about its benefits.

Blood Sugar

The acetic acid in vinegar may block enzymes that help you digest starch. Starchy foods such as bread, pasta, and rice can cause a surge in blood sugar after you eat.

So taking apple cider vinegar could lead to a smaller blood sugar spike after starchy meals.

A 2017 research review published in Diabetes Research & Clinical Practice showed that taking vinegar with meals lowered insulin levels. Insulin is a hormone that helps your body use sugar, and it’s increased in diabetes. Vinegar also lowered post-meal blood sugar levels.

To add apple cider vinegar to a meal, try a splash on salads or in marinades, vinaigrettes, and sauces.

If you have diabetes or prediabetes, talk to your healthcare provider if you’re thinking of using more than you’d typically find in cooking. Vinegar can interact with diabetes medication. It shouldn’t be used if you have certain health conditions like gastroparesis, a digestive disorder in which the stomach empties slowly.

Weight Loss

Advocates claim that taking vinegar before or with a meal may help you feel full faster and lose weight.

A small study published in 2018 tracked weight loss in two groups of people over a 12-week period. Both groups ate fewer calories. One group also had 30 milliliters of apple cider vinegar a day.

At the end of the study, the vinegar group lost more weight. They also lost more visceral fat. That’s the fat around the organs in your abdomen, and it is linked to a higher risk of heart disease.

People tend to use more apple cider vinegar when taking it for weight loss purposes. Some even take it in supplement form.

Recap

Some research points to apple cider vinegar as a way to lower blood sugar and help with weight loss. More large-scale studies need to be done to confirm these benefits.

Other Uses

Over the years, apple cider vinegar has been used as a home remedy for many health and beauty purposes. While there isn’t strong science to back these claims, some people have reported success.

Dandruff

To treat dandruff, some people spritz an apple cider vinegar and water solution onto the scalp. It is believed to fight flakes, itchiness, and irritation. Vinegar’s acetic acid may change the scalp’s pH, making it harder for yeast to thrive. Yeast contributes to dandruff.

It is also used to treat an itchy, scaly skin condition called seborrheic dermatitis. A 2017 study published in the Galen Medical Journal said applying the flowering herb Althaea officinalis along with vinegar resolved the condition in a 32-year-old woman.

Some people use it as a hair rinse to remove shampoo build-up and clarify dull hair. If you try this, be sure to mix the vinegar with plenty of water so it doesn’t sting your eyes.

Vinegar doesn’t get rid of head lice.

Sunburn and Other Skin Injuries

People often treat mild sunburns with a cool water compress, cool bath, aloe gel, or moisturizer. Others swear by apple cider vinegar. It can be added to a cool bath or mixed with cool water and spritzed on affected areas to ease pain. It’s a good idea to avoid the face.

There is little evidence that apple cider vinegar can relieve sunburn pain. It does have strong germ-fighting properties, though. It may help prevent skin infections caused by sunburn and other skin injuries.

Apple cider vinegar shouldn’t be applied to the skin in full-strength or strong concentrations. It also shouldn’t be used for more serious burns. Be sure to consult your healthcare provider for major sunburns.

If you have mosquito bites, poison ivy, or jellyfish stings, some advocates say you can dab a weak apple cider vinegar solution onto the area(s) to help itching and irritation.

Acne and Other Chronic Skin Issues

There isn’t much evidence to suggest that apple cider vinegar could clear up acne. Still, some people dab on a little to dry out pimples. It should be diluted before applying it to the face as it can harm your skin if it’s not mixed with water.

There is some research suggesting that applying apple cider vinegar to varicose veins may make them less noticeable. Varicose veins are raised blood vessels that can be painful.

Different vinegars have different amounts of acetic acid. That can make it hard to know how much water to add to make it safe for skin. Keep that fact in mind if you want to use apple cider vinegar on your skin.

Sore Throat

One of the oldest uses of apple cider vinegar is as a remedy for sore throat (pharyngitis).

There are many different recipes and methods. One basic drink recipe calls for a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, a teaspoon of honey, and a small pinch of cayenne pepper stirred in a cup of warm water. Some drink the mixture and others like to gargle it.

Apple cider vinegar has germ-fighting properties. It’s also said that the capsaicin in hot peppers relieves pain. But there hasn’t been any specific research that shows apple cider vinegar fights sore throat.

In fact, there is evidence that treating a sore throat with vinegar can do more harm than good. If it’s not mixed with enough water, vinegar can damage tissues in the throat. The damage may worsen pain and make it harder to swallow.

It is not clear how much apple cider vinegar should be added to water to make a safe treatment for sore throats, especially in children.

Body Odor

Some claim that apple cider vinegar may keep smelly feet and armpits in check. It may help to balance the skin’s pH (acidity level) and fight bacteria that cause body odor.

One method is to mix a bit of apple cider vinegar into water. Dip a baby wipe, cotton ball, or cloth into the solution. Wring out the extra liquid and wipe the bottom of the feet or the armpit. Wipes can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container.

At first, you might notice a vinegar scent. It usually goes away when the vinegar dries.

It’s a good idea to test the apple cider vinegar solution in a small area first. You should also avoid using it near delicate fabrics like silk or leather. The acids could damage them.

Recap

Some people have had personal success using vinegar to treat dandruff, acne, sunburn, sore throats, bites, and stings. There isn’t much research to support these uses, however. If you decide to give it a go, be sure you water down the vinegar first so you don’t damage your skin.

Possible Side Effects

Apple cider vinegar is a popular household product. Its popularity could lead you to believe that it’s completely safe. You should be aware of some potential side effects, however. They may be more of a problem if the vinegar is too strong or in contact with your body too long.

For instance, it can cause chemical burns. Some people had burns after using it for warts and a skin condition known as molluscum contagiosum.

Some people have tried vinegar as a home remedy to whiten teeth or freshen breath. But the acids can damage tooth enamel and lead to cavities.

Eating or drinking apple cider vinegar may lower your potassium levels too much. It can also lead to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), throat irritation, and allergic reactions.

Vinegar is an acid. It can cause burns and injury to the digestive tract (including the throat, esophagus, and stomach). This is especially true when it is used in large amounts or without diluting it with water.

Substances that have a pH less than 7 are acids. Many apple cider vinegar products have a pH of 2 to 3. That means they are highly acidic.

Apple cider vinegar may interact with medications, including:

• Laxatives (medications that make it easier to have a bowel movement)
• Diuretics (medications that rid your body of extra water and salt)
• Blood thinners
• Heart disease and diabetes medications

Apple cider vinegar shouldn’t be used as a nasal spray, sinus wash, or in a neti pot. It shouldn’t be added to eye drops.

Dose and Preparation

Apple cider vinegar is available as a liquid and a supplement. There is no standard dose for the capsules and gummies, so follow the package directions and check with your healthcare provider.

Many uses involve diluting vinegar with water, but it’s hard to tell how much water to use to make the vinegar safe. Some advocates suggest a ratio of 1:10 (one part vinegar to 10 parts water) if you’re putting it on your skin. Using vinegar on delicate or damaged skin may not be a good idea.

If you’re drinking vinegar, a teaspoon to a tablespoon mixed into 8 ounces of water is a common recipe. Again, the safety of various doses isn’t known.

The amount of acetic acid in commercial apple cider vinegar varies (unlike white vinegar, which is 5% acetic acid). That can make it impossible to know the true strength of your mixture.

What to Look For

You can buy filtered or unfiltered vinegar. The filtered type is a clear, light brown color. Unfiltered versions (such as Bragg’s) have a cloudy layer at the bottom of the bottle.

Known as «mother of vinegar» or simply «mother,» this cloudy layer is mainly bacteria. Some say unfiltered options are better. They do tend to be more costly than filtered vinegars, though.

When you buy apple cider vinegar capsules or gummies, read the product label first. Make sure it lists apple cider vinegar, not acetic acid (white vinegar). Supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. That means you should look for brands reviewed by independent parties such as U.S. Pharmacopeia.

Summary

Apple cider vinegar has been around for ages. There’s some evidence that it could help control blood sugar or help you reach a healthy weight. Some people have had success using it to treat skin and scalp problems, but there’s no solid science backing these uses yet.

Apple cider vinegar contains some acids, so it’s usually mixed with water when it’s used for acne, bites, or other skin problems. If you drink it, be aware that it can harm your teeth or digestive system if it’s too strong. It can also interact with some medications in ways that could harm your health.

A Word From Verywell

If you’re considering using apple cider vinegar for any health purpose, speak with your healthcare provider to see if it’s right for you. It’s usually not a good idea to self-treat. This is especially true if you are avoiding standard treatments. People with certain conditions (such as ulcers, hiatal hernia, Barrett’s esophagus, or low potassium) may need to avoid apple cider vinegar.

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