Simple Applesauce | America's Test Kitchen

Ingredients

• 4 pounds apples (8 to 12 medium), unpeeled, cored, and cut into rough 1 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• Pinch table salt
• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter - stir into finished sauce
• 3 inch cinnamon sticks (2) -- cook with apples and remove prior to pureeing
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon - stir into finished sauce
• 1 cup cranberries (fresh or frozen) - cook and puree with apples
• 4 whole cloves - cook with apples and remove prior to serving
• 1 1/2 inch piece fresh ginger , sliced into three pieces and smashed - cook with apples and remove prior to pureeing
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest - cook and puree with apples
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice - stir into finished sauce
• 2/3 cup Red Hot candy - cook and puree with apples
• 2 pieces star anise (whole) - cook with apples and remove prior to serving