Autumn sauce: How to make apple sauce with apple juice

After an unpredictable summer of heatwaves and downpours, the arrival of autumn will have been welcomed by many with open arms.

It’s now time to pack away the barbecue and dust off the roasting tin as we embrace the season of hearty meals, extra layers and longer evenings.

From apple juice cake to slow cooker pork, we love using fruit juices in our cooking (check out some of our previous examples on the blog here), and one of our favourite autumnal recipes is for apple sauce using our Eager apple juice.

Simple to make and versatile to enjoy, apple sauce can be served with roast pork, dolloped on top of hog roast rolls, or even eaten with yoghurt or dessert.

Using apple juice in the recipe instead of water enhances the apple flavour even more, and you can make this fruity sauce in large quantities to freeze and use at a later date too.

Here’s how to make apple sauce for pork, including unsweetened and barbecue versions, as well as an apple gravy twist if that’s more your Sunday roast style:

Classic apple sauce using apple juice

This recipe takes just 15 minutes to prepare and will be ready on the hob in under half an hour. It makes 12 servings, but can be portioned and kept in the freezer if you don’t need it all.

Combine all of the ingredients in a large pot and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally for 25 minutes. Carefully puree in a food processor or blender until smooth, or slightly chunkier, depending on the texture you like your sauce.

Store in the fridge and serve with pork, ice cream, pancakes, or just enjoy on its own.

Ingredients (12 servings):

• 2.725 kg apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 8 slices
• 250ml Eager apple juice
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 90g brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon, more or less to taste
• Optional ingredients: Nutmeg, maple syrup, allspice, butter, to taste

Unsweetened apple sauce recipe

This homemade unsweetened apple sauce recipe uses the sweetness from the apples and juice, without adding sugar too. Perfect for serving with roast pork, pulled pork or pork chops.

Place the apples in a large pot and add the apple juice so that the apples are just covered.

Bring to the boil over a high heat then reduce the heat to medium and let the apples simmer until they are tender enough to crush easily with the flat side of a fork (around 15 minutes).

Strain the apples and blend until the sauce is at your preferred consistency.

Ingredients (approx. 4 servings):

• 4-5 medium apples - peeled, cored and sliced
• 120ml Eager apple juice
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• Optional ingredients: nutmeg, clove, lemon juice

Barbecue apple sauce with Eager apple juice

A perfect topping for hog roast rolls, or a marinade to brush on your pork roast, this condiment is like a flavour-packed hybrid of BBQ sauce and apple sauce.

Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 15 minutes, making sure to keep an eye on the sauce so that it doesn’t burn.

Remove from the heat and allow the sauce to cool for 10 minutes before using.

Ingredients (approx. 36 small servings):

• 235g ketchup
• 40g peeled, grated apple
• 60ml Eager apple juice
• 60ml soy sauce
• 60ml apple cider vinegar
• 50g lightly packed brown sugar
• 50g grated onion
• 2 tsp grated bell pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp white pepper

Roast pork with apple juice gravy

Pork and apple go hand in hand, but in a twist on the classic apple sauce, this recipe uses the fruity flavours in a gravy instead.

Rather than making the gravy separately, this recipe involves roasting the pork in apple juice, then adding flour, water, seasoning and more apple juice to the roasting pan once the meat is removed; stirring constantly over the hob to make the gravy.

The full method, including timings for roasting the pork, can be found here.

Ingredients (6 servings):

• Olive oil, to grease
• 3kg pork leg, on the bone
• 60ml extra virgin olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary leaves
• 1 tsp salt
• 500ml Eager apple juice
• 2 tbsp plain flour
• 250ml water

If that hasn’t put you in the mood for a hearty Sunday roast this weekend, we’re not sure what will.

Get your pack of Eager apple juice today and get ready to whip up a saucy storm in the kitchen.

Make sure to share your apple sauce creations with us on Instagram @eagerdrinks 📸