Cooking Time: About 30 minutes Difficulty: Easy

Homemade applesauce needs no introduction, but what about cherry or strawberry applesauce? (What?) Variety is the spice of life, right?

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We have a one-bite rule in our family (I am notorious for trying new things on our kiddos), but I never mention the word "new"...EVER...they get very suspicious. Recently, I made a "new" version of their beloved applesauce and waited for their reactions.

Apple butter (apples cooked down to a butter consistency) is my secret ingredient in my applesauce. This time, I made my kiddo's favorite chunky applesauce (Granny Smith and Gala apples, pictured) and substituted cherry butter for the apple butter. Then I watched and waited with bated breath as their faces contorted as they took their first bite. It was quite funny.

Needless to say, the "new version" was such a hit, the next night I tried Strawberry Applesauce. Success! So, it's time to "spice up" your applesauce recipe and introduce Cherchies® Cherry Butter or Cherchies® Strawberry Butter". Who knows, maybe your family will love it too!

Here's how it's made.

Ingredients

6 Apples, peeled and roughly chopped (I'd suggest a variety of apples...Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Gala...whatever makes you happy)
The juice of half a lemon
1/2 jar Cherchies® Cherry Butter (may also substitute Cherchies® Apple Butter Spread or Cherchies® Strawberry Butter Spread
1/2 teaspoon (tsp) Cinnamon

Preparation

Roughly chop the apples and place them in a large bowl with the lemon juice. Mix the apples and the lemon juice until apples are coated. Add the apples to a skillet or pan and turn heat to low. Add the Cherry Butter Spread (Yea baby!) and cinnamon.

Cook apples on low, stirring occasionally, until apples are tender, about 30 minutes. There is usually enough liquid from the cherry butter and the juice from the apples, but you may need to add a little water as the applesauce cooks. You can certainly mash the apples as you go, but as I mentioned, my kiddos prefer the chunks;)