This is a spiced prune applesauce made with prunes, apples, and (optional) raisins.
My kids are really into this prune applesauce: they call it “the sauce.” The craze started with simple applesauce. I started making a homemade version during Covid, loaded with ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg, which my daughter loves. We caramelize the apples a bit and then cook them down until they’re very gooey and bring out the natural sugary flavor from the apples. I even eat it sometimes! (I like it on ice cream after the kids are in bed — don’t want to give them ideas).
But then a few weeks ago our new baby had NOT pooped in a week. And he seemed very, very uncomfortable — refusing to drink milk or to touch food. I was convinced he was massively constipated. He’s too little to try most of my other high-fiber go-to’s. So I decided to try cooking prunes down into a puree, and then I thought, why not just throw a couple of apples in there as well. And then my daughter caught a whiff and demanded a bowl, which she quickly inhaled. And so this prune applesauce was born.
It is also delicious on ice cream, by the way. And not only is it surprisingly tasty, the prune applesauce is very effective in getting the job done.
May it bless your family as it has blessed ours.
Why prune applesauce helps you poop
Prunes and apples are both high in soluble fiber. Both contain pectin, which forms a gel-like substance in the intestines and acts as a stool-softener.
Prunes also have high amounts of sorbitol, a sugar alcohol with natural stool-softening and stimulating effects. Apples and raisins have some sorbitol too, but in lower concentrations.
Raisins are rich in insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to the stool and stimulates bowel movements. They also contain sorbitol and fructans, a short chain carbohydrate that can have a laxative effect.
The water added to the sauce (plus of course the natural water in the apples) can help to hydrate a stubborn little one. Proper hydration is key!
Just writing about this is giving me the bowel shivers! (I don’t really know what that means either.)
But don’t eat too much!
Too many prunes can upset a little one’s tummy, so don’t give more than a small amount of prune applesauce at a time. I usually give my 30 pound daughter no more than 1/2 cup of sauce in a day. If it were her first ball game, I’d probably start with 1/4 cup just to be safe.
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Please Poop Prune Applesauce
This is a spiced prune applesauce that is made with prunes, apples, and (optional) raisins.
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Get some water boiling.
Put about 3 cups of water into a saucepan and put over high heat until it boils. While this is happening, chop your ingredients.
2. Chop the ingredients.
Prunes: Make sure the pits are out of your prunes (I’ve found them in pitted prunes several times!). Then quarter your prunes. I usually do this first since the prunes take the longest to cook.
Apples: Peel & core your apples, then chop into 1/2 inch cubes (it really doesn’t matter how big the pieces are, but smaller pieces cook down faster). I typically “core” my apple by standing it upright and then cutting the outside of the apple off in about 4 big cuts (and sometimes I whittle it down a bit further from there). I find this massively less annoying than just cutting the apple in half and then trying to cut the core out of individual slices – which bizarrely seems to be the standard way to cut apples?
Add all the fruits to the boiling water (prunes, apples, and raisins if you’re using them).
FYI, I usually throw my ingredients into the water as soon as they’re chopped so that stuff doesn’t accumulate on my cutting board. Don’t add the spices ’til later though.
3. Turn the heat down, and cook it down.
I’d give it 20 – 30 minutes to cook down over low heat. I don’t put a lid on it so that I can keep an eye on it from time to time. I stir it every 5 minutes or so, but I’ve also forgotten it for 20-30 minutes at a time and its been totally fine. The only thing to watch really is that the water doesn’t get too low. I add a little more water if I feel like it’s getting too thick.
4. Finish cooking it down.
The prunes and apples will start to fall apart. Once the sauce starts to look quite saucy (but still lumpy) it’s probably ready for you to add the spices. Measure them out, dump them in, mix them in thoroughly, and leave on low heat for another 5 minutes or so.
5. Blend it up.
Take it off the heat, let it cool for a bit, and then it’s time to blend. You don’t absolutely need to blend it — it becomes very homogenized as it cooks down. However, if I’m feeding my baby who gags on literally anything and does a phenomenal surprise projectile vomit, I’m going to blend it down. Also, I think it is a bit more approachable for the kids if you blend it. I use an immersion blender and do it right in the sauce pan. You could technically blend it immediately if you were in a rush.
6. Enjoy responsibly!
See my note above about not overdoing the sauce and causing an upset tummy.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 30 min
- Method: stovetop
