My daughter Lily is eight and fiercely opinionated about lunch. Last September, two weeks into third grade, she announced — mid-bite, spoon midair — that the applesauce in her thermos was “too sweet and kind of fake.” She wasn’t wrong. I’d been buying the store-bought cinnamon variety for years without thinking much about it. When I flipped the label, I counted 22 grams of added sugar per cup. That felt like a lot for a kid who already had a juice box in her bag.
That same evening I pulled out the small glass bottle of SweetLeaf Cinnamon Sweet Drops that had been sitting in my spice drawer for months. I’d bought it on a whim for tea and then mostly ignored it. But standing at the stove with a pot of softening Honeycrisp apples, I figured it was worth a try.
Lily took one bite the next morning before school. “Mom, this one’s good.” No drama, no negotiation. I’ve been making it every Sunday since.
By Jen B. | Last updated: July 15, 2026
Quick Answer: Yes, you can make excellent sugar-free applesauce using SweetLeaf Cinnamon Sweet Drops in place of sugar — and it takes less than 30 minutes. Peel and core 6 medium Honeycrisp or Fuji apples, cook them down with ¼ cup of water, mash to your preferred texture, then stir in 12–18 drops of SweetLeaf Cinnamon Sweet Drops off the heat. Taste and adjust drop by drop. The result is lightly sweet, warmly spiced applesauce with zero added sugar, zero bitterness, and about 60 calories per half-cup serving.
First Impressions
The bottle is small — just 2 fluid ounces — but it makes an outsized first impression. SweetLeaf Cinnamon Sweet Drops arrives in a glass bottle with a built-in dropper top, which I appreciated immediately. No digging for a separate dropper. No sticky spills from a pour spout.
The color is a warm amber-brown, like diluted cinnamon tea. I opened the cap expecting something sharp and medicinal — that’s the association most stevia products have trained me to expect. Instead, I got a round, bakery-warm cinnamon smell. Not artificial. Not like Red Hots candy. More like cinnamon stirred into warm applesauce already.
A single drop on my fingertip tasted sweet and spiced with no bitterness trailing off the back of the tongue. That trailing bitterness is what kills most stevia products for me. This one didn’t have it — at least not at a single-drop concentration.
The ingredient list is short: water, organic stevia leaf extract (Reb A), natural flavors, organic cinnamon extract. No erythritol. No inulin. No fillers I’d need to explain to Lily if she asked. That simplicity matters to me more than I expected it to.
What Makes It Different
The obvious difference: zero grams of added sugar. A half-cup of traditional sweetened applesauce averages 18–24 grams of sugar, much of it added after cooking. This version has none.
But what actually sets this apart from “just use plain stevia and add cinnamon” is the integration. When I’ve tried combining separate stevia drops and ground cinnamon, the cinnamon floats, clumps on the surface, and distributes unevenly. The SweetLeaf drops blend seamlessly into the cooked apple mash because the cinnamon flavor is already dissolved into a liquid stevia base.
The result is uniform flavor throughout the whole batch. Every spoonful tastes the same — no hot cinnamon pockets, no bland bites near the bottom of the jar.
There’s also a thermal advantage. Ground cinnamon added after cooking can taste raw and dusty. The cinnamon extract in these drops integrates beautifully with the natural apple sugars, especially when you stir it in while the applesauce is still warm. I’ll explain the exact timing in the Tips section — it matters more than you’d think.
Real-World Performance
The Recipe: Cinnamon Stevia Applesauce
This is the version I’ve made every Sunday for Lily’s school-week lunches. It scales easily — I usually double it for a full week’s supply.
Ingredients (makes about 3 cups / 6 half-cup servings):
- 6 medium apples (Honeycrisp or Fuji — see apple variety notes below)
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional; prevents browning and brightens flavor)
- 12–18 drops SweetLeaf Cinnamon Sweet Drops (start at 12, adjust up)
- Pinch of fine sea salt
Steps:
- Peel, core, and chop the apples into roughly 1-inch chunks. Uniform size helps them cook evenly.
- Add apples, water, and lemon juice to a medium saucepan. Cover and cook over medium heat for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until apples are completely soft and beginning to collapse.
- Remove from heat. Let cool for 3–4 minutes — you want warm, not boiling.
- Mash with a potato masher for chunky texture, or use an immersion blender for smooth.
- Stir in 12 drops of SweetLeaf Cinnamon Sweet Drops and the pinch of salt.
- Taste. Add 2–4 more drops if needed. The applesauce will taste sweeter once fully cooled, so don’t overshoot.
- Store in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to 10 days, or freeze in portions for up to 3 months.
Apple Variety Notes
Honeycrisp gives you a naturally sweeter base, which means you need fewer stevia drops. The texture mashes beautifully to the slightly chunky consistency Lily prefers — it holds its body in a thermos.
Fuji apples produce a smoother, denser applesauce with a mellow, almost floral sweetness. Good if you’re going for a more refined texture for adults.
Granny Smith apples work well if you like a tart profile. They need a few extra drops (3–5 more) to compensate for the acidity. That tartness actually plays nicely against the cinnamon stevia, creating a more complex, grown-up flavor.
Avoid McIntosh for this recipe. They get watery fast and produce a loose, thin applesauce that doesn’t hold up in a thermos or jar. I learned this the hard way with a soupy Sunday batch.
Texture Adjustments
If your applesauce turns out too thin, cook it uncovered for an extra 5 minutes to evaporate some moisture. If it’s too thick, add water a tablespoon at a time. The lemon juice not only prevents browning — it brightens the overall flavor, which helps the cinnamon come forward without tasting flat.
Long-Term Value
The 2 oz bottle contains approximately 192 servings at the manufacturer’s recommended ¼ tsp serving size. In my recipe, I use about 15 drops per 3-cup batch, which is roughly half a serving. A full bottle gives me approximately 25–30 complete batches of applesauce.
At a retail price of around $8.99 to $9.49, that works out to roughly $0.30–$0.36 per batch in sweetener cost. Add the cost of 6 apples (about $3.00–$4.50 for Honeycrisp depending on season) and you’re making 3 cups of premium cinnamon applesauce for well under $5.00 total.
Compare that to name-brand jarred cinnamon applesauce: a 46 oz jar runs about $4.50–$5.00 at most grocery stores, loaded with added sugar, preservatives, and ascorbic acid. My homemade version costs roughly the same per ounce — but I control every ingredient.
The dropper-top bottle holds up well over time. I’ve had mine open for four months in the pantry and it hasn’t degraded in flavor or sweetness intensity. The glass construction helps — no plastic off-gassing, no flavor contamination after repeated opening and closing.
Final Verdict
Overall Score: 9.1 / 10
SweetLeaf Cinnamon Sweet Drops is the rare stevia product that delivers on what it promises without requiring you to manage its flaws. For homemade applesauce specifically, it has become a permanent fixture in my kitchen.
| Sub-Score | Score | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| Taste | 9.4 / 10 | Warm, authentic cinnamon flavor with no detectable stevia bitterness at normal use levels. |
| Value | 8.8 / 10 | Under $0.36 per applesauce batch; 25–30 batches per bottle makes the price-per-use excellent. |
| Flavor Accuracy | 9.2 / 10 | Cinnamon reads as genuine warm spice, not candy or artificial flavoring — closer to Ceylon than cassia heat. |
| Daily Usability | 9.3 / 10 | Dropper top delivers precise, repeatable dosing; bottle fits in a spice drawer without any extra footprint. |
| Packaging / Bulk Supply | 8.6 / 10 | Glass bottle is a genuine win; 2 oz feels small for heavy weekly users — a 4 oz option would be welcome. |
Tips for Success
Add drops after removing from heat
High heat degrades stevia’s sweetness and can amplify any residual bitter notes. Let the applesauce cool for 3–4 minutes before adding your drops. Warm — not boiling — is the sweet spot for both flavor and potency.
Start low and taste up
Applesauce thickens and concentrates as it cools. If you add 18 drops while it’s hot, it can taste almost cloyingly sweet once refrigerated. Start at 12 drops, chill a small spoonful on a plate for two minutes, then decide if you need more.
Use the salt
A pinch of fine sea salt does something important: it suppresses any residual bitterness from the stevia and rounds out the cinnamon spice. Don’t skip it. I use about ⅛ teaspoon per 6-apple batch. It’s the difference between applesauce that tastes “good” and applesauce that tastes complete.
Blend in stages for chunk control
If you want a semi-chunky texture — which I prefer for Lily’s thermos because it doesn’t slosh — mash with a potato masher first, then use an immersion blender for just 3–4 quick pulses. You get smoothness with enough body to eat comfortably with a spoon.
Double the batch on Sundays
Twelve apples, the same drop ratio, about 5 extra minutes of cooking time. The batch freezes beautifully in silicone ice cube trays — pop the cubes into a zip bag and thaw overnight in the fridge. Each cube is roughly ¼ cup, which is perfect for topping oatmeal or plain yogurt throughout the week.
Mix apple varieties for better flavor
Three Honeycrisp plus three Granny Smith gives you a balanced sweet-tart base that needs almost no sweetener adjustment. The Granny Smith’s natural pectin also produces a thicker, silkier texture than Honeycrisp alone — it holds together beautifully at room temperature inside a school lunchbox thermos.
Pros and Cons Values
Pros:
- Zero added sugar, zero calories — works for diabetic, low-carb, and whole-food diets without compromise
- No erythritol or bulking agents — clean label with only four recognizable ingredients
- Cinnamon flavor integrates evenly into cooked applesauce; no clumping or uneven spice distribution
- Precise dropper top delivers repeatable dosing — same taste, same sweetness, batch after batch
- Amber glass bottle construction prevents plastic flavor transfer and holds up well for months after opening
Cons:
- 2 oz is the only available size; heavy weekly users will reorder more frequently than they’d like
- Sweetness curve is sharp — one or two extra drops can push a batch from pleasant to overpowering
- Costs slightly more upfront than buying ground cinnamon and plain stevia powder separately, though cost-per-use is comparable
Product Specification
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product Name | SweetLeaf Sweet Drops Cinnamon |
| Size | 2 fl oz (60 mL) |
| Servings Per Bottle | ~192 (¼ tsp / ~10 drops per serving) |
| Calories Per Serving | 0 |
| Sweetener Base | Stevia leaf extract (Reb A) |
| Erythritol-Free | Yes |
| Organic | Partially (organic stevia extract; organic cinnamon extract) |
| Non-GMO | Yes — Non-GMO Project Verified |
| Gluten-Free | Yes |
| Kosher | Yes — OU Kosher certified |
| Country of Origin | USA (Chandler, AZ) |
| Shelf Life | 2 years unopened; ~12 months after opening |
| Packaging | Amber glass bottle with integrated dropper top |
Safety & Third-Party Testing
SweetLeaf is one of the longest-standing stevia brands in the US market, having sold stevia products since 1987. Their Reb A extract is GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) under FDA guidelines — the same regulatory status held by sugar, salt, and other standard food additives.
The Cinnamon Sweet Drops are Non-GMO Project Verified, which requires annual third-party audits of the supply chain to confirm that no genetically modified organisms appear in sourcing or manufacturing. They’re also OU Kosher certified, which involves separate facility and ingredient inspections by an independent certification body.
SweetLeaf does not publish a public certificate of analysis (COA) for individual flavor drops, which is a minor gap compared to supplement-industry transparency standards. However, for a food flavoring used in quantities of 12–18 drops per batch, the third-party certifications and the brand’s 35-year safety track record are sufficient for my comfort level.
One practical note: the “natural flavors” listed in the ingredients can occasionally concern people with specific allergies. SweetLeaf states their flavors are derived from plant sources, but if you or a family member has a tree bark or cinnamon sensitivity, contacting the brand directly before using is worth the two minutes.
Stevia itself has a robust safety record in published literature. A 2023 review in Food and Chemical Toxicology confirmed the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of steviol glycosides at 4 mg/kg body weight per day — a threshold that a full bottle consumed over a week would not approach for most adults or school-age children.
Compare with Other
| Product | Size | Cinnamon Flavor | Erythritol-Free | Approx. Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SweetLeaf Cinnamon Sweet Drops | 2 oz | Yes (integrated) | Yes | $8.99–$9.49 | Applesauce, oatmeal, cooked fruit |
| NOW Foods Better Stevia Organic Cinnamon | 2 oz | Yes | Yes | $7.49–$8.99 | Beverages; thinner spice profile |
| NuNaturals NuStevia Cinnamon Syrup | 2 oz | Yes | No (erythritol base) | $9.99–$11.99 | Pancakes, hot drinks; not ideal for kids sensitive to sugar alcohols |
| Pyure Organic Stevia Drops (Plain) | 1.8 oz | No — separate cinnamon required | No (erythritol) | $7.99–$9.49 | General sweetening; extra spice step needed |
The NOW Foods cinnamon drops are a solid runner-up. They’re slightly cheaper and the ingredient list is equally clean. But in side-by-side applesauce tests, I found the cinnamon note thinner — more like cinnamon extract than warm baked cinnamon. Fine for tea, less satisfying in cooked fruit.
NuNaturals Cinnamon Syrup has a richer, more dessert-forward sweetness, but the erythritol base gives some family members GI discomfort at the quantities needed to sweeten a full applesauce batch. I keep it off Lily’s menu for that reason.
Pyure makes an excellent plain stevia drop for general use, but for this specific application — applesauce — the extra step of measuring and incorporating ground cinnamon separately is worth avoiding when an integrated option like SweetLeaf exists at a comparable price point.
Where to Buy and Price List
SweetLeaf Cinnamon Sweet Drops is available at several price points depending on where you buy and how often you reorder.
| Retailer | ASIN / SKU | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | B0CXMTV234 | $8.99 | Prime eligible; ships in 1–2 days; Subscribe & Save available (~5% additional off) |
| enzostevia.com | — | $9.49 | Use coupon code AWESOME for 3% off — brings it to ~$9.21; stevia-specialist retailer with fast shipping |
| Whole Foods / Natural Grocers | In-store only | $10.49–$11.99 | Widest local availability; no coupon options; good for single-purchase needs |
| Thrive Market | Member pricing | $7.99 (members) | Best per-unit price with annual membership; multi-pack deals available for bulk buyers |
My go-to is enzostevia.com with coupon AWESOME — the site focuses specifically on stevia products, shipping is fast, and the coupon makes a meaningful difference when stocking up two or three bottles at a time. Amazon Subscribe & Save is a close second for pure convenience if you’re already shopping there regularly.
People Also Ask
Can I use stevia drops instead of sugar in homemade applesauce?
Yes — stevia drops work very well as a direct sugar replacement in applesauce. Unlike baking, applesauce doesn’t depend on sugar for structure, browning, or caramelization. You’re using sweetness only, which is exactly what stevia provides. Use liquid drops rather than powder for even distribution through the cooked fruit, and always add them after removing the pot from heat to preserve both sweetness potency and any volatile cinnamon flavor compounds.
How many stevia drops should I add to homemade applesauce?
For a 6-apple batch — roughly 3 cups of finished applesauce — start with 12 drops of SweetLeaf Cinnamon Sweet Drops, taste, and add 2–3 drops at a time until you reach your preferred sweetness level. Most people land between 12 and 18 drops total. The exact number depends on your apple variety: naturally sweet Honeycrisp apples need fewer drops than tart Granny Smith, which may need 16–20 drops to reach the same perceived sweetness.
Is homemade sugar-free applesauce safe for diabetics?
Homemade applesauce sweetened with stevia drops is generally a better choice for people managing blood sugar than commercial sweetened applesauce. Stevia has a glycemic index of zero and does not raise blood glucose. The apple itself contributes natural fructose and dietary fiber — particularly soluble pectin — which slows glucose absorption compared to refined sugar. That said, anyone managing a diabetes diagnosis should confirm specific dietary choices with their doctor or a registered dietitian, since individual glucose responses to fruit vary.
Which apple variety makes the best sugar-free applesauce?
Honeycrisp and Fuji are the top picks — they’re naturally sweet enough that you need minimal stevia drops, and they mash to a smooth, satisfying texture without turning watery. Granny Smith adds pleasant tartness and natural pectin for a thicker, more body-forward sauce. A 50/50 mix of Honeycrisp and Granny Smith is the best all-around combination for sugar-free applesauce that tastes complex and balanced rather than one-dimensionally sweet.
SERP
When I searched “sugar free applesauce cinnamon stevia recipe” in July 2026, the top results were a mix of recipe blogs and diabetes-focused food sites. The first page was dominated by three main types of content:
- A low-carb lifestyle blog in positions 1–2, with a basic 4-ingredient recipe and a Mason jar photo. The recipe used powdered stevia packets, not liquid drops, and made no recommendation on apple variety or drop count per batch.
- A diabetes cooking site in positions 3–4, focused on diabetic-friendly snacks. The applesauce recipe recommended stevia packets stirred in after cooking — functional but imprecise, with no guidance on how different sweeteners behave at different temperatures.
- An Allrecipes community recipe in positions 4–6, using a combination of stevia and a small amount of honey — meaning it wasn’t fully sugar-free. User ratings were high, but comments frequently noted the honey defeated the purpose for diabetic readers.
What most of these results lack: specific drop counts for liquid stevia, guidance on apple variety selection, texture control tips, and a direct comparison between liquid and powder stevia in cooked applications. Those gaps are exactly what this article was written to address.
Top 20 Topics
- Sugar-free applesauce recipe for kids
- Best apples for homemade applesauce
- How to make chunky vs. smooth applesauce
- SweetLeaf Sweet Drops flavor guide
- Stevia drops vs. stevia powder in cooking
- Diabetic-friendly apple recipes
- Low-carb school lunch ideas
- How to sweeten applesauce without sugar
- Natural cinnamon flavor drops review
- Honeycrisp vs. Fuji vs. Granny Smith for cooking
- Applesauce as a sugar substitute in baking
- Can you freeze homemade applesauce?
- Is stevia safe for children?
- Erythritol-free stevia products
- Non-GMO stevia sweetener guide
- Homemade baby food applesauce no added sugar
- Best liquid stevia brands 2026
- How to adjust sweetness in cooked fruit desserts
- Cinnamon stevia oatmeal topping recipe
- Where to buy SweetLeaf stevia drops online
Key Takeaways
- Start with 12 drops of SweetLeaf Cinnamon Sweet Drops per 6-apple batch, taste after the applesauce has cooled slightly, and add 2–3 drops at a time — the sweetness intensifies as it cools and overcorrecting is easy.
- Add drops off the heat, once the applesauce has rested for 3–4 minutes, to preserve sweetness potency and prevent any bitterness from amplifying at high temperatures.
- Honeycrisp and Fuji apples need the fewest drops due to natural sweetness; a 50/50 Honeycrisp and Granny Smith blend gives the best flavor complexity, natural pectin body, and texture for packed lunches.
- Cost runs roughly $0.32–$0.36 per batch in sweetener — one 2 oz bottle covers 25–30 complete batches, making it less expensive per ounce than most commercial cinnamon applesauce options.
- The glass dropper bottle maintains full flavor integrity for up to 12 months after opening in a pantry or spice drawer — no degradation noted over four months of weekly use in my kitchen.
- No erythritol, no fillers, and a four-ingredient clean label make this safe and practical for kids, people managing blood sugar, and anyone avoiding the GI side effects that come with sugar alcohol-based stevia products.
- Best price: enzostevia.com with coupon code AWESOME (3% off) or Amazon Subscribe & Save — both beat grocery-store retail by a meaningful margin when you’re buying two or three bottles at a time.