Peel the apples using a paring knife or vegetable peeler.
Dice the apples into even 1-1½-inch chunks.
Place into the crock pot.
Stir in the lemon juice, cinnamon, and water. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 yo 7 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours, or until apples are very soft.
Mash with a potato masher for a chunky applesauce. Or blend with an immersion blender for a smoother sauce. Let cool and store in mason jars or storage containers.
Notes
Cut the apples into mostly even pieces to ensure that they cook evenly.
Taste your apples before you start the recipe to make sure they have good flavor. (Very occasionally you get apples that are bland.)
Taste the finished applesauce before serving and add more cinnamon if needed.
Mash or puree the applesauce to suit the texture preferences of your kids.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer, once fully cooled, in a freezer-safe container. Let thaw in the fridge before serving.
To make this in an Instant Pot, cook for 5 minutes on high and let it naturally release before removing the lid to mash or blend.