Applesauce is a super popular ingredient in baking. It is a great addition to many cakes and other desserts thanks to its texture and consistency. It provides cakes with moisture in the same way eggs do. Unfortunately, sometimes people just don’t like the flavor of applesauce. Or you might just not be able to get your hands on any in the shop. Or don’t have time to make it! This is your complete guide to all the different substitutes you can use in baking when applesauce just isn’t an option!
Table of Contents
- Firstly, What is Applesauce?
- What Can I Substitute Applesauce For In Baking?
- Substitute for applesauce in baking – FAQs
- Now its time to give an apple sauce substitute a go!
Firstly, What is Applesauce?
Applesauce is just stewed apple pulp. It can be eaten directly as a filling snack, otherwise, it is super tasty as a filling in a satisfying dessert.
Apple is a very healthy fruit, and so having this as a filling in your dessert will add some good nutritional value. It must be noted that this pulp often has added sugar so it should be consumed as part of a balanced diet. That being said, apples are low in cholesterol and fat. Apples contain fiber which is good for digestion.
If you are making applesauce at home you could leave out some of the sugar to make it healthier than if you are using store bought applesauce.
What Can I Substitute Applesauce For In Baking?
There are so many different options that you can use as a substitute for applesauce in baking or otherwise.
Mashed Banana
Banana is a super healthy option as a substitute for applesauce. Banana already has that soft texture that you need to stew apples to get and doesn’t require any added sugar. The great thing about bananas in cooking is that you can use really overripe bananas and they will have the best texture!
You may have some overripe bananas that are black and thinking of throwing them away. Instead, pop them in the freezer until you are ready to use them. You will always have a banana on hand to make a delicious dessert!
Banana truly is the easiest substitute you can get for applesauce. All you need to do to prepare it is mash the banana with a fork, and voila!
Buttermilk
Buttermilk is a great dairy alternative for applesauce. It is more acidic than yogurt, but it is actually lower in sugar. Buttermilk is a common ingredient used in baking banana bread, pancakes, biscuits, and even cakes.
As you can see, it is more often used in sweet dishes as opposed to savory ones. In recent times, it has become a very popular ingredient for deep frying chicken. It has quite a distinct flavor, this is not appreciated by everyone. If you are a fan of buttermilk, then this will be a great substitute for you.
Yogurt
Another great dairy substitute, yogurt is naturally low in fat and has lots of probiotics. This is very good for a healthy gut. If you are looking to make your dish higher in protein and low in fats, then yogurt is a great alternative for applesauce.
Yogurt is also rich in calcium too because it is a dairy product. Yogurt is great for improving the thickness of dishes and provides a creamier texture. Some chefs even use yogurt in pizza dough!
Mashed Sweet Potato
This may feel like a weird one but trust me, don’t knock until you try it!
Sweet potato has great binding capabilities thanks to the starch present in it, giving great texture to dough.
All you need to do to prepare it is just peel the sweet potato with a knife and chop into chunks and cook until soft. You can use your hands to mash or else if you prefer it a little creamier you could add a little milk. Be aware of how creamy you make your sweet potato though because this will affect the texture of what you are baking!
You can use your sweet potato puree for the dough of cupcakes, bread, or carrot cake. It is a great option for your applesauce substitute because it contains natural sugars and is high in carbs which can be good for some diets!
Coconut Milk
If you are looking for a non-dairy alternative to applesauce, coconut milk is a great option for you! Not only is coconut milk used in baking cookies, carrot cake, cupcakes, and bread to name a few, it is a great ingredient in sauces, chutney, curry, and soups.
Coconut milk is a bit sweeter and denser than applesauce but it is still super versatile. It can also be a great substitute for milk and cream.
Peanut Butter
Another great non-dairy alternative for applesauce is peanut butter. Peanut butter is a super healthy alternative that is dairy-free, high in protein, contains fiber, iron and calcium too. It also has lots of healthy fats which are important for a balanced diet.
Be aware of people with nut allergies if you are using this alternative to applesauce. But if you know that there’s no allergies, then this could arguably be the healthiest applesauce alternative.
Coconut Oil
While coconut is higher in fat than other alternatives, it is great for adding moisture to your dish/recipe.
Coconut oil can be used in baking muffins, cookies, bread, cupcakes, carrot cake, and can even be used in chutneys, soups, and curries. This alternative for applesauce is not a great option for those who suffer from high cholesterol.
Avocado
Avocado is another super healthy alternative for applesauce. The ratio for applesauce replacement with avocado is super easy too, as you can replace one tablespoon of applesauce with one tablespoon of avocado
Avocado is another great source of healthy fats which are an essential part of a balanced diet. Avocado is also lighter than apple and is a great substitute for cakes and cupcakes. It gives a nice fluffy texture to the dessert.
Silken Tofu
Tofu is another great alternative for those who do not take dairy or are vegan. Tofu is a super popular ingredient in a vegan diet, but it is often overlooked as an ingredient in baking.
When using tofu as a substitute, you must first drain the liquid in which it comes, then mash the tofu up with a fork until you achieve a soft puree texture. You can add this as a substitute in baking bread, carrot cake, or even muffins.
Another advantage to using tofu in baking is that it can be used for cooking too, particularly for savory dishes. Tofu is high in protein, vitamins, and minerals which remaining low in fat and calories. It truly is a great applesauce alternative.
Pumpkin Puree
Pumpkin puree has a very similar texture to that of applesauce. It is different to the flavor of pumpkin pie filling but different to the texture. Seasoned pumpkin pie filling actually tastes much sweeter than that of unseasoned, and is much sweeter.
Pumpkin puree is perfect because of how similar the texture is. It is quite healthy because pumpkins actually have lots of nutrients in it. If you are using store bought pumpkin puree, be aware that, like applesauce, there may be many additives. For example, added sugar affects the nutritional value of the pumpkin puree.
Fruit Puree
Apple and pumpkin are two of many different fruit that can be used as a puree in baking. The same sauce can be achieved with many different other fruits, such as pear, pineapple, raspberry, strawberry, apricots, to name a few!
While applesauce is made from the sweetened puree of peeled apples, you can use the same process by peeling pears, pineapples, and apricots. You can just use the whole raspberry or strawberry if you are using these ingredients.
Vegetable Puree
There are also many vegetables which can be used to make a puree to the same effect of apple puree. Beetroot is a popular option to make puree from, thanks to its sweet flavor.
It must be noted that if you are looking for a similar finished product to if you were using applesauce, then beetroot may not be the best option. Beetroot has a super strong color and will affect the final color of your baking.
Substitute for applesauce in baking – FAQs
Can Honey Be Used As An Alternative for Applesauce?
Honey can also be used as an alternative for applesauce. Applesauce actually has more water content than honey so you can deduct ¾ cup of your liquid ingredient in the recipe, for example, milk, water, and butter.
Can I Substitute Applesauce in Baking?
Yes you can! Any of the alternatives in this post should work. Note that no one alternative will be perfect, but when you’re in a pinch, they will definitely do,
Now its time to give an apple sauce substitute a go!
If you are looking for further information on what you can use as an alternative for applesauce, check out this video below!
Now that you are up to speed on all the different options available to use as an alternative for applesauce, it’s time to try one out! There are so many different alternatives that are super versatile. There’s an option for everyone, no matter what dietary requirements you may have.
If you think I’ve missed out on any good alternatives or you have any feedback, please let me know in the comments section below! If you enjoyed this post, then i have linked some of my previous blog posts below, so check them out!
