Applesauce Substitute

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Regardless of the reason that a recipe calls for applesauce, there is the perfect applesauce substitute to fit your need. Use this guide and list of 24 applesauce replacements to determine which is best for you.

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What is the Purpose of Applesauce in Recipes

Depending on the recipe, applesauce can be used for various reasons: sweetness, flavor, texture, substitute for fat or a binder in place of eggs. When deciding how to replace applesauce in a recipe, you’ll first need to determine it’s purpose in the recipe.

Applesauce Substitutes

You must first determine why applesauce is in your recipe. Use the reasons applesauce is called for in the recipes above to determine this. Once you’ve determined this, you can pick an applesauce substitute below.

1. Pureed Apples (or homemade applesauce)

Pureed apples are essentially just homemade applesauce. If you have apples and a saucepan, you can make your own applesauce. Applesauce usually has some sugar added, however, you can simply use pureed apples for a healthier option.

Purpose: This applesauce substitute can be used for any reason applesauce is called for in a recipe, because it is, in fact, applesauce!

Tips:

• If you’re making simply pureed apples, be sure to adjust the sugar content in your recipe to make up for the lack thereof in the applesauce.
• Be sure to let the homemade applesauce cool down before adding it to a recipe so it doesn’t alter the consistency of the recipe.

How to: To make homemade applesauce (or pureed apples) follow the below instructions:

1. Combine 4 peeled and diced apples, 3/4 cup water, 1/4 cup sugar (optional), and 1/2 cinnamon (optional) in a saucepan. Cook, covered, over medium heat for about 15 minutes, or until apples are soft.
2. Allow the apple mixture to cool, then mash with a fork, potato masher, blender, or food processor until it is the desired consistency.
3. Then simply use the pureed apples in a 1:1 ratio for the applesauce the recipe calls for regardless of the purpose.

2. Mashed Overripe Bananas

Mashed, overripe bananas are a great applesauce replacement since they have a similar texture, sweetness, and fiber content to applesauce. Use the tips and methods below for determining how to use bananas as a substitute for applesauce.

Purpose: This applesauce substitute can be used for any reason applesauce is called for in a recipe with a couple of slight adjustments.

Tips:

• Mashed bananas cook more quickly than applesauce so start by reducing the cook time in your recipe by about 10 percent.
• Use overripe bananas as they have the best consistency and sweetness for baking.

How to:

• If the recipe calls for applesauce as a replacement for butter, you can simply do a 1:1 ratio.
• However, if the applesauce is a substitute for oil, try a ¾ to 1 ratio.
• If the applesauce is used in the recipe for taste, texture or sweetness, you’re ok using a 1:1 ratio.
• Lastly, if the applesauce is used as a binding agent, use a 1:1 ratio.

3. Pureed Sweet Potatoes

Pureed or mashed, sweet potatoes are a nice substitute for applesauce since they have a similar sweetness to applesauce. The starch in the potato adds great texture to baked goods and is perfect as a binding agent.

Purpose: This applesauce replacement can be used for any reason applesauce is called for in a recipe with a couple of slight adjustments. It’s best when used as a replacement for taste, texture, sweetness, or binding.

Tips:

• Mashed sweet potatoes are a great applesauce replacement in the case of dense baked goods like cakes and muffins.

How to: To make the swap, bake the sweet potato until very soft, then peel and mash or puree it.

• If the recipe calls for applesauce as a replacement for fat, try adding water until the texture is similar to applesauce. Add the water 1 tbs at a time until it reaches the desired consistency.
• If the applesauce is used in the recipe for taste, texture or sweetness, you’re ok using a 1:1 ratio.
• Lastly, if the applesauce is used as a binding agent, use a 1:1 ratio.

4. Pureed pumpkin

Pureed pumpkin is a super easy substitute for applesauce since you can buy it in a can and it has a similar consistency to applesauce as is. The only issues are that it’s less sweet and takes longer to cook than applesauce.

Purpose: This applesauce replacement can be used for any reason applesauce is called for in a recipe.

Tips:

• Pureed pumpkin takes longer to cook than applesauce, so check the food at the time the recipe calls for, but be prepared to cook for a little longer.
• Add a little more sweetness to the recipe since pumpkin is less sweet than applesauce.
• Pumpkin does add some pumpkin flavor to recipes, so be sure you’re ok with that before using this substitute.

How to:

• Use pureed pumpkin in a 1:1 ratio for applesauce in recipes, regardless of the purpose.
• Increase the sugar content in the recipe.
• Cook slightly longer if needed.

5. Another fruit puree

There are tons of other fruits that can be pureed and produce a similar result to applesauce used in recipes. The best options are pears, peaches, apricots, raspberries, and pineapple.

Purpose: These applesauce substitutes can be used for any purpose for which applesauce is used in a recipe.

Tips:

• Pears are the most similar in consistency to apples and will provide very similar texture and sweetness.
• Berries will provide a different texture mostly due to the seeds, and also a vastly different flavor. These are best used when the recipe is something chocolately.
• Apricots, peaches and pineapple will produce a much different flavor, and more sour than applesauce, so keep that in mind.

How to: Mash the fruit (some might need to be softened first using the same method as the pureed apples listed above), then replace with applesauce using a 1:1 ratio.

6. Greek yogurt

Greek yogurt is a good alternative to applesauce, especially when being used to replace fat in a recipe. Much like sweet potatoes, the final product will be thick and dense.

Purpose: This applesauce substitute can be used for any reason applesauce is called for in a recipe, but especially when used as a replacement for fat.

Tips:

• Greek yogurt is much less sweet than applesauce so be sure to adjust the sugar content in the recipe.
• This applesauce substitute might make the batter wetter, so add the greek yogurt before the other wet ingredients, then adjust the liquid ingredients as necessary to reach the desired consistency. If needed, add more flour to thicken the batter up.

How to:

• Simply drain any whey off the greek yogurt, and add as a 1:1 ratio for applesauce in your recipes.
• Add more sweetener to the recipe as needed.
• Use less liquid ingredients, or more flour in the recipe as needed.

7. Silken tofu

Specifically “silken” tofu (rather than firm tofu) is a great vegan applesauce substitute for recipes. It has a very similar texture to applesauce, but is not sweet and will produce a denser product.

Purpose: This applesauce substitute can be used for any reason applesauce is called for in a recipe, but you may need to add more sweetness to the recipe.

Tips:

• Silken tofu is much less sweet than applesauce so be sure to adjust the sugar content in the recipe.
• This applesauce substitute is great for dense items like muffins, cakes, and quick breads since it will produce a denser product than applesauce would.
• Use this applesauce replacement for foods that have a strong taste like banana or chocolate flavors so those flavors can overpower the often undesirable flavor of tofu.
• Be sure to remove all the water from the tofu before adding to your recipe. This might make the batter to dry, but you can always add more liquid if needed.

How to:

• If applesauce is being used as a replacement for fat in a recipe, use 1/3 cup silken tofu for every 1/2 cup of applesauce.
• Press the tofu with a towel to remove most of the water, then mash it up with a fork or potato masher.
• If after mixing the tofu into the batter, it’s too dry, add a little more liquid 1 tbs at a time until reaching desired consistency.

8. Mashed avocado

Mashed avocado is a wonerful applesauce substitue since it has a very milk flavor when added to recipes and it has similar consistency to applesauce. Although you’ll want to adjust the sweetness of the recipe.

Purpose: This applesauce substitute can be used for any reason applesauce is called for in a recipe, but you may need to add more sweetness to the recipe.

Tips:

• Use a very ripe avocado to reach the best consistency for mashing.
• You’ll need to add more sweetener to the recipe since avocado is much less sweet than applesauce.
• Bare in mind that by substituting avocado for applesauce, you’re increasing the fat content of the recipe.

How to:

• Simply mash up the avocado and use a 1:1 ratio in your recipes.
• Add more sweetener to make up for the lack of sweetness from the applesauce.

9. Plain yogurt

Yogurt is another great alternative to applesauce in recipes since it offers similar texture and is great when applesauce was a replacement for a fat in a recipe.

Purpose: This applesauce substitute can be used for any reason applesauce is called for in a recipe, but especially when used as a replacement for fat.

Tips:

• If the yogurt you’re using is unsweetened, be sure to add a little sweetener to the recipe.
• This applesauce substitute might make the batter wetter, so add the yogurt before the other wet ingredients, then adjust the liquid ingredients as necessary to reach the desired consistency. If needed, add more flour to thicken the batter up.

How to:

• Simply drain any whey off the yogurt, and add 3/4 cup of yogurt for every cup of applesauce the recipe calls for.
• If the batter needs to be wetter, add the extra 1/4 cup in small increments until the batter reaches the desired consistency.
• Add more sweetener to the recipe as needed.

10. Buttermilk

Buttermilk is a great alternative to applesauce and will produce a rich and moist product. It’s an especially good substitute for applesauce in cakes and quick breads.

Purpose: This applesauce substitute can be used for any reason applesauce is called for in a recipe, but you’ll need to increase the sweetener in the recipe and decrease the liquid.

Tips:

• Since buttermilk is less sweet than applesauce, you’ll want to increase the sweetener the recipe calls for.
• This applesauce substitute might make the batter wetter, so add the buttermilk before the other wet ingredients, then adjust the liquid ingredients as necessary to reach the desired consistency. If needed, add more flour to thicken the batter up.

How to:

• Either use less liquid ingredients in the recipe (milk or water) and a 1:1 ratio, or use 1/2 cup buttermilk for every cup of applesauce called for.
• Add more sweetener to the recipe as needed.
• You may need to add an egg to bind the ingredients together if the batter seems too runny.

11. Canned coconut milk

Canned coconut milk is a great substitute for applesauce in a recipe, however, it’s less sweet and wetter than applesauce so there will need to be a couple of adjustments made.

Purpose: This applesauce substitute can be used for any reason applesauce is called for in a recipe, but you’ll need to increase the sweetener in the recipe and decrease the liquid.

Tips:

• Use full-fat coconut milk to provide the most similar consistency.
• Keep in mind that the flavor of coconut might shine through the final product.
• You may need to increase the sweetener in the recipe since coconut milk is lower in sugar than applesauce.
• This applesauce substitute might make the batter wetter, so add the coconut milk before the other wet ingredients, then adjust the liquid ingredients as necessary to reach the desired consistency. If needed, add more flour to thicken the batter up.

How to:

• Either use less liquid ingredients in the recipe (milk or water) and a 1:1 ratio or use 1/2 cup of coconut milk for every cup of applesauce called for.
• Add more sweetener to the recipe as needed.
• You may need to add an egg to bind the ingredients together if the batter seems too runny.

12. Coconut oil

Coconut oil is a great substitute for applesauce, especially when applesauce was used as a replacement for fat in a recipe.

Purpose: This applesauce substitute can be used for any reason applesauce is called for in a recipe, but you’ll need to increase the sweetener in the recipe.

Tips:

• Melt the coconut oil prior to measuring to get the most accurate applesauce replacement.
• You may need to increase the sweetener in the recipe since coconut oil is lower in sugar than applesauce.
• Keep in mind that coconut oil has a mild coconut flavor that might show up in the final product.

How to:

• Melt the coconut oil and use a 1:1 ratio for applesauce in your recipe.
• Add more sweetener to the recipe as needed.
• You may need to add an egg to bind the ingredients together if the batter seems too runny.

13. Butter

Butter is a great applesauce replacement, especially in cases where applesauce was used for a fat replacement in the recipe.

Purpose: This applesauce substitute can be used for any reason applesauce is called for in a recipe, but you’ll need to increase the sweetener in the recipe.

Tips:

• Use room temperature butter, not melted.
• You may need to increase the sweetener in the recipe since butter is lower in sugar than applesauce.

How to:

• Soften the butter to room temperature, then measure the butter using a 1:1 ratio for the applesauce that was called for in the recipe.
• Add more sweetener to the recipe as needed.
• You may need to add an egg to bind the ingredients together if the batter seems too runny.

14. Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is a great option for replacing applesauce in a recipe since it has similar consistency, works great at binding ingredients, and provides some sweeteness. It’s especially great when applesauce was used to substitute a fat.

Purpose: This applesauce substitute can be used for any reason applesauce is called for in a recipe, but you’ll need to be aware of the type of peanut butter you’re using and make adjustments accordingly.

Tips:

• Keep in mind that peanut butter has a strong flavor that will result in a peanut butter-flavored final product.
• The recipe will turn out more dense due to the high fat content of the peanut butter, but this bodes well for many baked goods.
• Keep in mind that using a natural, runnier peanut butter will produce different results than the highly processed and sugary peanut butters.

How to:

• Replace applesauce with peanut butter using a 1:1 ratio in your recipes.
• If you’re using a natural peanut butter without added sugar, you may need to increase the sweetness of your recipe.

15. Honey

Honey can be used as an applesauce substitute in recipes, however it’ll make your product much sweeter and some changes will need to be made to provide the best results.

Purpose: This applesauce substitute can be used for any reason applesauce is called for in a recipe, but you’ll need to decrease the sweetener in the recipe and make other slight adjustments.

Tips:

• Honey is much sweeter than applesauce so you may want to decrease the sugar the recipe calls for.

How to:

• Replace applesauce with peanut butter using a 1:1 ratio in your recipes.
• Decrease the amount of sweetener the recipe calls for so the final product isn’t too sweet.
• You may need to add an egg if applesauce was used as a binding agent in the original recipe.
• You also may need to add fat content if the applesauce was used as a fat in the original recipe.

16. Almond Butter

Like peanut butter, almond butter is a good replacement for applesauce in baking since it’s high in fat and works as either a fat or binding agent in a recipe.

Purpose: This applesauce substitute can be used for any reason applesauce is called for in a recipe, but keep in mind that it’ll add strong flavors to the final product.

Tips:

• Keep in mind that almond butter has a strong flavor that will result in an almond butter-flavored final product.
• The recipe will turn out more dense due to the high fat content of the almond butter, but this bodes well for many baked goods.

How to:

• Replace applesauce with almond butter using a 1:1 ratio in your recipes.
• You may need to add sweetener to your recipe if you’re using an almond butter with no sugar added.

17. Sour Cream

Sour cream is a nice applesauce substitute, especially in cases where applesauce was used as a fat replacement in the original recipe.

Purpose: This applesauce substitute can be used for any reason applesauce is called for in a recipe, but you’ll need to increase the sweetener in the recipe.

Tips:

• Be sure to adjust the sweetness of the recipe since sour cream is not sweet.

How to:

• Drain any liquid from the sour cream, then measure.
• Replace applesauce with sour cream using a 1:1 ratio in your recipes.

18. Creme Fraiche

Creme Fraiche, like sour cream, is great as an applesauce substitute since it’s similar texture to applesauce and high in fat.

Purpose: This applesauce substitute can be used for any reason applesauce is called for in a recipe, but you’ll need to increase the sweetener in the recipe.

Tips:

• Be sure to adjust the sweetness of the recipe since creme fraiche is not sweet.
• The recipe will turn out more dense due to the high fat content of the creme fraiche, but this bodes well for many baked goods.

How to:

• Replace applesauce with creme fraiche using a 1:1 ratio in your recipes.
• Add more sugar than the recipe calls for to make up for the lack thereof in the applesauce.

19. Cottage cheese

Cottage cheese is a great substitute for applesauce when it’s blended into a similar consistency.

Purpose: This applesauce substitute can be used for any reason applesauce is called for in a recipe, but you’ll need to increase the sweetener in the recipe and blend it up so it reaches similar consistency to applesauce.

Tips:

• You’ll need to increase the sweetener the recipe calls for to make up for the lack thereof from the applesauce.
• Do be sure to blend the cottage cheese into similar consistency as applesauce.

How to:

• Blend the cottage cheese until smooth, then use a 1:1 ratio to the applesauce the recipe called for.

20. Pureed Beets

Pureed beets are another good substitute for applesauce in baking due to their similar texture; however, they will change the flavor and color of the product slightly.

Purpose: This applesauce substitute can be used for any reason applesauce is called for in a recipe.

Tips:

• Keep in mind that beets will change the flavor and color of the product.

How to:

• Soften the beets by roasting or stewing and then blend up until smooth.
• Use a 1:1 ratio in your recipes.

21. Pureed zucchini

When pureed, zucchini offers a very similar texture to applesauce and doesn’t add much flavor to the final product.

Purpose: This applesauce substitute can be used for any reason applesauce is called for in a recipe, but you’ll need to increase the sweetener in the recipe.

Tips:

• If your pureed zucchini is quite runny, remove the excess water until it’s similar consistency to applesauce.
• Be sure to increase the sugar the recipe calls for to make up for the lack of sweetness.

How to:

• Soften the zucchini and blend up until smooth.
• Drain any excess liquid from the pureed zucchini.
• Use as a 1:1 ratio in your recipes.

22. Mayonnaise

Mayonnaise is a great applesauce substitute when being used for baked goods since it provides a rich and moist final product.

Purpose: This applesauce substitute can be used for any reason applesauce is called for in a recipe, but you’ll need to increase the sweetener in the recipe.

Tips:

• Keep in mind that mayonnaise adds much higher fat content to the recipe.
• Since mayonnaise is less sweet than applesauce, you’ll need to increase the sweetener in the recipe.

How to:

• Replace applesauce with mayonnaise using a 1:1 ratio in your recipes.
• Add sugar as needed.

23. Baby food

Some baby foods work very well as an applesauce replacement. If you happen to have a sweet baby food on hand, use that in place of applesauce for your recipes.

Purpose: This applesauce substitute can be used for any reason applesauce is called for in a recipe.

Tips:

• You won’t want to use any odd flavors of baby food such as broccoli, kale, or something that will make the final product taste off.

How to:

• Replace applesauce with baby food using a 1:1 ratio in your recipes.

24. Cream Cheese

Cream cheese is a great alternative to applesauce, although much denser and creamier, it produces delicious baked goods.

Purpose: This applesauce substitute can be used for any reason applesauce is called for in a recipe, but especially for baked goods.

Tips:

• Use added sweetener since cream cheese isn’t sweet.
• You may need to add more liquid to the recipe.
• Great for baked goods like muffins, cakes and quick breads since it yields a dense product.

How to:

• Use cream cheese as a 1:1 replacement for applesauce in recipes.
• Add sweetener to the recipe as needed.
• Add more liquid to the recipe as needed.

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