Creative Ways to Substitute for Applesauce in Recipes

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Applesauce is a popular substitute for oil or eggs in various recipes. If a person is vegan and wants to bake a cake, applesauce works well in place of eggs because it provides the same moisture and consistency to the cake.

In fact, it can be used in most baked goods. In addition, people often use applesauce in place of oil because it adds fiber and reduces calories.

However, what happens when you want to substitute for applesauce in your recipe? Maybe you started baking, and you realized that you don’t have enough, or maybe you are just looking for an alternative.

Either way, there are plenty of alternatives that will perform well and add variety to your baking.

Try Using Pureed Apples

If you are out of applesauce, you can take a few apples and core them. Then, throw them into your high-power blender or food processor. The great thing about using apples is that they are all-natural and have nothing added.

This is as healthy a substitution for applesauce as you will find.

Fruit Alternatives

The bottom line is that you can puree most fruits, and they will work well as a substitute for applesauce in your recipe. Applesauce is used because it provides moisture, and it reduces the calories and unhealthy fats in oil.

It also works well for people who are vegan in place of eggs. Other fruits can do this trick as well, and you might enjoy experimenting with different flavors.

Peaches: You can mash or puree peaches to use as a substitute for applesauce. They may provide a stronger flavor, but they will work well.

Pears: Once pureed, pears can also work as an applesauce substitute.

Apricot: You can puree apricots and use them when you bake. This will give your final product a tangier flavor, but it will keep your baked goods moist.

Prunes: Another fruit that you can puree and use in place of applesauce. Prunes have added health benefits because they are high in fiber.

Pineapple: Crushed or pureed pineapple is a great alternative to applesauce.

Bananas: Mash up a banana, and you can use it in your recipe. You will want to let a few bananas ripen if you plan to use them for baking. As they ripen, they become sweeter and have more moisture.

Pumpkin: It seems as though everything is made with pumpkins today. Use pureed pumpkin to replace applesauce in your recipe. It might become a family favorite.

This list of fruits is by no means exhaustive. If you can think of any fruit that you want to try, it will add the moisture you need to your recipe. Pureed substances work well in place of oil.

Be mindful of the fact that different fruits have different flavors, and your recipe may taste different. Different isn’t a bad thing. Variety makes baking more fun and exciting.

Try Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes can work well in place of applesauce. Be sure to bake them first, and then mash them until they are similar to a puree. They taste great and will add flavor to your baking.

Dairy Products

Of course, if you need a substitute for applesauce and you don’t want to use fruit, you can always use dairy products. Dairy products are so versatile, and they offer a range of choices.

If you want to keep the calories lower, use low-fat products and add one or two tablespoons of water to keep the moisture content where you want it.

Butter: Butter has been used in baked goods forever, and it will always work as a substitute for applesauce. You can use it for anything you can imagine.

The only downside is that butter is higher in calories and fats, and if you are trying to find a low-fat option, you might want to look at the fruit choices.

Yogurt: Yogurt works as a substitute for applesauce. It has less fat, and your baked goods will have a thick and creamy texture. The moisture will be wonderful, and people love using yogurt as a substitute in baking.

Greek yogurt is even thicker and a little tangier, and it is lower in calories and fat than other options. It also has two grams of protein in every ounce.

Sour Cream: Sour cream is thick and creamy, and it will also add texture and make your baked goods spongy. It has a sweet and tangy taste, and it will provide a full flavor for your final product.

Cottage Cheese: To try this, you will blend the cottage cheese in a food processor until it is smooth. It works best when you are making muffins or cheesecake. Sometimes it gives other baked goods a more rubbery texture, though.

Cream Cheese: Cream cheese will turn out thicker than sour cream, but it works as an applesauce substitute in baking. If you want to thin it out, you can add some milk. Cream cheese will add texture and flavor to your baked goods.

Crème Fraiche: Crème Fraiche is very similar to sour cream. It is made by mixing heavy cream with a bacterial culture. This gives it a tangy flavor and a thicker consistency.

It is not the right substitute for you if you are counting calories as it is one of the higher fat and calorie options on the list. But it does work well if you need a substitute for applesauce.

Buttermilk: Buttermilk is another dairy product with a tangy taste, and although it is liquid, it will work as a substitute in your baking recipe. Although it is less common, people who use it love the end result.

More Options

In case none of these alternatives are exactly what you are looking for, there are a few more, and a few of them are vegan.

Coconut Milk: Coconut milk is both vegan and free of lactose. You can blend the coconut milk with apple cider vinegar to mimic some of the applesauce flavor, or use it on its own.

Tofu: Puree the tofu and use it in place of applesauce. It can replace a lot of ingredients to make a dish vegan friendly.

Cauliflower: Cook the cauliflower first, and then puree it. Don’t add seasoning.

Zucchini: Low in calories, zucchini contains no fat and no cholesterol. It also promotes a healthy digestive system, and it works as an applesauce substitute. You can cook it, puree it, and use it in place of applesauce.

Beets: Beets will change the color of a lighter bakery product, but they are a great substitute for applesauce in baking. They are sweet and offer an interesting variation in flavor. You can mash and puree them and add them into your recipe.

Oil

There’s a good chance that you started using applesauce to move away from oil, but if all else fails, you can use oil as a substitute for applesauce. In addition to traditional vegetable oil, try the following option:

Coconut oil: Coconut oil works as a substitute for applesauce, and it has a light nutty flavor and some texture. In addition, it is full of vitamins and minerals.

How to Choose the Best Substitute for Applesauce

To choose the best substitute for applesauce, you first need to know why you are using the applesauce. People use it as a substitute for eggs, oil, or just to add flavor, and you need to know what you have replaced so that you can choose the best alternative.

Of course, no matter what your reason is, any of the pureed fruit options or sweet potatoes will work. You need to choose one that has the flavor you want in your food, but as far as the texture goes, any of them will do the trick.

If you are using applesauce because you are vegan, you will want to try coconut milk, coconut oil, or tofu. You can also use an alternative fruit to replace the applesauce. It goes without saying that you will want to stay away from the dairy options.

If you are using applesauce to replace the oil, then you should try some of the dairy options. Sour cream and cream cheese are incredibly popular in baked goods, and they add texture and flavor to any food. In addition, any of the pureed fruits, sweet potatoes, or vegetables will work well in this case.

If you are looking for a low carb option, you might try the cauliflower. Cauliflower is becoming a more common substitute for higher carb foods, and it has the perfect texture and mild flavor, so it works well and really doesn’t change the recipe much at all.

Whatever your needs might be, you can find a viable alternative to substitute for applesauce. In addition, you can find many recipes online that work well with any of these options.

Whether you are out of applesauce and need a quick replacement or you are looking for another food item to change your diet, there are countless options out there.

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