10 Good Applesauce Substitutes for Baking

Are you looking for an applesauce substitute for baking? Applesauce is typically used in baking to replace fats, such as butter or oil. It’s also used to add some fruity sweetness to baked treats.

These delicious applesauce substitutes will suit your baking needs. All it takes is a little tweaking to get the desired taste and texture.

» Also have a look at How Long Do Bananas Last? Extending Shelf-Life & More.

Applesauce Substitutes To Use In Baking

Take a look at these applesauce baking substitutes to find the perfect alternative for use in your baked goods.

1. Pureed Apples

Pureed apples are simply homemade apple sauce. Unlike store-bought applesauce, you can adjust the flavor and sugar level by selecting your own varieties of apples to use. Choose from sugary sweet Fuji apples or sharp and tart Granny Smith apples. It’s naturally sweet and requires no additional ingredients.

You can use homemade apple sauce in a 1:1 ratio for regular applesauce in your recipes. This is the best way to avoid preservatives and sweeteners often added to store-bought apple sauce.

2. Mashed Bananas

Bananas are sweet, creamy, and packed with potassium—making them an excellent replacement for apple sauce in baked goods. They add a similar amount of sweetness.

Ensure you use somewhat overripe bananas, which have a similar applesauce consistency when mashed and are gooey enough to incorporate into the dish. Underripe bananas don’t work the same way.

3. Pureed Fruit

Other pureed fruits can be used as a sweet substitute for applesauce. Because some of them are slightly different in consistency to applesauce, when pureed, consider adding water (or using less fruit) to achieve your desired consistency.

Asian pears are more similar to apples than any other fruit, so they’ll require less tweaking than, say, peaches. However, you can use just about any fruit puree as a replacement. Just be aware of the flavor you’ll be adding to make sure it doesn’t throw off the final product.

4. Mashed Sweet Potatoes

While other vegetables are suitable for subbing in as applesauce, they lack the sweetness we all love in baked goods. That’s where sweet potatoes come in.

This applesauce alternative, however, isn’t all taste and no substance—their starch content helps bind baking ingredients together.

Mash up baked sweet potatoes with a fork until they’re pureed. Use ¾ mashed sweet potatoes and ¼ water together to achieve a similar consistency to applesauce.

5. Pureed Pumpkins

Although similar in consistency, pureed pumpkins are less sweet than applesauce. To achieve your desired level of sweetness, add some cinnamon or sugar. Pumpkin pie filling, however, cannot be used in place of pumpkin puree in baking, as it has a completely different taste profile than that of pureed pumpkins.

Note: Pumpkins retain a lot of moisture, so watch your oven to ensure your baking substitute for applesauce doesn’t leave your food underbaked.

6. Pureed Vegetables

Beetroot, kale, and carrots, are examples of vegetables that can be pureed and used as replacements for applesauce. Bear in mind that beets and kale can significantly affect the color of your baked treats as they have strong, dark, pigments.

You’ll also have to consider adding sugar or cinnamon to sweeten the flavors.

7. Plain Yogurt

Thanks to its mild flavor and thick, creamy texture, plain yogurt is a common alternative to applesauce in baking. Substitute ¾ of plain yogurt to one cup of applesauce. Fold the yogurt with the dry ingredients to ensure it doesn’t separate from them.

8. Peanut Butter

This protein powerhouse can be used as a 1:1 sub for applesauce. While dense, peanut butter will lend a rich and indulgent touch and taste to your baking.

The two main considerations you should give to peanut butter before using it as a replacement is whether additional liquid would need to be added. Apple sauce is much looser than peanut butter. Not adding additional water might make a cake or muffin quite dry and dense.

Also consider the flavor you’re adding when using peanut butter. It can be a very overpowering flavor and aroma. Some foods, like a fruit cake or muffins, might not benefit from this powerful addition.

9. Coconut Products

Coconut oil and milk are commonly used in curries and baking, thanks to their respective nutty and creamy profiles.

Substitute melted coconut oil in a 1:1 ratio instead of applesauce. Coconut milk can be a bit thick, so consider adding some melted coconut oil to thin it out before adding it to your baking.

Tip: You may want to add a bit of apple cider vinegar for more of an apple taste.

10. Silken Tofu

This vegan and high-protein ingredient can easily replace applesauce. Because silken tofu is dense, it is ideally suited for baking dense foods such as cakes or bread. It can be used in a 1:1 ratio to substitute apple sauce. Just be sure to blend it well before adding.

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