If you’re looking to make some of your favorite baked goods a wee bit healthier or vegan, applesauce is your magical friend! Applesauce can be used as a substitute for oil, butter, or eggs, and still give you delicious baked treats. “How?” you ask? Let me tell you!
The first thing to know is that you should always use Unsweetened Applesauce, as apples have a natural sweetness already. Also, avoid the varieties that contain cinnamon if you don’t want that added flavor in your product.
If you are replacing the oil in a recipe, you will use a 1:1 ratio. So, a recipe that calls for 1/2 cup oil can be made with 1/2 cup applesauce instead.
For replacing butter, I don’t recommend a full substitution, as the milk proteins in the butter are not replaced with the applesauce. Instead, try reducing the butter by half and substituting the other half with a 1:1 ratio. This will help make your treat a little healthier but maintain the integrity of the product. If you’re looking to make a vegan version, then I would recommend using a vegan butter substitute.
To replace the eggs in a recipe, you can substitute 1/4 cup applesauce for each egg required. The reason this works is that the pectin in applesauce acts as a binding agent, just like the proteins in egg whites do.
One very important thing to note is that eggs can be used as binders and also as leavening agents in baking, so if your recipe does not already call for baking soda or baking powder, add 1 teaspoon of baking powder per 1/4 cup of applesauce.
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FAQs
Substitute applesauce in equal quantities of butter and oil. For example, if the recipe requires ½ cup of oil, replace it with ½ cup of applesauce. Similarly, if the recipe calls for 1 cup of butter, use 1 cup of applesauce.
How to make applesauce taste better? ›
The mellow sweetness of toasted sugar adds complexity. Apple cider vinegar helps brighten cooked fruit. Using skin-on fruit improves both flavor and color in the finished product. Aromatics like cinnamon, orange peel, and rose water intensify the flavor of the apples.
Can you use applesauce instead of oil in a boxed cake mix? ›
The AHA recommends replacing the oil in muffin, cookie, cake and snack bar recipes with pureed fruit, including applesauce. If the package mix directions don't specify a substitution amount, try using the same amount of puree as you would oil.
How much applesauce equals 1 cup of sugar? ›
You can substitute unsweetened applesauce for sugar in a 1:1 ratio in recipes, but you must reduce the amount of liquid in the recipe. Typically, reducing the liquid (milk, water, etc.) by 1⁄4 cup will do the trick. If there is no added liquid, there's no need to adjust.
How many eggs for 1 cup of applesauce? ›
Applesauce. Use applesauce to add moisture. Replace one egg with 1/4 cup of applesauce in sweet desserts. If you want a lighter texture, add an extra 1/2 teaspoonful of baking powder, as fruit purées tend to make the final product denser than the original recipe.
Can I use applesauce instead of butter in baking? ›
Applesauce can be used as a direct replacement for oil or melted butter in baking, meaning in a 1:1 ratio. If your recipe calls for 1/2 cup of oil, replace it with 1/2 cup of applesauce.
Does applesauce replace eggs or oil in baking? ›
Applesauce has long been used to replace eggs and oil in recipes for the health conscious. Used as just an egg replacement here, it made the muffins a little chewier but very moist. The tops of the muffins did not get as crisp during baking. Using applesauce also made for a sweeter muffin with a slight apple flavor.
How does applesauce affect baking? ›
Whether store-bought or homemade, unsweetened applesauce is just cooked and puréed apples. It contains lots of water, some natural sugar, fiber, and pectin. This high water content is both good (because it adds moisture to the final product) and bad (because high moisture = more gluten development = tough cakes).
What does applesauce replace in a cake? ›
If you're looking to make some of your favorite baked goods a wee bit healthier or vegan, applesauce is your magical friend! Applesauce can be used as a substitute for oil, butter, or eggs, and still give you delicious baked treats.
What replaces eggs in baking? ›
Substitutes like vinegar and baking soda, plain yogurt or buttermilk can help keep cake light, airy and structurally sound. Replace each egg with 1 teaspoon of baking soda combined with 1 tablespoon of vinegar, ¼ cup of plain yogurt or ¼ cup of buttermilk.
How to Store Applesauce Cake. Store the applesauce cake (covered tightly) at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to five days.
Why is sugar added at the end of applesauce? ›
If you want to keep the fruit intact like in the case of canning peaches or poaching pears, you cook the fruit in a sugar syrup, which keeps the fruit from breaking down. When making applesauce, you add the sugar at the end so the apples break down quickly.
How much applesauce for 1 cup of oil? ›
Applesauce is a 1:1 replacement for oil, so if your recipe calls for half a cup of oil, use half a cup of applesauce instead. If you find yourself in the middle of a recipe and out of oil, use applesauce instead! This trick works in cakes, muffins, cookies, brownies, and any kind of sweet baked good.
What is the best substitute for butter? ›
You can enjoy food in plenty of ways without the need for butter. If you don't want to eat butter, substitute it with coconut oil, olive oil, or ghee. Butter is a popular spread and baking ingredient that some people nonetheless avoid for various reasons.
Is 4 oz of applesauce a half a cup? ›
In general, four ounces (4 oz) make up half a cup (0.5 cups). That's about 113.4 grams.
