Applesauce: The Unsung Hero of Baking
Applesauce is more than just a snack; it’s a powerhouse ingredient in the baking world. It brings moisture and sweetness to cakes and muffins, and it can even act as a binder. Many people also use applesauce as a replacement for fat or eggs, making it a versatile ingredient for all sorts of recipes.
But what happens when you’re all set to bake and realize you’re out of applesauce? Or maybe you’re looking for a healthier alternative, or one that works with your allergies.
That’s where this article comes in. We’ll explore a range of substitutes for applesauce, breaking down their properties and how to use them in your baking projects. From fruit purees to mashed veggies, we’ll cover all the ingredients that can stand in for applesauce in your favorite baked goods.
Understanding Applesauce and Its Role in Baking
Before we dive into applesauce substitutes, let’s take a closer look at what applesauce is and why it’s so often used in baking.
What is Applesauce?
Applesauce is, quite simply, cooked apples, usually with some sweetener and spices, such as cinnamon, added. The flavor is subtly sweet with a bit of tartness, which enhances the overall taste of your baked goods.
You can easily make your own applesauce, which lets you control the amount of sweetener and spices you add. For convenience, though, many bakers opt for store-bought applesauce, which may contain added sugar and preservatives.
Why use applesauce in baking?
Applesauce is a bit of a workhorse in the kitchen. It adds moisture to cakes, muffins, and breads, preventing them from drying out. It also provides natural sweetness, which means you can often cut back on the amount of refined sugar you add to the recipe.
Many people use applesauce to replace some or all of the oil or butter in a recipe, which lowers the fat content. If you’re going to substitute applesauce for oil, use a 1:1 ratio.
Applesauce also acts as a binder, helping hold all the ingredients together. In some recipes, especially those that call for two eggs or fewer, you can use ¼ cup of applesauce to replace one egg.
Fruit-based applesauce substitutes
When your recipe calls for applesauce and you don’t have any on hand, you can often substitute another fruit puree. Here are some good candidates.
Pureed pears
Pear puree has a similar sweetness and texture to applesauce, so it works well as a substitute. You can use it in muffins and spice cakes as a 1:1 replacement.
Like applesauce, pear puree can be made by cooking pears and pureeing them until they’re smooth. You can adjust the water content to get the consistency you want.
Mashed bananas
Mashed bananas add moisture and sweetness, but they also add a distinct banana flavor, so they’re best used in recipes where a banana flavor would be welcome, such as banana bread or muffins.
Use one ripe banana for every cup of applesauce, and reduce the amount of liquid in the recipe slightly to account for the banana’s moisture.
Other fruit purees
You can also try these:
- Pureed pumpkin. Pumpkin puree adds moisture and a subtle flavor that’s great for fall-themed baking. Use it in a 1:1 ratio as a substitute. It works well in pumpkin bread, muffins, and pancakes, but you may need to adjust the baking time.
- Mashed avocado. Avocado adds moisture and a creamy texture but has a more neutral flavor, though it can change the texture of the final product. It’s suitable for chocolate cakes, brownies, and muffins.
Vegetable-based applesauce substitutes
If you don’t have any fruit on hand, there are a couple of vegetables that can work in place of applesauce in some recipes.
Mashed sweet potato
Flavor and texture
Sweet potatoes add moisture, sweetness, and just a hint of earthy flavor to baked goods. They work especially well in sweet potato bread (of course!), muffins, and pies.
Preparation and usage
To make a sweet potato puree, simply steam or bake a sweet potato until it’s soft, then mash it until it’s smooth. You can adjust the amount you use based on the recipe. Start with a 1:1 substitution, and then add more if the batter seems dry.
Pureed carrots
Flavor and texture
Like sweet potatoes, carrots add moisture and a touch of sweetness to baked goods. They’re often used in carrot cake and also work well in muffins, pancakes, and cakes.
Preparation and usage
Steam or boil carrots until they’re tender, and then puree them until they’re completely smooth. As with sweet potatoes, start with a 1:1 substitution for applesauce, and add more if the batter seems dry. Following the preparation instructions is key to getting the right texture in your finished product.
Other applesauce substitutes
If you don’t have applesauce on hand, there are a few other things you can use in its place when baking.
Yogurt
Plain yogurt adds moisture and a slight tang to baked goods, which makes it work well in cakes, muffins, and quick breads.
When using yogurt, fold it in slowly and reduce the amount you use, because it can change the consistency of your batter or dough. While you can use it in a 1:1 ratio, you may need to adjust the liquid content to get the texture you want.
Peanut Butter
Peanut butter adds a distinct nutty flavor and richness, making it perfect for cookies, brownies, and energy bars.
Adjust the amount of peanut butter so your baked goods don’t become too dense. Also, keep in mind that peanut butter has a strong flavor that might not work with every recipe.
Silken Tofu
Silken tofu adds moisture and a creamy texture with a neutral flavor.
Before adding silken tofu to your recipe, remove any excess moisture and mash it well. This substitute works best in recipes where you don’t want a competing or overpowering flavor.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil adds moisture and a subtle coconut flavor. If you want a hint of apple flavor, consider adding a splash of apple cider.
You can use coconut oil in a 1:1 ratio as a substitute for applesauce.
In Conclusion
Substituting for applesauce in a recipe can be a fun way to customize baked goods to your preferences, dietary needs, or whatever’s in your pantry.
When you’re choosing an applesauce substitute, remember to think about the flavor, how moist it is, and how well it will bind with the other ingredients.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different options until you find the perfect applesauce alternative for your cakes, muffins, cookies, or other favorite treats. You might even discover a new favorite!