12 Tasty Applesauce Recipes To Substitute With Butter

You may have noticed that applesauce has been making more and more appearances in traditional recipes in recent years, often standing in for the fat and calorie load that butter brings to a dish.

This article will provide you with a list of easy substitutes for butter or oil, including many apple-based recipes.

These substitutions are not only lower in calories, but richer in nutrients, too – so there’s no need to worry about compromising taste or nutrition with these simple swaps.

Applesauce is perfect for baking, but what can you do if you are out of applesauce or want to replace it with something else? Many alternatives can be used in place of applesauce when making butter.

Substitutes For Applesauce For Butter Substitutes

1. Canned Pumpkin

Canned Pumpkin is not something most people keep on hand in their pantry, but just like applesauce, it makes a great substitute in your baking. It can be used to make pumpkin pie, muffins, and even pumpkin bread.

Pumpkin is also a healthier option than using applesauce, with only 25 calories per serving compared to 50 calories per serving for applesauce. It’s also got a lot of Vitamin A and fiber, which applesauce doesn’t have.

How To Substitute

For 1 cup of applesauce, replace it with 1 cup of canned Pumpkin and reduce the amount of liquid in the recipe by 1/4 to 3/4 cup. This is especially important when baking bread, as Pumpkin tends to make the bread dense.

2. Mashed Sweet Potatoes

In some parts of the country, sweet potatoes are a fall staple, not Pumpkin. Mashed sweet potatoes can be used in place of applesauce in your next batch of muffins, scones, or even in banana bread.

There is no real difference between sweet potatoes and regular potatoes when it comes to taste, though the color is different.

The orange-yellow color of the sweet potato provides a nice hue to baked goods without being too overpowering. It has a milder flavor than that of applesauce but still provides all the same nutrients.

If you are looking for a completely smooth butter, add more liquid or try another alternative. Try mashing with a little bit of milk or cream added to give your baked goods a sweeter taste.

How To Substitute

For 1 cup of applesauce, replace it with 1 cup of mashed sweet potatoes. This will cut back on the amount of liquid you need in your recipe but may affect the consistency of the butter.

3. Diced Fruit

Applesauce isn’t the only fruit that makes for a great baking ingredient. If you have some extra diced fruit on hand, especially bananas, it can be used to make a quick batch of muffins.

Bananas are a great alternative because they are sweeter than most fruits and come pre-diced, so you don’t have to worry about peeling and dicing them.

How To Substitute

For 1 cup applesauce, replace it with 1 cup mashed ripe bananas and reduce the amount of liquid in your recipe by 1/4 to 3/4 cup. This substitution works best in recipes with high-fat content, such as muffins, brownies, and other baked goods rich in butter and sugar.

4. Yogurt

If you are looking to lower the amount of sugar in a recipe, yogurt is an excellent alternative to applesauce. Not only does it have a lot less sugar than most fruits, but the tartness of yogurt gives baked goods a nice kick.

It works well with muffins, scones, and even some desserts like cheesecake and baked Alaska; anything that’s not overly sweet will work with yogurt.

Like Pumpkin and sweet potatoes, yogurt will make your butter dense, and you may need to cut back on the amount of liquid.

How To Substitute

For 1 cup of applesauce, replace it with 1 cup of plain low-fat yogurt. Most recipes don’t need any alteration when substituting applesauce with yogurt, but if you are adding additional sugar, try cutting back on the sugar in the original recipe.

RELATED: Best Butter Substitutes In Mac And Cheese

5. Tofu

If you’re a vegan and baking isn’t your thing, tofu can be used to make all the same ingredients that you would use for applesauce.

Tofu is another ingredient that most people don’t think of when it comes to baking, but it has a creamy texture that works well as an alternative in recipes like zucchini bread and brownies.

You can also use tofu in savory recipes or as an ingredient for dipping sauces for things like fried chicken or mozzarella sticks; whatever your recipe needs, tofu is sure to come through.

Also, as with other alternatives, if you are adding sugar in your baking, add less sugar when making the creamed mixture.

How To Substitute

For 1 cup of applesauce, replace it with 1 cup of tofu. Since this is a more high-fat ingredient, you may need to reduce the amount of liquid in your recipe if you are looking for smooth butter.

6. Chia Seeds

Chia seeds can also be used in place of applesauce. They are a great source of fiber and protein, and since they are already ground up, it’s easy to just add a tablespoon of chia seeds to your recipe before baking.

Chia seeds can be mixed with flour, yogurt, or plain Greek yogurt before baking, giving the bread a richer taste.

Chia can act as a leavening agent, making it especially useful for bread that simply could not go without; anything with yeast, like quick bread, biscuits, and pizza dough would benefit from adding chia seeds.

How To Substitute

For 1 cup of applesauce, simply add 1/4 to 1/3 cup of ground chia seeds. It may take a little bit of experimentation to get the right amount, but once you find the right amount, you’ll never want to use applesauce again. Chia seeds give baked goods a much richer flavor and texture.

7. Maple Syrup

Maple syrup is another fruity alternative to applesauce.

Like yogurt, it has a much lower amount of sugar than most fruits, and it can be used as an alternative in any recipe that calls for applesauce, from baked goods to savories like pork chops.

Maple syrup also adds a nice maple flavor to baked goods; this works exceptionally well in recipes that call for applesauce with cinnamon or spices.

If you’re looking for something savory, maple syrup can also be added to meatloaf or pork chops.

The fat content in maple syrup will make your butter dense, so you may want to add more liquid or try a different substitute if you are looking for a smooth texture.

The ingredients will need to be mixed before adding to the recipe to ensure even distribution. If you are not looking for sweet butter, then use less maple syrup or try another alternative.

How To Substitute

Substitute 1 cup of applesauce with 1/2 cup of applesauce and 1/4 cup of maple syrup. This alternative works well in all recipes that call for plain applesauce.

8. Nutella

Now, this is another food that might make you think twice, but the addition of Nutella to baked goods is quite delicious.

The sweetness and flavor of Nutella make a great replacement for applesauce in any recipe.

Brioche is the perfect recipe for baking with Nutella; you can use them in scones, muffins, or even on top of your breakfast toast.

For instance, you can replace the butter with extra Nutella or even mix in some extra melted chocolate for a little variety.

How To Substitute

For 1 cup of applesauce, replace it with 1/2 cup of warm melted Nutella. You can also add additional ingredients to the finished product if you would like.

RELATED: 12 Tasty Applesauce Recipes To Substitute With Butter

9. Avocado Oil

Avocado oil makes for a decadent and healthy lower-fat alternative to applesauce. It has a smooth texture that works well with baked foods such as muffins and scones.

You can use avocado oil in place of other sources of fat as well; it’s great for baked goods like a quick bread and quick bread muffins.

Avocado oil will give baked goods a dense texture, but using this alternative instead of other fats and oils is a tasty way to cut down on calories without sacrificing taste.

How To Substitute

For 1 cup of applesauce, simply replace it with 1/4 cup of avocado oil and reduce the amount of liquid in your recipe by 3 tbsp.

10. Coconut Milk

Coconut milk is a great substitute for applesauce if you don’t have any on hand especially when you want to make the classic, delicious butter cookies.

Coconut milk adds a nice, subtle sweetness to your dish and works well in both cookies and cakes. Just make sure that you use light coconut milk, as it has less fat than fat-free or regular coconut milk.

Light coconut milk has only 60 calories per serving compared to 160 calories per serving in heavy cream with about half the fat content. 

How To Substitute

For every 1 tablespoon of applesauce needed, use 1/4 cup of coconut milk instead. You can also substitute liners from canned vanilla frosting for flavor!

11. Eggs

Using eggs instead of applesauce in your recipes is a great way to add moisture and texture to the dish without using too many ingredients.

It’s also relatively cheap, especially if you don’t have any applesauce in the house.

Eggs add volume and a pleasing consistency to a dish that you can’t get by just using baking powder alone. It’s no wonder so many baked goods use eggs! 

How To Substitute

For every 1 tablespoon of applesauce needed, use 1 egg plus 2 egg yolks instead. You can also add sifted icing sugar or flour for extra crunch.

12. Ripe Bananas

Bananas are incredibly cheap but not just low cost: they also add natural sweetness, creaminess, and thickness to your desserts.

Bananas are a staple ingredient in many baked goods, especially if you want a smooth texture.

So if you don’t have applesauce, substituting it with bananas yields the same results as maple syrup would. It adds moisture, sweetness, and adds a nice flavor to your favorite recipes. 

How To Substitute

Add 2-3 bananas (depending on the recipe) to replace 1/4 cup of applesauce. Add 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract to the banana mixture for a delicious flavor that adds sweetness and moistness to your baking dish.

Frequently Asked Questions

I Made A Batch Of Butter With Applesauce, And It Curdled. What Went Wrong?

Not knowing the percentage of acidity (water or juice) in the applesauce, we can only speculate. Adding too much water could have diluted the butter fat causing it to separate or curdle.

Another potential problem may have been using low-quality applesauce that was not fresh and high quality. If you are going to substitute fats with fats, you need to be sure you have used fresh, top-quality ingredients.

Why Can’t I substitute The Applesauce With A Fruit Puree?

The difference between applesauce and other fruit purees lies in their acidity. Applesauce is between 2-3% acidity, while purees from other fruits are much higher in acidity at 4-6%.

This means that you could use other fruit purees as a substitute for applesauce, but you would have to add more honey for sweetness to balance out the high acidity level.

We have used both applesauce and purees from other fruits with great success.

What Makes Butter Creamer Separate?

Butter does not just “separate” on its own; it must be heated to at least 85°F (29°C) to begin separating. If you add too much water or other ingredients to your butter and heat it over 80°F (27°C), this could also contribute to separation.

You can usually tell when the butter has come to the right temperature because you should be able to see some whey left in the bottom of the mixture.

This is a good indication that your butter is ready to be placed in jars and stored for later use.

My Butter Is Lumpy, And I Don’t Know Why?

Butter can separate due to several causes. The best way to test for separation is by using a practical test (the one you have available at every time of year), such as putting a small amount on a scale.

If you find that your butter separates, then it is time to test for proper acidity. Adding more of the same type of applesauce already used to make the batch will not help unless the applesauce is also fresh.

If this test fails, you need to pay attention to how much liquid your mixture contains and what was added at the very beginning of the preparation process.

Failing these tests, several previously mentioned possibilities could be causing separation or lumpiness.

Why Would Anyone Want To Make Applesauce For Butter Substitution?

Many reasons are possible, but perhaps the most popular reason is that applesauce has a high sugar content which can quickly break down in the acidic environment of flaky pastries such as croissants and pancakes.

Sometimes people have dietary restrictions that do not allow for certain sweeteners (such as gluten-free), or they may wish to avoid any added sugars in their recipes.

In these cases, it’s best to use butter instead, which should serve your needs just fine without much issue.

Is There A Difference Between Homemade Applesauce And The Store-Bought Kind?

Homemade applesauce can be an easy fix for recipes requiring applesauce. It’s certainly worth considering, especially if you have a specific variety of apples in mind that you want to use.

Homemade applesauce tends to be fresher and less processed than store-bought, which may or may not matter depending on your recipe and whether you’re using other fresh ingredients.

Homemade applesauce is sometimes also more inexpensive than store-bought due to the availability of ingredients and how much time it takes to make.

How Can People Tell If Applesauce Is Fresh?

Certain qualities can identify fresh applesauce. It may still have tiny flecks of skin in it, which is a sign that the apple was not ground up before the liquid was squeezed out.

It should also have a fresh and sweet smell, with no sour or fermented smell. Finally, it should appear smooth and creamy rather than watery, with no grainy or chunky texture.

12 Tasty Applesauce For Butter Substitutes

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

30

minutes

Total time

45

minutes

Learn how to make a delicious applesauce for butter substitute with just a few simple ingredients. you can have a buttery spread that’s perfect.

Ingredients

•   Canned Pumpkin

• Mashed Sweet Potatoes

• Diced Fruit

• Yogurt

• Tofu

• Chia Seeds

•  Maple Syrup

•  Nutella

• Avocado Oil

• Coconut Milk

•  Eggs

• Ripe Bananas

Directions

• Choose your favorite substitute from the list given above
  
• Follow the directions given in the recipe after having substituted the ingredient in the correct ratio

Recipe Video

• Author
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Jess Smith

Hi, my name is Jess Smith, and I love cooking in my spare time. Around three years ago, I decided to give up my day job as a teacher to pursue my passion for food. While I have enjoyed sharing tips and tricks on Social Media, I have decided to expand my horizons through this blog.

Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.

I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!

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