Apple Substitutes

Out of apple? These are the swaps that actually work, with conversion ratios for any recipe size and notes on how each one changes the result.

Need to convert apple between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the apple converter.

What to use instead of apple

  • Pear

    Produce swap

    1 cup chopped apple = 1 cup sliced pear (1:1 by volume)

    Pear (145 g/cup) is slightly heavier than apple (132 g/cup). Works in pies, crumbles, and green juices. Pear softens faster and is less tart, so expect a sweeter, softer result. Reduce sugar slightly and watch bake time in recipes where the apple's structure matters.

    See pear substitutes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for apple?
There are 1 workable substitutes for apple, depending on what you have on hand and which property of apple matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually 1 cup chopped apple = 1 cup sliced pear (1:1 by volume). Each option below lists the conversion ratio for any recipe size, plus notes on how the swap changes the texture, flavour, rise, or browning.
Will substituting apple change how my recipe turns out?
Yes, every swap trades one property for another: fat content, moisture, acidity, or protein. The notes on each substitute describe what changes in texture, flavour, rise, or browning, so you can choose the swap that matters least for your recipe. Open the apple converter
How do I measure apple accurately?
Weighing in grams is more reliable than scooping cups, especially when a substitute has a different density from what the recipe expects. The apple converter on this site converts between whole items, cups, US cups, grams, ounces, and pounds, so you can scale a recipe up or down without losing the ratio. Open the apple converter

Other ingredient and produce substitutes

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