Applesauce Substitutes

Out of applesauce? 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 applesauce between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the applesauce converter.

What to use instead of applesauce

  • Mashed Banana

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup applesauce = 1 cup mashed banana

    Mashed banana swaps 1:1 by volume for applesauce as an egg or fat replacer, holding moisture the same way. It is lighter per cup (230 g vs 250 g) and adds banana flavour and a little sweetness, giving a softer, more tender crumb. Use it where banana taste fits the bake.

    See mashed banana substitutes →

  • Pumpkin Puree

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup applesauce = 1 cup pumpkin puree

    Pumpkin puree swaps 1:1 for applesauce and shares its weight (250 g per cup), holding moisture in muffins and quick breads. It brings a mild, earthy squash flavour and a deeper colour, so it suits spiced autumn bakes more than light, neutral ones.

    See pumpkin puree substitutes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for applesauce?
There are 2 workable substitutes for applesauce, depending on what you have on hand and which property of applesauce matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually 1 cup applesauce = 1 cup mashed banana. 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 applesauce 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 applesauce converter
How do I measure applesauce accurately?
Weighing in grams is more reliable than scooping cups, especially when a substitute has a different density from what the recipe expects. The applesauce converter on this site converts between cups, grams, ounces, tablespoons, and teaspoons, so you can scale a recipe up or down without losing the ratio. Open the applesauce converter

Other ingredient and produce substitutes

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