BAKING TUTORIALS

How to make applesauce for baking | Easy unsweetened applesauce recipe

In this tutorial, I will teach you how to make the perfect applesauce for all your baking needs. With the in-depth instructions and knowledge, you never have to worry about making a mistake while preparing this versatile baking ingredient. Made with only two ingredients, you can use this applesauce as the hero ingredient or as a baking substitute.

AUTHOR : KHUSHALI PATEL

PREPARATION TIME: 15 minutes
BAKING TIME: 30 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 45 minutes

*For the best results, read the entire post & follow the instructions.

Applesauce is a puree made from apples which is a useful ingredient in baking that rarely gets much attention. It is one such ingredient that not only can be the hero but also be used to substitute common baking ingredients such as butter or eggs.

I learnt about this ingredient a few years ago while making a lovely fall-inspired cake. Before that, I always thought of applesauce as a food for babies, but once I used it to prepare the cake, I fell in love with it instantly.

After using it multiple times for baking, I came to realize the importance and versatility of this ingredient and through this post, I aim to guide you to make the best applesauce ever for your baking needs. Other than that, I will help you understand why it is such an essential ingredient that every baker should learn to prepare.

What is Applesauce?

Applesauce is prepared from leftover apples that you may have in your kitchen with water or apple juice. These ingredients are then cooked till it becomes mushy and paste-like. After which, it is blended till it becomes a smooth sauce.

However, you may confuse applesauce with apple butter.

While apple butter is prepared from almost the same ingredients, there is a medium to a high quantity of sugar present. The apples are slowly cooked with this sugar and other flavourings till the added sugar and the sugar content in the apples caramelize, giving a lovely smooth, buttery texture with a dark reddish-brown colour. You can consume apple butter just like any other nut butter available.

While apple butter has sugar, applesauce may or may not have a small quantity of sugar. The main difference between apple butter and applesauce is that the apples for the latter are cooked till they are soft and tender after which they are blended into a smooth puree. It may or may not be chunky which depends on what you prefer.

Applesauce for baking can be a bit different. While many prefer using sweetened applesauce for baking, unsweetened applesauce is always the best choice of the two.

Why you may ask?

The answer to this is simple. When other ingredients like sugar, vinegar, spices or any other ingredient are added to the apples, it will affect the ratio and flavour of the baking recipe, which will not give the ideal result you imagined. So, unsweetened applesauce made from just water and apples is always the best choice.

What makes it a successful baking substitute?

The apples. Apples are known to be high in fibre and moisture content, and most importantly, pectin, which helps to hold structure giving baked dishes a thick or gel-like structure. When used as a substitute, it provides moisture and tons of flavour. Not only this, it also helps to mimic the thick texture found in eggs, making it versatile.

Here are different ways you can use apples for baking:

Fat replacer

Applesauce can successfully replace a part of the fat content in a baking dish. However, sometimes it replaces the entire fat content of a recipe. For the best baking results, you can replace about 20% of the fat content with applesauce in any recipe without severely affecting the recipe. When used, it gives a lovely moistness and tenderness to the dish and makes it much healthier. Applesauce is a better substitute for oil rather than butter.

Egg replacer

As mentioned above, the pectin makes the applesauce thick. This thickness provides structure to the baked dish like egg whites and moistness like egg yolks.

Sugar Replacer

Although it is not the first choice for replacing sugar, it can be used successfully with a bit of reduction of liquid in the baking recipe.

Flavour enhancer

Who said baked dishes only have to be sweet?! Applesauce is a lovely ingredient that helps enhance the flavours of the baked dish. It provides a naturally sweet and tangy flavour to the baked dish without over-powering the hero flavour. Applesauce works amazingly well when paired with spices giving the baked dish an addictive feeling of warmth when consumed.

What are the best apples to use for making applesauce?

The best part about applesauce is that you can make it using apples that you have readily available. But if you are flavour-obsessed (like me!) and want to make applesauce to help elevate your baked dishes, then considering the following ways will help you purchase apples to make the best applesauce. Honestly, I used to make my applesauce with any apple I had on hand, but after observing the flavour and texture changes of my baked dishes, I began purchasing the best quality apples I could find. So, here is how you can buy the best apples for preparing your applesauce:

Texture

Apples can be either crisp or soft in texture. While you can use any or both varieties, I prefer crisp apples because applesauce made from the crisp variety provides better flavour and moistness. After all, the apples are juicy with a lovely chew. Soft apples, on the contrary, become too mushy, and the flavour is not strong enough.

Sweetness

As mentioned above, it’s best to make applesauce that does not hamper the overall flavour of the baked dish. For this reason, apples with low to medium sweetness are the best way to go.

Appearance

Applesauce can be made with peeled or unpeeled apples. But, the best applesauce is made when you leave the skin on. The skin has a high amount of flavour present so leaving them on will, of course, increase the overall flavour. This is why it’s important to purchase apples that do not have any black spots or dents. The apples should also be firm to touch.

Quality

Fresh is always better! Before making applesauce, always taste the apples making sure that they are of the best quality. Using fresh apples also increases the shelf life of the applesauce.

Which type of apples to use for making applesauce?

Apples come in three varieties when it comes to the colour of the skin – yellow, green and red. While any of the above can be used, applesauce made from the red variety provides a lovely balance of flavour and sweetness. You can use the following red apple varieties:

1. Honeycrisp
2. Gala
3. Washington
4. Fuji
5. Red Delicious
6. Other local apple varieties that are crisp and juicy

Feel free to use any of the apples mentioned above. You can also mix a few varieties of different flavour profiles to make a sauce unique to you. Let me know if you do in the comments box down below.

05 tips to make best applesauce for baking

Here are my tips that will help you make applesauce perfectly every single time:

Always taste your apples before using

This is one step that you should never forget to take before using fresh fruits for baking. Sometimes even though the apples are fresh, they might not taste the way we want them to.

Keep an eye on the apples while cooking

While the apples are cooking, you might not need to stand at the stove continuously. But, avoid going away from it for more than 5 minutes or you will end up with mushy or worse, burnt apples.

Cook till the apples are soft and tender

As we are making applesauce and not apple butter, cook them until they become translucent and soft. You can test the apples by breaking them apart using the end of the spatula. If the skin tares instantly, the apples are perfectly cooked.

Blend it when still warm

You can blend the apples once they are cold. However, for smooth applesauce, blend it well when it’s warm as the skins break up easily, giving you lovely applesauce.

Always chop the apples right before making the sauce

When apples are exposed to the oxygen in the air, they become brown and their flavour changes a little, which is not desirable. So, I recommend chopping your apples right before you are ready to prepare the sauce.

Step-by-step instructions

Preparation

1. Wash, deseed or core the apples. Try to keep the wastage as less as possible.
2. Weigh and chop the apples into thin slices so it cooks evenly.
3. Add the apples to the saucepan, followed by the water.
4. Cook covered on a low to medium heat, stirring occasionally.
5. Once soft and tender, take it off the heat and let it cool down till warm.
6. Blend in a mixer till smooth.

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applesauce kept on a table with freshly cut apples

Unsweetened Applesauce for Baking

Khushali Patel

In this in-depth tutorial, I will teach you how to make the perfect applesauce made with only two ingredients for all your baking needs.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cooking Time 30

Total Time 45

Course Dessert

Servings 250 grams

Equipment

01 Knife
01 Chopping Board
01 Saucepan or Deep pot with a lid
01 Spatula or wooden spoon
01 Mixer or Immersion Blender
01 Air-Tight Glass Jar or Zip-Lock Bag

Ingredients

Fruits

250 grams apples*

Wet Ingredients

100 ml water

Instructions

Wash and deseed the apples.
Chop them into slices (medium thickness) for them to cook faster.
Transfer the chopped apples into a saucepan or pot with a lid. Add the water and cook covered on a slow flame.
Stir it with a wooden spoon or spatula every 5 minutes.
Once they are translucent and soft, cook them uncovered for 5-10 minutes or till the water is almost dissolved.
Remove the pan from the flame and set it aside to cool.
Blend the apples when they are still warm in a mixer or immersion blender till smooth.
The applesauce will be smooth and hold its shape very well. Store in an air-tight glass jar once cooled.

Notes

Apples – You can use any apples you prefer. However, for the best results, read the above instructions.
Green apples – If you have green apples on hand, you can surely make applesauce using them. I recommend adding a little sugar – just about a tablespoon to sweeten the applesauce without risking the final baking result.
Storage instructions – You can store applesauce in a clean air-tight glass jar. Alternatively, you can store it in a zip-lock bag for easy stacking/storage. Applesauce lasts well for about two weeks in the refrigerator.
Freezing instructions – Applesauce can be stored in the freezer in zip-lock bags. However, I recommend making a fresh batch every time you bake for a better flavour.
Flavouring instructions – Applesauce can be easily customized as per your preference. If you are making a specific recipe with flavourings, add them into the applesauce for better flavour:
1. Spices – You can use spices - like whole cinnamon, pepper, cloves, ground ginger, allspice, nutmeg, cardamom, vanilla bean or pure vanilla extract.
2. Zest or Citrus juice – you can add a tablespoon of orange or lemon juice for a tangy flavour or use the zest of lemon/orange. Adding the zest is a better choice as it will not affect the recipe texture.
3. Sugar – If you prefer adding a bit of sugar or are using green apples, you can use castor sugar or brown sugar to sweeten the applesauce. You can also use jaggery, coconut sugar, maple syrup, honey or other healthier alternatives. However, limit the amount of sugar as you may not want it to affect your baked dish. To flavour the applesauce, once the apples are almost soft and tender, add in the flavourings and let it cook for about 30 seconds.
Ingredient Substitution & Weighing Guide - Read it here

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