Homemade Applesauce: blog post about homemade applesauce recipe is long pending. If I make a list of FAQs, the first question would be "I can't find unsweetened applesauce. Can I make it at home?" I also get a few other questions like "do you have a recipe for homemade applesauce?, or How to make applesauce at home?"
For those who don't know already, unsweetened applesauce is an egg substitute as well as a fat substitute in baking recipes. Actually any pureed/mashed fruit can be used for that matter. I have so far tried recipes using mashed bananas, applesauce, pureed dates and prunes as egg substitutes and as fat substitutes in baking recipes.
To know more about when to substitute pureed fruit for the eggs in a recipe, check the page about Egg Substitutes. You can use ¼ cup of pureed fruit for each egg to be replaced but after many years of egg-free baking, experience has taught me that substituting for eggs while baking is not always straightforward.
You will have to do some mix and match, change the number of leavening agents, etc. This substitute does not work in cookies because they tend to become very soft. It's better suited for a quick bread, muffins, and cakes.
Note that such baked goods will be quite dense and moist. Also, it is suggested that while using pureed fruit to replace the fat in a recipe, you may want to use at least 25%-30% of the fat mentioned in the original recipe and substitute the rest with the fruit. The amount of baking powder can also be increased a little bit while using pureed fruit.
Making applesauce at home is as easy as boiling water. Here I'm going to just talk about making a simple applesauce recipe for immediate use and not about canning. Good food starts with good/fresh ingredients.
So if possible try to get organic apples because it is one of the produce in the "Dirty Dozen" list which has the highest level of pesticide contamination.
Check here for baking recipes with unsweetened applesauce.
Recipe
Homemade Applesauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup Peeled, cored and diced Apple (1 medium size)
- ½ cup or as needed Water
- 1 Cinnamon Stick (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the chopped apples, water and cinnamon stick (if using) in a saucepan and cook it for about 15 minutes or until tender. Add some more water if you think its necessary.
- Remove it from heat and cool it.
- If there is excess water, drain out the apples and blend it smooth in a blender adding little water if needed. Reserve the excess liquid and use it in the baking recipe for some of the liquids mentioned. The above measurement yields ¾th of a cup of applesauce which can be substituted for 3 eggs.
My Notes
- The cooking can be very well done in a microwave oven too. It takes only about 3 minutes to cook.
- Since we are not using any preservatives, I would suggest using this homemade applesauce within a day or two.
- To process such a small amount of apple you need a very small blender like the Magic Bullet or the Indian mixer jar I own. If you don't have either one of these tries using a fork/potato masher or increase the quantity of apples.
- You may choose to use the cinnamon or omit it. It is especially preferable to use the spice if you are going to use the applesauce in a recipe which calls for cinnamon.
- This homemade applesauce is also a very good starter food for babies. You can try the same with pears too.
- If finding unsweetened applesauce is not a problem, then I would recommend buying the pack with small snack size cups instead of a big bottle. You won't believe how many times I have thrown away bottles with about ¾th of the sauce still in there. However careful you might be like using a clean and dry spoon, closing the lid properly and refrigerating it immediately after use, it tends to grow mold. So these snack-size packs are very convenient and economical. Each container measures about ½ a cup. Even if you use only a small portion of that, you can always snack on the remaining or use it while preparing pancakes, in milkshakes etc.
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Ranjana says
Hi Madhuram,
I contacted you through the 'Contact' page with a query regarding using your applesauce recipe in my blog with credits being given to you and linking it back to this page. Kindly let me know if you are fine with it.
Regards,
Ranjana
Madhuram says
Sure Ranjana. Go ahead. It's been a while since I checked my emails.
Laurel Caplan says
I loved your easy recipe for applesauce! I needed only 1/2 cup for my recipe for Sweet Potato Cakes on my blog and it worked perfectly ...it tasted good too. I used a Granny Smith apple, and added just a little organic raw honey for a sweeter taste.
Madhuram says
Thanks Laurel. You have a wonderful blog.
Bhawna says
How about putting the leftover sauce in the freezer for using later on. It will be a little watery, but if we boil it again it may be the right consistency. Will it be ok...
Madhuram says
I think it should be fine, Bhawna. I have not tried it though.
Priya says
Homemade applesauce are always welcome here, my kids love simply as desserts.
Divya Vikram says
Informative post Madhu. Havent tried applesauce in baking. Next on my to-do list.
Priya (Yallapantula) Mitharwal says
I used to make applesauce at home for my kiddos when they were babies, but adding cinnamon stick is a great idea 🙂
Vera says
Can I substitute 4 eggs with 1 cup of applesauce?
Madhuram says
Vera, you could substitute but the baked good will be very dense and will also require extra baking time. So depending upon the recipe I would be using half applesauce, half yogurt and increase the quantity of baking powder by another 1/4-1/2 teaspoon, again seeing how much is already used in the original recipe.
Vera says
Thank u! I will try it and let u know!
Vera says
Dear Madhuram,
I did replace 2 eggs with half cup of applesauce and the result was thumbs up. Here is the link for the picture:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150697787205374&set=o.284103605793&type=1&theater
Thx for the tip!
Madhuram says
Great job Vera.