Out of Butter, one case
Applesauce substitute for butter
6 options, ranked, with the exact amount
Use Applesauce
½ cup applesauce for every 1 cup butter
Yes, you can substitute applesauce for butter! Use ½ cup applesauce for every 1 cup butter. This reduces fat and calories while adding moisture and natural sweetness to your baked goods.
- Verdict —
- You'll taste it
- Best for —
- muffins
One casethe full applesauce card
Every option, one card
Ranked| # | Substitute | Instead of 1 cup butter | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Applesaucemuffins | ½ cupYou'll taste it | You'll taste it |
| 2 | Mashed bananasmuffins | ½ cupTweak it | Tweak it |
| 3 | Pumpkin pureemuffins | ½ cupTweak it | Tweak it |
| 4 | Greek yogurtmuffins | ½ cupYou'll taste it | You'll taste it |
| 5 | Avocadomuffins | ½ cup mashed avocadoTweak it | Tweak it |
| 6 | Coconut oilmuffins | Same amountTweak it | Tweak it |
Applesauce
different taste and texture
Pureed apples with sweet, fruity flavor and smooth texture. Good butter substitute for moist baked goods.
- Best for
- muffins, cakes, quick breads, brownies, cookies, pancakes, when you want to reduce fat
Reduces fat and calories while adding moisture. Use ½ cup per 1 cup butter. Good for healthier baking.
Mashed bananas
different taste, similar texture
Similar fruit puree with different flavor. Works well as butter substitute in most baking applications.
- Best for
- muffins, cakes, quick breads, brownies, cookies, pancakes, when you want to reduce fat
Similar texture to applesauce but with banana flavor. Use ½ cup per 1 cup butter. Good for banana-flavored baked goods.
Pumpkin puree
different taste, similar texture
Smooth puree with mild flavor. Good butter substitute that adds moisture and nutrients.
- Best for
- muffins, cakes, quick breads, brownies, cookies, pancakes, when you want to reduce fat
Mild flavor that works in most recipes. Use ½ cup per 1 cup butter. Good for fall-flavored baked goods.
Greek yogurt
different taste and texture
Creamy dairy product that adds moisture and slight tang. Good butter substitute for moist baked goods.
- Best for
- muffins, cakes, quick breads, brownies, cookies, pancakes, when you want to reduce fat
Adds moisture and slight tang. Use ½ cup per 1 cup butter. Good for when you want creamy texture.
Avocado
different taste, similar texture
Creamy fruit with healthy fats. Good butter substitute that adds moisture and nutrients.
- Best for
- muffins, cakes, quick breads, brownies, cookies, pancakes, when you want healthy fats
Adds healthy fats and moisture. Use ½ cup per 1 cup butter. Good for when you want healthy fats.
Coconut oil
different taste, similar texture
Solid fat that melts at room temperature. Similar to butter but with coconut flavor.
- Best for
- muffins, cakes, quick breads, brownies, cookies, pancakes, when you want similar texture
Similar texture to butter but with coconut flavor. Use equal amounts. Good for when you want similar texture.
How it behaves in this recipe
When substituting applesauce for butter, the key consideration is that applesauce provides moisture and some fat-like properties, but not the same texture or mouthfeel that butter provides. The recommended substitutes work because they provide similar functionality to butter in baking applications, whether you're making muffins, cakes, or other baked goods.
Tips for substituting butter
8 tips- Applesauce works best as a butter substitute in moist baked goods like muffins, cakes, and quick breads
- Use ½ cup applesauce for every 1 cup butter called for in the recipe
- Applesauce adds moisture and sweetness, so you may need to reduce other liquid ingredients slightly
- Don't use applesauce as a butter substitute in recipes where butter provides structure, like pie crusts or certain cookies
- For best results, use unsweetened applesauce to control the sweetness level
- Applesauce works particularly well in chocolate baked goods where the flavor complements the chocolate
- If your batter seems too wet, add a bit more flour to compensate for the extra moisture from applesauce
- Applesauce is a great choice for healthier baking and reducing the fat content in your recipes
Notes on butter
- Commercial butter substitutes can provide more complete butter functionality
- Margarine can provide similar texture with different fat content
- Shortening can provide similar texture in some applications
- Commercial low-fat baking products are available for specific needs
Questions
5 questionsCan you substitute applesauce for butter?
Yes, you can substitute applesauce for butter in many baking recipes. Use ½ cup applesauce for every 1 cup butter. This reduces fat and calories while adding moisture and natural sweetness.
How much applesauce do you substitute for butter?
Use ½ cup applesauce for every 1 cup butter. This ratio works well in most baking recipes where butter provides moisture and fat.
What can I substitute for butter in baking?
For baking, you can use applesauce (½ cup per 1 cup butter), mashed bananas (½ cup per 1 cup butter), pumpkin puree (½ cup per 1 cup butter), or Greek yogurt (½ cup per 1 cup butter).
Can I use applesauce instead of butter in cookies?
Yes, applesauce works well as a butter substitute in cookies. Use ½ cup applesauce for every 1 cup butter. This will make your cookies moist and slightly denser.
Why is applesauce a good substitute for butter?
Applesauce is a good butter substitute because it adds moisture and some fat-like properties to baked goods. It's also healthier and helps reduce the fat content in recipes while adding natural sweetness.