19+ Best Recipes with Applesauce

That half-used jar of applesauce sitting in your fridge door is worth more than a snack for toddlers. It’s a baker’s secret weapon for moist cakes and muffins, and a surprisingly good partner for pork chops, glazed chicken, and even barbecue sauce. Applesauce brings natural sweetness and gentle moisture to recipes, which means you can often cut back on oil, butter, or sugar without anyone noticing the difference.

This list covers sweet bakes like cinnamon cake and fudgy brownies, along with savory dishes like braised short ribs and a tangy vinaigrette. Whether you’re clearing out a jar before it expires or stocking up because you love what it does for banana bread, there’s a recipe here worth bookmarking.

Quick picks:

• Best weeknight bake: Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins, ready in under 40 minutes
• Best for using up ripe bananas: Banana Applesauce Bread
• Best savory dinner: Applesauce Pork Chops
• Best make-ahead breakfast: Applesauce Baked Oatmeal

1. Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins

These muffins use applesauce to keep the crumb soft without piling on butter. Rolled oats add a little chew, and a hit of cinnamon makes the kitchen smell like fall.

Yields: 12 muffins | Prep: 10 minutes | Bake: 18–20 minutes at 375°F

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F and line a muffin tin.
2. Mix dry ingredients in one bowl, wet in another.
3. Combine gently, don’t overmix.
4. Divide into cups and bake 18–20 minutes until golden.

2. Cinnamon Applesauce Cake

This cake stays tender for days thanks to applesauce replacing much of the oil. A simple cinnamon-sugar topping gives it a lightly crackled crust.

Yields: 9 servings | Prep: 15 minutes | Bake: 35 minutes at 350°F

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1 cup applesauce
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp sugar mixed with 1/2 tsp cinnamon, for topping

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease an 8×8 pan.
2. Whisk wet ingredients, fold in dry ingredients.
3. Pour into pan, sprinkle cinnamon-sugar on top.
4. Bake 35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

If you love cake built around a single moisture-boosting ingredient, our best cake recipes collection has more ideas worth trying.

3. Banana Applesauce Bread

Mashed banana and applesauce team up here, so the loaf turns out dense, moist, and barely needs any added fat. It’s a smart way to use overripe bananas sitting on the counter.

Yields: 1 loaf (10 slices) | Prep: 15 minutes | Bake: 55–60 minutes at 350°F

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a loaf pan.
2. Mix bananas, applesauce, sugar, and eggs.
3. Fold in dry ingredients until just combined.
4. Bake 55–60 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

For more banana-forward bakes, check our best banana desserts for inspiration.

4. Soft Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies

Applesauce keeps these oatmeal cookies pillowy soft instead of crisp, which makes them feel more like a snack cake in cookie form. Raisins or chocolate chips both work well stirred in.

Yields: 24 cookies | Prep: 10 minutes | Bake: 12 minutes at 350°F

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup raisins or chocolate chips

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Cream butter and sugar, add egg and applesauce.
3. Stir in dry ingredients and mix-ins.
4. Scoop onto a baking sheet and bake 12 minutes.

5. Applesauce Pancakes

Swapping some of the butter for applesauce gives these pancakes a tender bite and a faint apple sweetness that pairs naturally with maple syrup. They puff up nicely on the griddle.

Yields: 8 pancakes | Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp melted butter
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt

Steps:

1. Whisk wet ingredients together.
2. Stir in dry ingredients until just combined.
3. Cook on a greased griddle over medium heat, 2–3 minutes per side.
4. Serve warm with syrup.

6. Applesauce Carrot Cake

Applesauce takes the place of a chunk of the oil in this carrot cake, so it bakes up moist without tasting greasy. Shredded carrots and warm spices still do most of the work.

Yields: 12 servings | Prep: 20 minutes | Bake: 35 minutes at 350°F

Ingredients:

• 2 cups shredded carrots
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease two 9-inch pans.
2. Mix wet ingredients with carrots.
3. Fold in dry ingredients.
4. Divide batter and bake 35 minutes until set.

Browse our best cake recipes for more spiced, moist bakes like this one.

7. Applesauce Pork Chops

Applesauce turns into a quick pan sauce here, clinging to seared pork chops with a sweet-savory finish. It’s an easy way to dress up a weeknight chop without a long ingredient list.

Yields: 4 servings | Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 bone-in pork chops
• 1 cup applesauce
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• Salt and pepper
• 1 tbsp oil

Steps:

1. Season chops and sear in oil over medium-high heat, 4 minutes per side.
2. Remove chops; whisk applesauce, vinegar, sugar, mustard, and cinnamon in the pan.
3. Simmer 3 minutes, return chops to coat.
4. Serve chops with sauce spooned over top.

Pair this dish with ideas from our best sides for pork chops for a complete plate.

8. Applesauce Baked Oatmeal

This baked oatmeal sets into soft, custardy squares thanks to applesauce blended into the batter. It reheats well, so you can cut a square each morning for a few days.

Yields: 6 servings | Prep: 10 minutes | Bake: 35 minutes at 350°F

Ingredients:

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp salt

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease an 8×8 dish.
2. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.
3. Pour into the dish and bake 35 minutes until set.
4. Cool slightly before slicing.

For more morning options built around oats, our best overnight oats recipes is worth a look.

9. Fudgy Applesauce Brownies

Applesauce keeps these brownies dense and fudgy while cutting the amount of oil needed. You still get that glossy, crackly top that makes a brownie feel indulgent.

Yields: 9 brownies | Prep: 10 minutes | Bake: 28 minutes at 350°F

Ingredients:

• 1 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line an 8×8 pan.
2. Whisk applesauce, sugar, cocoa, oil, and eggs.
3. Fold in flour, baking powder, salt, and chocolate chips.
4. Bake 28 minutes until the center is just set.

10. Applesauce Granola Bars

These granola bars hold together without corn syrup because applesauce acts as the binder along with a bit of honey. They bake up chewy rather than rock hard.

Yields: 12 bars | Prep: 10 minutes | Bake: 20 minutes at 350°F

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1/3 cup honey
• 2 tbsp melted butter
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries or chopped nuts
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking pan.
2. Mix all ingredients until evenly combined.
3. Press firmly into the pan.
4. Bake 20 minutes, cool completely before cutting.

11. Applesauce Barbecue Sauce

This barbecue sauce gets its body and sweetness from applesauce instead of a heavy dose of refined sugar. It’s tangy, a little smoky, and clings nicely to grilled meats.

Yields: about 2 cups | Prep: 5 minutes | Cook: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp cayenne

Steps:

1. Combine all ingredients in a saucepan.
2. Simmer over medium-low heat, stirring often, for 15 minutes.
3. Cool before using or storing in the fridge.

12. Applesauce-Glazed Chicken Thighs

Applesauce thickens into a sticky glaze as these chicken thighs roast, caramelizing at the edges without any added sugar beyond what’s already in the sauce. The skin crisps up while the glaze deepens in color.

Yields: 4 servings | Prep: 10 minutes | Bake: 35 minutes at 400°F

Ingredients:

• 4 bone-in chicken thighs
• 3/4 cup applesauce
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• Salt and pepper

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Whisk applesauce, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and ginger.
3. Season chicken, place in a baking dish, and pour glaze over.
4. Bake 35 minutes, basting once, until the skin browns.

13. Applesauce Gingerbread

Applesauce adds moisture to this gingerbread alongside molasses, giving it a tender crumb and deep spice flavor. It’s a cozy bake that fills the kitchen with cinnamon and ginger.

Yields: 9 servings | Prep: 15 minutes | Bake: 35 minutes at 350°F

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 3/4 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tbsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp cloves
• 1/4 tsp salt

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease an 8×8 pan.
2. Whisk wet ingredients, including molasses, until smooth.
3. Fold in dry ingredients.
4. Bake 35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

14. Cinnamon Applesauce Doughnuts

These baked doughnuts skip the deep fryer, relying on applesauce for softness before getting rolled in cinnamon sugar. They taste best eaten warm, within an hour of baking.

Yields: 12 doughnuts | Prep: 15 minutes | Bake: 10 minutes at 375°F

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp melted butter
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup melted butter and 1/2 cup cinnamon sugar, for coating

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a doughnut pan.
2. Mix wet and dry ingredients separately, then combine.
3. Pipe batter into pan and bake 10 minutes.
4. Dip warm doughnuts in butter, then cinnamon sugar.

15. Applesauce Cornbread

Applesauce softens the crumb of this cornbread and tones down the usual dryness, while still leaving room for a slightly crisp edge. It pairs well with chili or a bowl of soup.

Yields: 8 servings | Prep: 10 minutes | Bake: 22 minutes at 400°F

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp melted butter

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F and grease a cast-iron skillet or pan.
2. Mix wet ingredients, then stir into dry ingredients.
3. Pour into the hot skillet.
4. Bake 22 minutes until golden on top.

16. Applesauce-Braised Short Ribs

Applesauce mellows the acidity in the braising liquid here, letting the short ribs turn fall-apart tender over a long, slow cook. The sauce reduces into something rich enough to spoon over mashed potatoes.

Yields: 4 servings | Prep: 15 minutes | Cook: 3 hours at 325°F

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs bone-in short ribs
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1/2 cup red wine or extra broth
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp oil
• Salt and pepper

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
2. Sear short ribs in oil, then set aside.
3. Sauté onion and garlic, stir in tomato paste, applesauce, broth, and wine.
4. Return ribs to the pot, cover, and braise 3 hours until tender.

17. Apple-Banana Applesauce Smoothie

This smoothie leans on applesauce for body and natural sweetness instead of added sugar, blended smooth with banana and a splash of milk. It’s a fast way to use up applesauce that’s about to expire.

Yields: 2 servings | Prep: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup applesauce
• 1 banana
• 1 cup milk or oat milk
• 1/2 cup ice
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tbsp honey, optional

Steps:

1. Add all ingredients to a blender.
2. Blend until smooth, about 1 minute.
3. Pour into glasses and serve immediately.

18. Applesauce Chia Pudding

Chia seeds swell up in applesauce and milk overnight, creating a pudding with a pleasant, slightly jammy texture. It’s a make-ahead breakfast that needs almost no hands-on time.

Yields: 2 servings | Prep: 5 minutes, plus overnight chill

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tbsp maple syrup, optional

Steps:

1. Whisk all ingredients together in a jar or bowl.
2. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours, or overnight.
3. Stir before serving, adding a splash of milk if too thick.

19. Apple Cider and Applesauce Vinaigrette

This vinaigrette uses applesauce to thicken and sweeten what would otherwise be a thin, sharp dressing. It clings nicely to leafy greens, roasted squash, or a simple slaw.

Yields: about 1 cup | Prep: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup applesauce
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp honey
• Salt and pepper

Steps:

1. Whisk applesauce, vinegar, mustard, and honey together.
2. Slowly whisk in olive oil until emulsified.
3. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Store in the fridge up to one week.

How to Choose Applesauce for Cooking and Baking

Unsweetened applesauce is the right choice for most baking and savory recipes, since it lets you control sweetness without adding hidden sugar. Sweetened versions work fine in quick breads and cakes that already call for a good amount of sugar, but they can throw off the balance in things like barbecue sauce or vinaigrette.

Chunky applesauce suits rustic muffins and granola bars where a little texture is welcome. Smooth applesauce is the better pick for cakes, pancakes, and glazes where you want an even, silky batter or sauce.

Recipe Type	Best Applesauce Style
Cakes & Quick Breads	Smooth, unsweetened
Muffins & Granola Bars	Chunky, unsweetened
Savory Glazes & Sauces	Smooth, unsweetened
Smoothies & Chia Pudding	Smooth, sweetened or unsweetened
Cookies	Smooth, unsweetened

Jarred applesauce from the grocery store works well in all of these recipes. If you have extra apples on hand, homemade applesauce gives you full control over sweetness and texture, though it needs to cool completely before going into a batter or dough.

How to Substitute Applesauce for Oil or Butter

Swap applesauce for oil or butter at a 1:1 ratio in most muffin, cake, and quick bread recipes, cutting the fat by about half for the best texture. Replacing all the fat tends to leave baked goods gummy or dense, so start by swapping half and see how the texture turns out.

For butter, use slightly less applesauce than the amount of butter called for, since butter brings fat that applesauce doesn’t replace. A cup of butter can become about 3/4 cup applesauce plus a couple tablespoons of oil or melted butter for richness.

Recipes that rely on creaming butter and sugar for structure, like shortbread or sugar cookies, don’t respond well to this swap. Save the substitution for recipes already built around moisture, like muffins, loaf cakes, and brownies, where applesauce can do its best work.