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can you use applesauce instead of butter in cookies

by Opal Roberts Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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But let's get one thing straight: applesauce is not a great substitute for butter, and will lead to disaster in cookies and any other treat with a crispy snap. Unless you like cake-y, mushy cookies. Most sources recommend a 1:1 swap: if the recipe calls for 1 cup of oil, substitute with 1 cup of applesauce.Sep 4, 2020

Can applesauce be used in oatmeal cookies instead of butter?

You can substitute applesauce for some of the butter in an oatmeal cookie, but don't remove the butter completely. To substitute applesauce for butter in oatmeal cookies, cream the sugar and eggs together and then mix in the applesauce.

What is the ratio of applesauce to butter?

Unlike oil substitute for butter, applesauce substitution should be done in the 1:1 ratio. It means, if the recipe that you are preparing calls for a cup of butter, then you should use ½ cup of butter + ½ cup of applesauce. You can also try some variations when you substitute applesauce for butter in cake and brownies.

Can you use butter instead of shortening for making cookies?

  • Shortening is 100% fat.
  • Butter is also fat, but also has milk and water in it.
  • Because of the milk and water in butter, it will melt more quickly under heat than shortening will.
  • Shortening has no dairy in it at all, which makes it an option for those who can’t have dairy.
  • Shortening generally makes baked goods softer.
  • Shortening is flavorless. ...

What is good substitute for butter in cookies?

Fats and oils that can replace butter in baking

  • Ghee. Ghee is a type of clarified butter with an aromatic and nutty taste. ...
  • Coconut oil. Coconut oil can replace butter in baking at a 1:1 ratio, though it may slightly change the flavor, with some types of coconut oil affecting taste more than ...
  • Olive oil. In most recipes, olive oil can be substituted for butter at a 3:4 ratio by volume. ...

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How much applesauce replaces butter in cookies?

Replace half the amount of butter in your recipe with applesauce; if the recipe calls for one cup of butter, use half a cup of butter and half a cup of applesauce. If you don't mind a denser, more moist bread, replace all the butter with applesauce to cut even more calories and fat.

Can I use applesauce instead of butter in baking?

Applesauce. Applesauce is another great butter alternative when baking. Applesauce can be a healthy substitute for butter, touting 166 calories per cup and packed full of vitamins and nutrients. If sugar is a concern, there are options for unsweetened applesauce that will serve as a viable substitute as well.

What can I use instead of butter in my cookies?

In general, the following foods work best as butter replacements in cakes, muffins, cookies, brownies, and quick breads:Applesauce. Applesauce significantly reduces the calorie and fat content of baked goods. ... Avocados. ... Mashed bananas. ... Greek yogurt. ... Nut butters. ... Pumpkin purée.

How much applesauce replaces a stick of butter?

size, you should use ¼ cup of applesauce in place of butter. This is important, as you want to retain the consistency of the brownies.

What does applesauce do in baking?

Unsweetened applesauce plays the same role as butter or oil in your bake. Applesauce acts much like the fat. It keeps the flour protein from mixing completely with the wet ingredients and forming a rubbery, dense texture. This is what does applesauce do in baking.

What does applesauce replace in baking recipes?

Simply swap out half of the oil in the recipe with applesauce. For example, if the recipe calls for a cup of oil, add 1/2 cup of oil and 1/2 cup of applesauce. Substituting applesauce for oil will change the texture of your baked goods, so first replace half of the oil, and see how it turns out.

What happens if you don't put butter in cookies?

Making cookies with oil instead of butter is definitely something you need to try if you haven't already! The oil gives the cookies a cake-like crumb texture and because of the high-fat content, they stay wonderfully moist.

Is butter necessary for cookies?

Butter also plays a critical role in cookie structure; the fat and moisture can enhance or inhibit gluten development, which directly impacts the shape, spread, and texture in your cookies. In short, the temperature of your butter for cookies directly impacts how cakey, crispy, or flaky your cookies will be.

What's the best butter substitute?

Best Health-Conscious Butter AlternativesGhee. Ghee is butter that goes through a clarification process to eliminate all the water which, we should note, creates a higher smoke point while cooking. ... Greek Yogurt. ... Pumpkin Puree. ... Earth Balance Pressed Avocado Oil. ... Pureed Coconut. ... Olive Oil. ... Avocado. ... Mashed Bananas.

Can you substitute unsweetened applesauce for butter?

Applesauce for butter or oil Unsweetened applesauce can be used to replace part or all of the butter in a recipe. It can be swapped in equal quantities, so if a recipe calls for 2 cups of butter, you could replace as much of it as you'd like with applesauce, from a small amount such as 1/4 cup to the entire amount.

How do you substitute applesauce for butter in oatmeal cookies?

Substitute applesauce into most cookie recipes that call for butter using a 1-to-1 ratio. For example, if the recipe calls for 1 cup of butter, substitute 1 cup of applesauce. This complete substitution will produce a sweeter and fluffier cookie.

Does applesauce replace oil or eggs?

To substitute applesauce for oil, all you have to do is use a 1:1 ratio of applesauce to replace oil. That means, if your recipe calls for 1/4 oil, just replace that with 1/4 unsweetened applesauce instead.

Does applesauce replace oil or eggs?

To substitute applesauce for oil, all you have to do is use a 1:1 ratio of applesauce to replace oil. That means, if your recipe calls for 1/4 oil, just replace that with 1/4 unsweetened applesauce instead.

Can I use applesauce instead of oil in a cake mix?

If you want to substitute apple sauce for oil in cake mix or other baking recipes, try replacing half of the oil called for with applesauce, per the University of Maine. So, if your recipe requires 1 cup of oil, you can substitute it with 1/2 cup of applesauce and 1/2 cup of oil.

How do you substitute applesauce for butter in oatmeal cookies?

Substitute applesauce into most cookie recipes that call for butter using a 1-to-1 ratio. For example, if the recipe calls for 1 cup of butter, substitute 1 cup of applesauce. This complete substitution will produce a sweeter and fluffier cookie.

Can I replace oil with applesauce in baking?

- When substituting applesauce for oil in baking, the ratio is typically 1:1. So if the recipe calls for 1/4 cup of oil, use 1/4 cup of applesauce. This works perfectly with muffins and quick breads.

Step 1

Replace all of the butter with an equal amount of unsweetened applesauce for the lowest-fat product. For instance, if your recipe calls for 1/2 cup butter, use 1/2 cup applesauce. To maximize taste and texture while still decreasing fat considerably, leave in about a quarter of the butter and substitute out the remainder.

Step 2

Add the applesauce to the liquid ingredients such as the milk or eggs in the recipe.

Step 3

Reduce the baking time by 25 percent. For instance, if a cake must bake for 60 minutes, check the cake after 45 minutes.

The Method

To replace butter for applesauce in oatmeal cookies, follow these simple substitution steps:

Find the Best Ratio

Substitute applesauce into most cookie recipes that call for butter using a 1-to-1 ratio. For example, if the recipe calls for 1 cup of butter, substitute 1 cup of applesauce. This complete substitution will produce a sweeter and fluffier cookie.

Cooking Time and Results

Cooking times do not need to be adjusted from the original recipe, as low-fat cookies can become dry when overcooked. While butter provides flavor and moisture, it also of causes the cookies to spread flat and brown when baked. Applesauce provides the necessary moisture but fluffs the cookie dough during baking.

Other Considerations

It's more difficult to reduce the fat in cookies -- compared to cakes and muffins -- without altering the flavor and texture. Cookies that work well with an applesauce-for-butter substitution include chocolate chip, oatmeal and peanut butter, as long as you don't mind the cake-like texture.

1. Margarine

Margarine can be used for butter replacement in baking. It tastes similar to butter and contains fat like butter, but it may offer you some health advantages when you use it in your baking.

2. Applesauce and Other Fruit Purees

Fruit purees provide bulk and flavor as a butter substitute in baking. Applesauce, mashed bananas, pureed dates, prunes or figs are just a few examples of nutritious, fibrous and low-fat butter substitutes.

3. Mashed Avocado

Avocado is technically a fruit, and it can work just as well as a butter substitute, according to California Avocado.

5. Plain Yogurt

If you have a bit of butter on hand — and your goal in swapping out butter isn't to eliminate dairy — you can sub in yogurt for some of the butter.

Tips for Replacing Butter

Subbing out any ingredient always comes with the risk that your cookies won't turn out as expected. But with a little bit of expertise, you have a better chance of success.

Materials

For my experiments, I used organic, unsweetened applesauce. (View on Amazon)

Methods

I used two tried and true recipes, my vanilla cupcakes and Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies, and ran two tests for each recipe. In the first test, I replaced all of the fat in the recipe with applesauce. In the second test, I replaced half of the fat in the recipe with applesauce:

Results and Discussion

Cupcakes: The applesauce had a huge impact on Ultimate Vanilla Cupcakes. When I used all applesauce, the cupcakes didn’t dome, they were dense and rubbery, and they tasted like a sad apple muffin. I was generous when I gave the taste a 3. When I used only half applesauce, the taste and texture were passable; there was no discernible apple taste.

Conclusions

Based on the results of this study, I would avoid substituting applesauce for butter or oil in cake recipes. If I were desperate to cut some fat, I would only replace a little bit of the fat with applesauce (half or less). I would only replace butter or oil with applesauce in cookies if I wanted chewy/cakey cookies.

Cut calories and fat from your favorite baked goods with this simple swap

Just because you are trying to eat healthier doesn’t mean your sweet tooth goes away. Luckily there’s an easy way to have your cake and eat it too; use applesauce instead of oil in your baking recipes. Believe it or not, you can cut a ton of fat and calories from your baked goods with this simple swap.

How to Substitute Applesauce for Oil

Simply swap out half of the oil in the recipe with applesauce. For example, if the recipe calls for a cup of oil, add 1/2 cup of oil and 1/2 cup of applesauce.

How Much Healthier is Applesauce?

For every 1/2 cup of oil replaced with applesauce, you will save 900 calories and 110 grams of fat. Since these saving are for the entire baked good, divide the calories or grams of fat saved by the number of servings for updated nutritional counts.

Giant Buckeye Cookie

I’m from Ohio, and we love our buckeye candy! Buckeyes are a delicious combination of peanut butter and chocolate, which is exactly what this cookie is. All you need is a box of cake mix, a few common pantry ingredients, and voila—you have a tasty dessert ready for family and friends in under an hour.

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As Editor, Caroline writes and edits all things food-related and helps produce videos for Taste of Home. When she’s not at her desk, you can probably find Caroline cooking up a feast, planning her next trip abroad or daydreaming about her golden retriever, Mac.

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