How Much Applesauce to Substitute for Brown Sugar
Works for baking, slow cook, and raw cold. Applesauce brings a noticeably different flavor than Brown Sugar.
How much applesauce equals one cup of brown sugar and cut other liquids by 1/4 cup?
Use 1 1/4 cups apple sauce per cup brown sugar and cut other liquids by 1/4 cup.
Health notes
Compared with Brown Sugar, Applesauce has: less calories (68 vs 380 per 100g in Brown Sugar) and less carbs (17.5g vs 98.1g per 100g in Brown Sugar).
Using applesauce as a brown sugar substitute in baking
1 1/4 cups per cup sugar; cut liquids 1/4 cup. Muffins and quick breads.
Other cooking methods
- Slow Cook
1 1/4 cups per cup in braises; expect thinner sauce.
- Raw Cold
1 1/4 cups per cup in overnight oats.
- Drinks
1 1/4 cups per cup in smoothies; reduce other liquids.
Methods to avoid (4)
- Sauteing
Not recommended: puree won't caramelize like sugar.
- Frying
Not recommended: too wet for coatings and fry batters.
- Grilling
Not recommended: won't glaze or char like sugar.
- Steaming
Not recommended: excess moisture hurts steam cakes.
FAQ
- How much applesauce equals one cup of brown sugar and cut other liquids by 1/4 cup?
Use 1 1/4 cups apple sauce per cup brown sugar and cut other liquids by 1/4 cup.
- Can I substitute applesauce for Brown Sugar in baking?
Yes. 1 1/4 cups per cup sugar; cut liquids 1/4 cup. Muffins and quick breads. Not recommended: puree won't caramelize like sugar.
- How much applesauce to use as a brown sugar substitute?
Add vanilla or cinnamon if you miss molasses warmth.
- How does the flavor change when substituting Applesauce for Brown Sugar?
Applesauce brings a noticeably different flavor than brown sugar.
- How does texture change when substituting Applesauce for Brown Sugar?
Applesauce denser, moister crumb with less spread and paler tops.
- What else should I know about substituting Applesauce for Brown Sugar?
For muffins, quick breads, and spice cakes. Expect denser, moister bakes with less browning and caramel depth. Skip cookies, pie crust, and butter-forward recipes where sugar drives spread. Add 1/4 tsp baking soda if the batter has no other acid. Won't saute, grill, or caramelize.
- What still works when substituting Applesauce for Brown Sugar?
Applesauce still works as a sweetener, moisture provider, and binder.
- What won't work when substituting Applesauce for Brown Sugar?
Applesauce won't work as a browning agent, caramelization, humectant, flavor depth, and molasses complexity.
- How well does Applesauce match Brown Sugar?
Applesauce is stretch on structure, stretch on heat, and stretch on flavor.
- How does nutrition compare per 100g when substituting Applesauce for Brown Sugar?
Applesauce is higher in protein, and has about x6 fewer calories. Applesauce has fat and sat. fat, while brown sugar has none.
- How do the flavor notes shift when substituting Applesauce for Brown Sugar?
The flavor shifts toward less sweet, more acidic, more bitter, and less umami notes.