What is it?

Applesauce is a purée or mash made from cooked apples. The apples used can be either peeled or unpeeled, depending on the texture of the sauce, which can range from chunky to silky smooth, light to dark, thick to thin. It can contain sugar, cinnamon, lemon zest or orange zest, or it can be unsweetened. In the United States, it is commonly eaten as a food, but in Europe and elsewhere, it is often eaten as a sauce or condiment. Applesauce also adds moisture to recipes for baked goods in which the fat is reduced.

Recipes

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  Recipe

  Spiced Carrot Chiffon Cake with Honey-Cream Cheese Icing

  This is not your typical carrot cake. It’s light and delicate, thanks in part to applesauce in the batter. Finely grating one carrot helps distribute its flavor, while coarsely grating…

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  Latkes

  The potato mixture for these ultra-crispy latkes looks loose, but it stays together and forms a golden crust when it hits the hot oil. This recipe can easily be multiplied…

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  Recipe

  Spiced Apple-Pecan Bread

  Warm spices, apples, and plenty of toasted pecans make this the perfect fall quick bread. Applesauce adds an extra hit of apple flavor while chopped pecans make an appealing crunchy…

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  Vanilla Cupcakes with Colored Cream Cheese Frosting

  These are cupcakes you can feel good about serving at a kid's birthday party, thanks to a few healthy upgrades: some of the butter is replaced with applesauce, to reduce…

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  Good-For-You Blueberry Muffins

  Applesauce keeps these muffins tender and moist, allowing me to reduce the overall fat and sugar in the recipe. And using half whole-wheat flour and half white flour adds antioxidants,…

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  Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Lemony Cream Cheese Frosting

  These cupcakes are moist, studded with nuts, fragrant with nutmeg and cinnamon, and topped with a velvety cream cheese frosting.

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  Applesauce

  This applesauce is great for garnishing or dipping potato latkes.

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  Recipe

  Bite-Size Latkes

  Serve these cuties topped with a little applesauce or a dollop of sour cream and some minced chives. Or go luxe and serve them with smoked salmon or even caviar on…

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  Moist Apple Crumb Cake

  Applesauce makes this cake wonderfully moist while the walnut crumb topping adds a welcome crunch. Homemade applesauce is best, but store-bought is good, too.

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  Recipe

  Grown-Up Applesauce

  Vanilla bean and a splash of brandy lift this elegant sauce out of the realm of nursery food. Delicious warm or at room temperature, it’s great as a snack on…