13 Best Substitutes for Applesauce in Carrot Cake

Applesauce is a popular ingredient in carrot cake recipes.

It adds a hint of sweetness and moisture to the cake, which makes it a great way to get more nutrients in your diet.

However, applesauce can be expensive!

If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, here are 13 delicious options to try out!

Read Also: Spice up your carrot cake with these 50 unique toppings

Why Consider Using a Substitute for Applesauce in Carrot Cake?

One of the reasons you might want to consider using a substitute for applesauce in carrot cake is to reduce the sugar content.

Applesauce is often used as a sweetener in baking, but it can add unnecessary sugar to your cake.

Another reason you might want to consider using a substitute for applesauce is to add more moisture to your cake.

Applesauce can help keep cakes moist, but if you’re looking for a more moist cake, you might want to try using another ingredient.

Finally, you might want to consider using a substitute for applesauce if you’re looking for a different flavor.

If you don’t like the taste of applesauce or you’re looking for something different, you can try using another fruit puree or even yogurt.

13 Best Substitutes for Applesauce in Carrot Cake

Carrot cake is a timeless classic, and it’s no wonder.

The combination of moist, spiced cake and sweet, creamy frosting is hard to resist.

But there are times when you may not have applesauce on hand—and that’s okay!

There are plenty of alternatives that can help you keep your carrot cake tradition alive, even if you don’t have any applesauce in the pantry.

Here are 13 substitutes for applesauce in carrot cake:

1. Mashed Bananas

Bananas are a great substitute for applesauce in carrot cake because they add sweetness and moisture to the recipe.

They also help to keep the cake from drying out, so you don’t have to add as much oil or butter.

The best way to use bananas is by mashing them up with a fork until there are no chunks left.

Then, mix them into the rest of the ingredients before baking.

You can also use bananas alone as a substitute for applesauce or even make your own banana puree by blending together 2 small ripe bananas with a little bit of water until smooth.

2. Cooked Apples

While it may seem strange at first glance, adding cooked apples into your carrot cake mix can actually work really well if you’re looking for something more tart than sweet!

Just make sure that there aren’t any spices or other ingredients added into them beforehand as this might affect how they taste when combined with everything else during baking time later on down the line (like chocolate chips or nuts).

3. Yogurt

Yogurt is a great replacement for applesauce because it’s creamy and adds richness to your carrot cake.

It also helps keep the texture moist, making it an excellent choice if you don’t want to use oil or butter in your recipe.

It’s also a good way to add some protein into your mix!

Make sure you choose plain yogurt without any additional flavors or sweeteners (like vanilla) so that it doesn’t interfere with the flavor profile of your carrot cake.

4. Mashed Pumpkin

If you don’t like the idea of using mashed bananas, then try substituting them with mashed pumpkin instead!

The texture is similar and it will still impart a delicious flavor into your carrot cake.

You can also add cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice if you want to give this option a little more kick!

5. Pureed Dates

Pureed dates are a great alternative to applesauce in carrot cake.

They’re made from dried dates that have been soaked in water and then pureed with a blender or food processor.

They’re sweet, sticky, and easy to blend into the batter.

6. Raisins

Raisins are another option for replacing applesauce in your carrot cakes.

They have the same texture as applesauce, but they’re smaller and less chunky.

When they bake, they get soft and chewy like raisins should be!

7. Dried Cranberries

Dried cranberries are a great option for carrot cake because they have the same tart flavor as applesauce, and they’re also a little bit softer than applesauce.

This means that you’ll get the full-on flavor of dried cranberries without having to worry about them being too firm in the finished product.

You can also use them as a substitute for raisins if you really want to kick it up a notch!

8. Pureed Prunes

Prunes have a more intense flavor than applesauce (or even dried cranberries), so if you’re looking for something that’s going to add some extra zing to your cake, go with prunes!

You can puree prunes by blending them until they’re smooth and then adding them into your batter as you would with dried cranberries or applesauce – by mixing them throughly into the batter and letting it cook on its own while baking.

9. Pureed Peaches

Peaches are a great substitute for applesauce in carrot cake.

While they may not be as sweet as applesauce, peaches are sweeter than carrots, so you might find that you need to add more sugar or reduce the amount of cinnamon in your recipe.

10. Pureed Nectarines

Using nectarines instead of applesauce will give your carrot cake a richer flavor, but it may also make it too sweet if you’re not careful with the amount of sugar you add.

11. Pureed Figs

Pureed figs are a delicious, healthy replacement for applesauce in carrot cake.

They have a sweet flavor that will enhance the flavor of your cake and make it moist and delicious!

The best part about this substitution is that it’s easy to make!

Simply puree fresh figs in a food processor or blender until smooth, then add this to your carrot cake batter as directed.

12. Coconut Milk

Coconut milk is versatile and can be used in a variety of recipes.

It’s a great option for those who are allergic to nuts or have nut allergies in their family.

It can also be used as an alternative to other dairy products.

Coconut milk is made from the meat of coconuts and has a thick consistency and sweet taste.

You can use coconut milk as a substitute for cow’s milk or soy milk when baking cakes, breads, pastries and cookies.

13. Grated Carrots

Grated carrots are a great substitute for applesauce if you’re making carrot cake, but they don’t have to be cooked first.

Simply add them directly to the batter with all of the other ingredients.

You can use a food processor or a grater to grate your carrots into small pieces before adding them to the batter.