Recently I’ve heard applesauce is substituted in some recipes to make it low calorie.Is there anything else that is used?
Prune puree. I did see a product called LighterBake around which was made of prunes, but haven seen it in a while. It only works in fairly dense cakes like fruit cake or brownies.
A word of advice: don’t substitute applesauce in a waffle recipie. It sticks.
Mashed bananas work, but also in the same respect like the prune puree. Best for dense quick breads.
If you’re replacing cream/sour cream, non-fat yogurt works quite well (just make sure you’re using a high-quality yogurt that is all milk, and doesn’t have gelatin/fillers in it). To make yogurt “sour cream”: line a sieve with cheesecloth or coffee filters, fill with yogurt, and place on top of a bowl. Let sit in the refrigerator for 24 hours to drain the excess liquid. You will have yogurt the thickness of sour cream that works as a great substitute (you can use this to top your baked potatoes and as a dip base, too).
If you’re replacing eggs, best trick is to use the whites (those help with the leavening) and then use a substitute for the fat in the yolks.
My experience has been to use a combination of these substitutes (you just have to experiment with some of them, and find what you like, as the textures will differ). I tend to go for the applesauce (because I dislike bananas), but I do keep a little fat (like a tablespoon of oil/butter) in the recipe just because it does help with the flavor.
Boy.
This isn’t at ALL what I thought this thread would be.
I put applesauce in my pancake batter and it really kicks it up, just a tablespoon or so. Not as a substitute, just as an additive.
jarbaby
I have an extra jar of plum puree baby food which I bought when I was making a fat free chocolate cake.
It tasted like a cake with plum baby food in it in my opinion.
I have used applesauce/juice as a sub for oils and it’s ok. It is NOT a low calorie alternitive just a low fat alternitive.
Besides transfats, oils are needed and good for you (now mind you that’s coming from a low carb-er). Apple sauce has a lot of sugar and IIRC most have sugar added.