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.
Intrigued? Keep reading to learn how to substitute applesauce for oil, plus learn about the health benefits.
Next up: Check out these healthier dessert recipes you won’t believe are lightened up.
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.
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. If you test it out and are happy with the results, you can then experiment with replacing more of the oil, a bit at a time.
Editor’s note: We recommend using unsweetened applesauce to avoid over-sweetening and adding additional calories to your recipe.
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.
By the way, here’s the difference between vegetable, canola, olive and coconut oil.
Replacing part, or all, of the oil with applesauce in your favorite baked goods can save you enough calories to stay on track, or earn yourself a second helping!
Try Using Applesauce in These Desserts
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Broadway Brownie Bars
I named these dessert bars for Broadway because they're a hit every time I serve them. I especially like to make them as a gift for anyone with a sweet tooth! —Anne Frederick, New Hartford, New York
Cream Cheese Sheet Cake
This tender, buttery cream cheese cake with a thin layer of fudge frosting is perfect for a crowd. It's always popular at potlucks and parties. It's not uncommon to see folks going back for second and even third pieces. —Gaye Mann, Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Orange Buttermilk Cupcakes
Simple and delicious, this is our all-time favorite low-fat dessert. You'll be surprised how well the citrus flavor comes through in every bite.
Big & Buttery Chocolate Chip Cookies
My take on the classic cookie is inspired by a bakery in California called Hungry Bear. It's big, thick and chewy—truly the best chocolate chip cookie recipe. —Irene Yeh, Mequon, Wisconsin
Red Velvet Cheesecake
Festive and oh, so good, this cheesecake will become a fixture on your Christmas dessert menu. The red velvet filling is spiked with cocoa, topped with cream cheese frosting and baked in a chocolate cookie crumb crust. —Karen Dively, Chapin, South Carolina
Maple-Glazed Apple Pie
Even though we've lived in Florida for 3 years, I still feel like a "Vermonter". My parents send us a bushel of Vermont apples each fall, and we try to visit in the spring to do some sugaring. —Patricia Putnam, Lakeland, Florida
Raisin Date Bread Pudding
All my leftover bread ends (raisin bread is a favorite in this house) and buns go in the freezer. Then, when I've stashed away enough, I whip up a batch of this pudding. It's an all-occasion dish—I've made it for holidays, potlucks, picnics...for any occasion or no occasion! —Dawn Green, Hopkins, Michigan
Lemon-Lime Bars
This easy lime bar recipe is a dessert that will wow your guests. I baked these bars for a luncheon on a hot summer day. A gentleman made his way to the kitchen to compliment the cook who made them. —Holly Wilkins, Lake Elmore, Vermont
Blue-Ribbon Butter Cake
I found this buttercake recipe in an old cookbook I bought at a garage sale and couldn’t wait to try it. I knew it had been someone’s favorite because of the well-worn page. —Joan Gertz, Palmetto, Florida
Hummingbird Cupcakes
Turn the traditional hummingbird cake—flavored with pineapple, bananas and walnuts—into a bite-sized treat with these moist cupcakes. —Jessie Oleson, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Heavenly Praline Cake
A moist cake and generous frosting are filled with the fabulous flavor of caramel. The candied pecans are almost a dessert by themselves!—Jennifer Rodriguez, Midland, Texas
Easy Mexican Brownies
I was hosting a fun Mexican-themed cocktail party and needed a quick dessert. Dressing up an ordinary boxed brownie mix made life easy and delicious! —Susan Stetzel, Gainesville, New York
Autumn Apple Torte
When it’s apple season, we always find room for a slice of this heartwarming torte with a cream cheese layer and apples galore. —Margaret Wilson, Sun City, California
Double Peanut Pie
I created this recipe for a national pie contest and won second place for my state. Many peanuts are grown here, and I always look for ways to use local products. —Vivian Cleeton, Richmond, Virginia
Rhubarb Cherry Pie
As a young girl, I dreamed of being able to make pies like my mother. (Her rolling pin, which I inherited, was 2 ft. long and 8 in. wide!) In fact, this is Mom's rhubarb strawberry pie recipe with cherries instead. I first made this pie for a church gathering 20 years ago—ever since, everyone's looked for it at every potluck! —Eunice Hurt, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Old-World Ricotta Cheesecake
I reconstructed this dessert based on an old recipe that had been in the family for years but was never written down. The subtle cinnamon flavor of the zwieback crust reminds me of the cheesecake I enjoyed as a child, but substitute other crumbs if you like. —Mary Beth Jung, Hendersonville, North Carolina
Banana Bread Pudding
When I visited my grandmother in summer, I always looked forward to the comforting pudding she'd make. With its crusty golden top, custard-like inside and smooth vanilla sauce, this bread pudding is a real homespun dessert. Now I make it for my grandchildren. —Mary Detweiler, Middlefield, Ohio
Chewy Peanut Butter Pan Squares
With seven of us in our family, including two teenage boys, these peanut butter cookie bars never last long! It's hard to believe how simple these peanut butter bars without graham crackers are to prepare. —Deb DeChant, Milan, Ohio
Carrot Sheet Cake
We sold pieces of this to-die-for carrot cake at an art show and before long, sold out of the 10 cakes we had made! —Dottie Cosgrove, South El Monte, California
Lemon Zucchini Drops
When we lived on the East Coast, a nearby fruit and vegetable stand had a bakery featuring these soft cakelike cookies. We missed every bite when we moved away, so I developed this recipe. —Barbara Franklin, Tucson, Arizona
Cinnamon-Spice Brownies
Gail Mehle of Rock Springs, Wyoming submitted the original recipe for these brownies with a secret ingredient: cinnamon. The spicy chocolate cinnamon cane sugar was a perfect fit for her recipe, adding just a hint of heat. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Oatmeal Molasses Crisps
In Amish and Mennonite homes, home cooking is guaranteed delicious. So when I found this recipe in an Amish cookbook, I knew I had to try it. It's become a favorite of our family as well as the folks at our church fellowship. —Jori Schellenberger, Everett, Washington
Gooey Chocolate Caramel Bars
These rich, gooey bars are my most requested treats. They're popular at school functions, family barbecues and picnics. We like them alone or topped off with a scoop of ice cream. —Betty Hagerty, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Blueberry Lattice Bars
Since our area has an annual blueberry festival, my daughters and I are always looking for great new berry recipes to enter in the cooking contest. These lovely yummy bars won a blue ribbon one year. —Debbie Ayers, Baileyville, Maine
Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes
I make these flavorful pumpkin cupcakes each Halloween, but they're wonderful year-round. —Amber Butzer, Gladstone, Oregon
Butterscotch Cake
I get lots of compliments and recipe requests whenever I make this eye-catching cake. The filling is similar to German chocolate cake. —Judy Lamon, Louisville, Tennessee
Peanut-Filled Devil's Food Cupcakes
This recipe features a luscious peanut butter filling surrounded by devil's food and then iced with a rich layer of ganache. They're to die for! —Mary Lou Timpson, Colorado City, Arizona
Makeover Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Both of my boys loved this makeover version of a family favorite, and even my husband, who is a bit picky, wants a piece in his lunch tomorrow! —Mary Lou Moeller, Wooster, Ohio
Coconut Tres Leches Cupcakes
Three types of milk wonderfully moisten these cupcakes. Toasted coconut on top adds an elegant touch. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Chocolate Espresso-Nut Torte
I love chocolate and nuts, and they come together deliciously in this torte. Serve it with sweetened whipped cream or your favorite ice cream. —Thomas Faglon, Somerset, New Jersey
Caramel Snickerdoodle Bars
What did I do when I couldn't decide between two of my favorite desserts? Combined them! These blondie and snickerdoodle bars are even better with my other favorite ingredient: caramel. —Niki Plourde, Gardner, Massachusetts
Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Blondies
I converted these blondies to be gluten-free so that my family could enjoy a comforting dessert. We were really craving brownies one night, and this cakelike treat hit the spot! They're a great spin on gluten-free peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. —Becky Klope, Loudonville, New York
Chocolate Pear Hazelnut Tart
As a teenage foreign exchange student in the south of France, I was horribly homesick. Then my host family's Grandmother Miette arrived and asked if I'd like to help her bake this nutty tart from scratch. It turned my trip around and inspired my lifelong passion for baking. Weighing ingredients, roasting nuts, kneading dough—the art of baking transcends language. —Lexi McKeown, Los Angeles, California
Flourless Chocolate Torte
Chocoholics—like me!—know that nothing says chocolate like a flourless torte. —Kayla Albrecht, Freeport, Illinois
Chocolate Chip-Cherry Chunk Cookies
My grandmas and mom created this recipe with chocolate chips, cherries and spices, a combo of their favorite parts of different cookies. Then dad made ice cream to turn them into ice cream sandwiches. We'd eat these sandwiches in the summer heat, each bite cooling us as the ice cream melted down our arms. —Wade Rouse, Fennville, Michigan. For more info on author Wade Rouse, please visit www.ViolaShipman.com
Coconut Key Lime Thumbprints
This is the cookie recipe I created for the Las Vegas World Food Championships 2013. It's similar to a shortbread thumbprint cookie, but with lots more personality. —Amy Freeze, Avon Park, Florida
Orange Cornmeal Cake
This cake bakes up tender and light with a subtle orange taste. It tastes rich but is comparatively low in saturated fat. Serve the cake as is, or dress it up with a dollop of whipped cream and strawberries or raspberries. The cake is wonderful warm, but the flavor improves as it sits, so make it a day or two before you plan to serve it. Store the cake at room temperature. —Leigh Rys, Herndon, Virginia
Chocolate Malt Cheesecake
My mother-in-law loved chocolate malts—and cheesecakes, too. Can you guess who passed this recipe on to me? Sometimes, I substitute pretzel crumbs for the graham cracker crumbs. They make a surprisingly good crust! —Anita Moffett, Rewey, Wisconsin
Mint Chocolate Snaps
It wouldn't be Christmas if I didn't make this cookie. Several years ago, I submitted the recipe to our local newspaper and it won first prize of $35. Since then, my family refers to it as the "&35 Cookie"!
Lemon Coconut Bites
The tangy lemon flavor of this layered bar dessert is especially delicious on a warm day. It takes me back to selling lemonade on the sidewalk as a little girl. —Donna Biddle, Elmira, New York
Applesauce Spice Cupcakes
I began making these moist cupcakes in grade school and still bake them today. —Edna Hoffman, Hebron, Indiana
S'more Cheesecake
This luscious dessert is just as wonderfully tasty as the campfire snack that inspired it. It's a great way to savor a summer classic anytime of year. Our 4-year-old daughter likes it so much that she's requested it for her next birthday! —Robin Andrews, Cary, North Carolina
Frosted Chocolate Delights
Before we five kids headed off to school each day, Mom took our requests for that day's dinner. I usually asked her to make these cookies for dessert, and she would rarely disappoint. I still enjoy them today. —Patricia Ramczyk, Appleton, Wisconsin
Chocolate Cheesecake Bars
When you don't have time to bake a real cheesecake, reach for this easy recipe. An almond-flavored dough serves as both crust and topping for a soft chocolaty filling. —Louise Good, Flemington, New Jersey
No-Guilt Brownies
Yes, you can watch your diet and enjoy treats, too! These healthy brownies are the perfect cure for a serious chocolate craving. —Rita Ross, Delta, Ohio
Contest-Winning Blueberry Swirl Cheesecake
This is my favorite blueberry cheesecake recipe, which I often make for family get-togethers. —Cathy Medley, Clyde, Ohio
Palmiers
It takes just two ingredients to make these impressive but easy-to-do French pastries, which are often called palm leaves. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Lavender Lemon Bars
Hints of lavender and lemon zest in the crust make these treats a favorite. —Judith Hilinski, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Streuseled Zucchini Bundt Cake
Inspired by an abundance of zucchini, I found a new way to use it up in this spiced and lightly sweet cake. It even won a blue ribbon at our county fair! —Regina Stock, Topeka, Kansas
Coffee 'n' Cream Brownies
A friend gave me the recipe for these rich cakelike brownies topped with a creamy coffee-enhanced filling and a chocolate glaze. I like to garnish each square with a coffee bean. —Michelle Tiemstra, Lacombe, Alberta
Cranberry Bog Bars
Sweet and chewy, these fun bars combine the flavors of oats, cranberries, brown sugar and pecans. I like to sprinkle the squares with confectioners’ sugar before serving. —Sally Wakefield, Gans, Pennsylvania
Ginger Plum Tart
Sweet cravings, begone: This free-form plum tart is done in only 35 minutes. Plus, it's extra-awesome when served warm. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
These soft banana cookies have a cakelike texture and lots of flavor that everyone seem to love. It's one of the best banana cookie recipes I've found. —Vicki Raatz, Waterloo, Wisconsin
White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies
Friends sometimes ask me to make these for wedding receptions. For a fancier presentation, I cut the bars into triangle shapes and drizzle white chocolate over each one individually. —Erika Busz, Kent, Washington
Chocolate Hazelnut Torte
Most cake recipes feed a crowd. So we came up with this elegant little cake that serves six. That's enough for two…with just the right amount of leftovers! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Easy Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin pie does not have to be difficult to make. This easy Thanksgiving dessert recipe has a wonderful taste and will be a hit at your holiday meal. —Marty Rummel, Trout Lake, Washington
Chocolate Cookie Cheesecake
I used to think cheesecake sounded intimidating, but since I started making them I can’t stop! This simple but special cookie-topped version will make your family feel fussed over. —Rose Yoder, Middlebury, Indiana
Dark Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding
Croissants make an incredible base for this rich, chocolaty bread pudding. I prefer dark chocolate, but semisweet or white chocolate work, too. Garnish with your favorite nuts. —Jennifer Tidwell, Fair Oaks, California
Rich Rum Cake
We like a touch of rum for the holidays, and this orangey rum cake is decadent alone or with big swoops of whipped cream. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
Baklava Cheesecake
With sugared cranberries and rosemary sprigs, my unique baklava cheesecake makes a grand display for office parties and other special events. —Aryanna Gamble, New Orleans, Louisiana
Mimosa Butter Cookies
You can add many different flavors to butter cookies to make them your own. Try an alternate type of citrus zest, or add an alternate liquid to change things up. —Sara Lark, Raton, New Mexico
Chocolate Chip Cookie Blondies
This recipe has been used in my family as long as I can remember. My mom would make these for us when we were young and I have continued the tradition to my own family. When my husband and I were engaged, I would send these to him during his deployment overseas. In no time, he and his buddies would have the entire container emptied. These are the best chocolate chip brownies you will ever taste! —Amanda Green, Salisbury, Missouri
Double Chocolate Almond Cheesecake
This cheesecake is easy to make—but it's definitely not easy to wait till the next day to eat it! The recipe is from a friend I used to work with.—Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
Frosted Peanut Cookies
Oats, chopped peanuts and peanut butter frosting make this a nice change of pace from a traditional peanut butter cookie. After folks sample these, compliments and recipe requests always follow. —Alicia Surma, Tacoma, Washington
Chocolate-Glazed Brownies
These moist and fudgy squares are bursting with such rich chocolate flavor, you'd never know they're low in fat. They're ideal for taking to bake sales and family gatherings. For holidays, I like to dress them up with colorful candy sprinkles. —Deb Anderson, Joplin, Missouri
Chocolate Maple Bars
My family runs a maple syrup operation, and I'm always looking for new ways to incorporate maple syrup into my cooking and baking. These bars are delicious! —Cathy Schumacher, Alto, Michigan
Star-Studded Blueberry Pie
Family and friends say this patriotic pie is better than a local favorite from one of our best neighborhood restaurants. Sometimes, I switch things up and use gooseberries for half of the blueberries. —Nancy Barker, Silverton, Oregon
Fresh Blackberry Pie
I grew up on a farm, and we always picked fruits in early summer and used them to make desserts. This blackberry pie is a real stunner. —Gladys Gibbs, Brush Creek, Tennessee
Lemon Ricotta Cake
This recipe is a family gem that was passed down from my grandmother and mother. Garnished with shaved lemon zest, the moist four-layer cake is the perfect dessert when you want to impress. —Nanette Slaughter, Sammamish, Washington
Cinnamon Chip Chai-Spiced Snickerdoodles
I love cinnamon chips and am always looking for a way to use them. Make sure to stock up on them during the holiday season so you have plenty to last during the year. —Marietta Slater, Justin, Texas
Layered Chocolate Marshmallow Peanut Butter Brownies
A friend gave me the recipe for these layered brownies, but I added my own touch--chunky peanut butter. Every time I take them to a group gathering, I get requests for the recipe. It's a real crowd-pleaser! —Judy Sims, Weatherford, Texas
Cranberry Nut Cookies
In fall, I stock up on fresh cranberries and freeze them so I can make these cookies throughout the year. Tangy cranberries are a nice addition to a buttery cookie. —Machelle, Wall, Rosamond, California
Caramel Brownies
I love to cook. My family can't possibly eat all the sweets I whip up, so my co-workers are more than happy to sample them—particularly these rich, chewy brownies that are full of gooey caramel, chocolate chips and crunchy walnuts. —Clara Bakke, Coon Rapids, Minnesota