Have you ever run out of apple butter and needed a substitute in a recipe? Have no fear! There are plenty of options for substitutes for apple butter that will work just as well in your recipes. Here are some of the best substitutes for apple butter you can use next time you’re in a pinch.
What is apple butter?
Apple butter is a thick spread made from apples, sugar, and spices with a sweet-tart flavor. It is the applesauce cooked with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and other warming spices. It s cooked to remove all the water to produce a dense, smooth paste. Apple butter has a distinctly warm and pleasant flavor acquired from spices and the caramelization of the apples.
It can be used as a topping for desserts or toast, mixed into sauces or dressings, or added to recipes for extra sweetness and flavor.
If you don’t have apple butter on hand but need a substitute, here are some of the best options you can use in place of apple butter.
Best Apple Butter Substitutes to use in recipes
Pumpkin puree, cinnamon applesauce, plain applesauce, Pear butter, and even simple dairy butter can all be used in place of apple butter to add flavor and texture to dishes. Try using these substitutes in equal-to-equal ratios with apple butter as a guide for best results.
Here is the best apple butter substitutes you can try in your recipes.
1. Pumpkin Puree
Ratio to use: 1 cup of pumpkin puree substitutes 1 cup of apple butter
Pumpkin puree is an excellent substitute for apple butter in baking recipes. It’s packed with flavor and sweetness and adds a nice texture. The best part is that you can use it in sweet and savory dishes.
Moreover, it is easy to make. First, you must roast the pumpkin and blend it in a blender to make the puree.
Pumpkin puree adds flavor and moistness to muffins, cakes, and pies.
2. Cinnamon Applesauce
Cinnamon applesauce is an excellent substitute for apple butter if you want something sweet but also has a bit of zing. Applesauce is naturally sweet, so when you add cinnamon to it, the flavor pops and gives a distinct and warm flavor.
It is a perfect combination of applesauce and cinnamon that can be used as an alternative to apple butter when making pies, cakes, muffins, or any other dessert.
3. Plain Applesauce
It is an easy and excellent substitute for apple butter in recipes, especially if you want something more straightforward. It might not have that intense caramelized and warm apple butter flavor, but it will bring moisture and sweetness to your recipes. You can use applesauce in any recipe that calls for apple butter or fruit butter.
4. Buttermilk
Buttermilk is a readily available tasty, and versatile substitute for apple butter. It works best in baking recipes like pancakes, muffins, and cakes.
Buttermilk adds a subtle tanginess that complements the applesauce perfectly. It also helps to make the texture of your dish lighter and fluffier.
Buttermilk can be used in place of apple butter in baking as the acidity of buttermilk helps produce light and fluffy baked products.
To add the sweetness of the apple butter, increase your sugar as buttermilk is not sweet as apple butter.
5. Pear butter
Ratio: Use 1 cup of pear butter to 1 cup of apple butter
Pear butter is similar to apple butter in taste and texture. It is made from pureed pears and has a slightly sweet flavor.
Pear butter can substitute for apple butter in many recipes like pies, muffins, cakes, etc. The only difference is that pear butter will have a subtle fruity taste that may differ from your recipe’s flavor.
6. Apricot Jam
Apricot jam is a great substitute for apple butter. It adds sweetness and fruity flavor to your recipes.
You can use Apricot jam in any recipe for apple butter, like muffins, cakes, pies, or even pancakes. The only difference is that it will have a subtle apricot flavor. Use cinnamon along with apricot jam to add flavor. It will counteract the apricot flavor.
If you don’t mind the slight flavor of apricot, you can always use it in place of apple butter.
7. Butter
Butter is a versatile ingredient known for its rich taste and flavor. It can be used as a substitute for apple butter in some recipes. It will not only bring out the sweetness but will also add richness and flavor to your dish.
However, it is essential to remember that butter has less moisture than apple butter, so you may have to adjust the other ingredients accordingly while baking. Also, butter is not sweet like apple butter. Always adjust your sugar to add sweetness to the dish if you are making a sweet dish.
It works well in savory dishes and you don’t have to bother about the sweetness.
I know this post is about the apple butter that is mostly used in sweet recipes but butter can be used anywhere.
Spices to bring out the flavors of apple butter alternatives
To bring out the apple butter’s flavors, adding some extra spices like cinnamon or nutmeg can give your dish an unexpected depth and complexity. Try experimenting with different amounts of herbs to see what kind of flavor combination you can create. Here are the spices you can use along with other ingredients:
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Allspice
- Clove
- Cardamom
- Ginger
- Cane sugar
- Date sugar
- Maple Syrup
Is there a substitute for Apple Butter?
Yes, there are several substitutes for apple butter that you can use in baking and cooking. These include pumpkin puree, cinnamon applesauce, plain applesauce, buttermilk, pear butter, apricot jam, and butter. You can also add spices like cinnamon or nutmeg to enhance the flavors of these alternatives. Each of these substitutes can bring a unique flavor to your dish, so try them out and see which one works best for you. Happy baking!
Can you substitute apple sauce for apple butter?
Yes, you can substitute apple sauce for apple butter in many recipes. Infact, applesauce is the nearest substitute to apple butter.
If you have applesauce, you can ake your own apple butter if you have time on hand.
Apple sauce will provide moisture and sweetness to the recipe, but it won’t have that intense flavor of apple butter.
You may need to adjust the other ingredients accordingly while baking, as apple sauce, has less moisture than apple butter. To enhance the flavors, you can add spices like cinnamon or nutmeg to your recipe.
Can I use apple jam instead of apple butter?
Yes, some recipes use apple jam as a substitute for apple butter. Apple jam is made from pureed apples and tastes sweeter than apple butter. The texture of your dish might change slightly when using apple jam instead of apple butter, so you may need to adjust the other ingredients accordingly.
What is the difference between applesauce and apple butter?
The main difference between applesauce and apple butter is in the texture. Applesauce has a smoother surface than apple butter, which has a more intense flavor due to the sugar added during cooking.
Also, applesauce does not have any spices added, unlike apple butter which often includes cinnamon or nutmeg for extra flavor.
Finally, applesauce is typically used in baking as a substitute for oil or butter, while apple butter can be eaten as it is or used in recipes like muffins, cakes, pies, and pancakes. So depending on your needs and preferences, you can choose the right one from these two options.
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I used apricot jam instead of apple butter
I had my heart set on baking apple turnovers for a family barbecue, but apple butter was nowhere to be found when I got to the grocery store. So, being short on time, I grabbed some apricot jam and decided to use that as a substitute instead.
To my surprise, the turnovers turned out fantastic. I added a little cinnamon powder along with the apricot jam. Cinnamon gave that warm and pleasant flavor to the filling.
Everyone loved them and asked for seconds! I learned on that day that apple butter isn’t always essential for cooking something delicious.
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