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THE BEST THING ABOUT apple sauce is that it can be used to replace ingredients that would normally up the sugar or fat in your recipe. For cookies, muffins and cakes you can replace up to half the fat with apple sauce, to give a light texture as well as reducing added sugar and calories. It also makes a great base for dairy-free smoothies: whiz it up with fruit or veg, adding a little water if too thick. Add a spoonful to perk up porridge, freeze to make a refreshing sorbet, or stir through whisked egg white for a low-fat apple mousse (delicious with cinnamon). Use it as a glaze in savoury dishes – brush over pork steaks or oily fish before grilling – or make a tasty mash by mixing it with cooked celeriac or parsnip.
Buy it in a jar (check the label for added sugar), opt for a ready-made, organic unsweetened purée or make your own – it freezes well, so you can make a bulk batch.