The Best Apples for Applesauce—Whether You Like It Sweet or Tart

We cut through all of those delicious apple varieties to get to the cream of the crop.

Applesauce is a fall and winter cooking classic—and the perfect way to make use of your apple-picking or farmer's market bounty. But while you can always toss in a random array of apple varieties, you may want to be a little choosy, and opt for the best apples for applesauce. Hint: They aren't always the same ones you'd use for apple pie.

50 Easy Apple Recipes for Fall or Any Occasion

But with literally thousands of varieties out there, it can be hard to determine which one will work best for your favorite apple recipes. Learn how to choose the best applesauce apples, and how best to deploy them to enjoy all that applesauce goodness.

What Makes a Good Applesauce Apple?

While apple pie apple varieties tend to be firmer so the apple slices retain their shape and their "bite," a good applesauce apple should be on the softer, mushier side, so it more easily incorporates into the rest of the sauce. (That is, of course, unless you're into a chunkier texture, like a chutney, for your applesauce. In which case, go ahead and opt for some great apple pie apples!)

You'll also want to consider how sweet you want your applesauce to be. Some apples are sweeter than others, and you might want to lean more heavily toward sweet or tart, depending on your taste preference, how you plan to eat it, and how much sugar, maple syrup, or honey you want to add to your mix.

Good apples for applesauce tend to be the more flavorful varieties. If your apples aren't especially juicy or full of flavor, they'll result in a blander applesauce that may need more spices or other add-ins to give it some flavor.

Pro tip: When you're cooking applesauce, don't stick with a single apple variety, as a mix of apples will give you a more complex and and enjoyable applesauce flavor.

Best Sweet Apples for Applesauce

If you like your applesauce on the sweeter side, choose sweet apples—you may even be able to cut down (or cut out) other sweeteners if you use only sweet apples in your sauce.

Fuji

This Japanese apple variety is among the sweetest varieties, so put the sugar away if you use it in your sauce—you'll likely be able to use it au naturel.

Gala

Regularly topping the list of applesauce apple varieties, Gala apples have a sweet flavor and are easy to cook down for sauce.

Golden Delicious

This classic apple, also a favorite for apple pies, has a nice mild sweetness that is perfect for sauce.

Best Sweet-Tart Apples for Applesauce

Want a happy medium between sweet and tart? These apple varieties will suit your applesauce just fine.

Crispin

Crispin apples (also known as Mutsu apples) are a perfect combo of sweet and tart.

Honeycrisp

The name says it all—Honeycrips is a crisp, flavorful apple variety with a touch of honey sweetness, perfect for use in your applesauce.

Pink Lady

These sweet-tart apples have a pretty pink skin that will soften enough when cooking to be blended into your applesauce.

Cortland

Cortland apples are an heirloom apple variety that's a good all-purpose apple, whether you're looking to snack on it or make it into applesauce. The flavor has a subtle sweetness with a touch of tart.

Best Tart Apples for Applesauce

If you want a tarter applesauce, opt for these varieties (or mix in a few to help balance out the sweetness of other apples).

Braeburn

This distinctive heirloom apple is on the tarter end of the flavor scale, with a red and orange skin. It's great for sauces.

Granny Smith

Granny Smith apples are one of the tartest apples around. They are often considered one of the best apple pie apples, thanks to their firmness.

Ida Red

Ida red's are on the sweeter side of the tart spectrum. Their rosy pink flesh could help you make a pretty pink sauce.

McIntosh

On the tarter end of the sweet-tart spectrum, this classic apple softens beautifully for applesauce.

Ways to Use Applesauce in Your Cooking

Applesauce is delicious on its own, but can also be used to enhance other recipes or dishes. Some of our favorite ways to use applesauce:

As a breakfast topping

Want to shake up your pancake, French toast, or waffle game? Swap out the maple syrup for a big dollop of applesauce. (Warm up the applesauce for the best experience.)

Related: How to Make Pancakes from Scratch—Plus Other Quick Pancake Recipes

As a baking substitute

Applesauce has been an time-honored baking substitute, especially for people looking for vegan or lighter alternatives in their baking. You can use a quarter cup of applesauce and a half teaspoon of baking powder to substitute for an egg in baking, or swap out butter or oil for applesauce—a half cup of applesauce for every half cup of butter or oil.

As a savory side dish

Use tart apples, skip any additional sweeteners, and perhaps, opt to work in some caramelized onions, and voila! You have a fabulous side dish that goes wonderfully with pork tenderloin or chops, sausages, and potato pancakes.

Related: 15 Recipes For Pork Tenderloin That Are Juicy and Delicious

Applesauce Recipes to Try

The hardest part of making applesauce is prepping the apples. (You need to wash, peel, core, and chop them.) After that, it's a matter of simmering with liquid (apple cider is best, but water or apple juice also works) and any add-ons you'd like, whether it's a touch of vanilla extract or a few cinnamon sticks.

When the apples have softened, you can use an immersion blender or a food mill to give it a silky smooth consistency, or opt for a hand masher for a chunkier texture.

Double Cranberry and Apple Sauce

This chunky, sweet-tart sauce is miles above the canned options out there for Thanksgiving. Maple syrup helps bring a touch of extra sweetness, alongside sweet red Gala or Honeycrisp apples.

This Homemade Cranberry Sauce Puts Canned Cranberry Sauce to Shame

Slow-Cooker Apple and Pear Sauce

The slow cooker's low-and-slow heat produces a tasty sauce with your favorite pear and apple varieties. If you don't like your sauce too sweet, opt for a tarter apple like Granny Smith to offset some of that pear sweetness.

Slow Cooker Apple-and-Pear Sauce

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