How to Substitute Applesauce for Milk in Coffee Cake

Applesauce is commonly used as a substitute for oil to make cake recipes healthier. It can also be used as a substitute for more viscous, fattier dairy products, like sour cream. It isn't commonly used as a substitute for milk, and it is generally easier to use a non-dairy milk substitute, like soy, almond or coconut milk, instead of milk in cake recipes. There are coffee cake recipes, however, that specifically call for applesauce and do not contain milk. Using one of these recipes is a better option than trying to substitute applesauce for milk in another recipe.

Things You'll Need

• 1 2/3 cups + 2 tbsp. flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. ginger
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup + 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• Egg substitute equivalent of two eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 cup applesauce
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 tbsp. soy margarine, melted
• 1 cup walnuts, broken into pieces and toasted
• 1 large bowl
• 1 medium bowl
• 1 small bowl
• Whisk
• Spatula
• 9- by 5-inch loaf pan

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Grease and flour a 9-by-5 loaf pan.

3. Prepare egg substitute as directed on package if necessary.

4. Combine 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp. flour, cinnamon, walnuts and melted margarine in a small bowl. Stir to incorporate. This is the streusel.

5. Combine oil, 1/3 cup brown sugar, granulated sugar, egg substitute mixture and vanilla in a large bowl. Whisk until smooth.

6. Combine 1 2/3 cup flour, baking soda, baking powder, ginger and nutmeg in a bowl.

7. Sift the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, and stir to incorporate.

8. Pour half the batter into the loaf pan.

9. Top with half the streusel.

10. Pour the remaining batter into the pan.

11. Top with the remaining streusel.

12. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 20 minutes before removing the cake from the pan.

Tips & Warnings

• Use unsweetened applesauce for best results. If you must use sweetened applesauce, adjust the amount of other sweetener in the recipe to compensate.

• Replace soy margarine with butter if you are allergic to soy but can eat dairy products.

References

• Food Network Canada; Applesauce Coffee Cake; Anna Olson
• Weight Watchers: Applesauce-Sour Cream Coffee Cake
• LCBO; Chocolate Applesauce Layer Cake; Anna Olson; 2007