Finding the best applesauces of the bunch
A great applesauce tastes bright, tart and sweet, like the ultra-fresh apples it was made from. Unfortunately, some commercial applesauces don’t taste anything like that.
Fresh apples cooked into a spoonable sauce is a simple, delicious pleasure. It’s bright, sweet, tart and fresh — and so concentrated in apple goodness that it borders on dessert.
Applesauce is great served straight up, but it’s also a perfect kick-start for oatmeal, yogurt or pancakes; a tasty side with pork chops, chicken or crispy potatoes; and a great topping for ice cream. It’s also magic in the baking realm — it can be swapped for butter in many baked goods.
Making applesauce at home is simple and nearly foolproof, but few people have both the time and access to affordable apples to make it worthwhile. Thankfully, commercial applesauce options are everywhere. Some are plain, but the growing selection of flavored applesauces grabbed our attention. Curious, we gathered a selection of flavored sauces in cups and jars to taste.
The best offer a thick, concentrated bite of fresh apple with something extra. Whether it’s cinnamon, berries or another fruit, these sauces have a bold fruit-pielike flavor that’s juicy, flavorful and delicious. The worst are watery, sugary or simply off-putting.
Here’s the scoop on the best — and the ones that tasted like dirt. Nutrition details refer to a ½-cup serving.
Natural Nectar Brittany Apple Cinnamon Sauce
This dense, tart sauce tastes like the filling in a homemade apple pie. It’s dark in color, minimally sweet — thanks to no added sugar — and has a bold punch of cinnamon. 60 calories, 12 g sugar. $6.49 for 22 ounces at Whole Foods.
Sunny Select Cinnamon Applesauce
The concentrated flavor of dried apple with a minimal hit of cinnamon makes this a flavor-packed bite. It’s a bit too sweet due to highfructose sugar, but delicious nonetheless. 80 calories, 16 g sugar. $1.98 for six 4-ounce cups at Lucky.
Raley’s Strawberry Applesauce
Fresh strawberry and apple flavors shine in this tasty sauce. A touch less sugar would make it perfect. 90 calories, 19 g sugar. $1.98 for six 4-ounce cups.
365 Pumpkin Spice Apple Sauce
Gritty texture and a bitter note, due to too much cinnamon, are serious errors, but the pumpkin and apple flavors are well balanced.