I'll confess to liking applesauce just the way it is. The almost-bland sweet-tartness is like baby food, inviting you to scoop it up by the spoonful and eat it plain.
Wait. Did I just gross you out? If you have no love for plain applesauce, don't give up on it as a topping for latkes, a partner for seared pork chops, or even layered with Greek yogurt for a breakfast parfait. Instead, use one of these simple tweaks to transform that innocent apple flavor into something way more deliciously adult. Each of these strategies will upgrade one cup of unsweetened "natural" applesauce:
Brown Butter
To transform applesauce into something almost luxurious, heat a tablespoon of unsalted butter in a small saucepan or skillet, stirring occasionally, until it smells toasty and turns golden brown. Then whisk that browned butter—and a generous pinch of sea salt—into your apple sauce. You might even start spooning this stuff on your pancakes in the morning.
Toasted Spice
Sure, you could simply buy the cinnamon-flavored applesauce. But unless those applesauce-makers are toasting their own fresh spices before stirring them into each batch, the flavor won't compare to a spice-infused applesauce made right in your kitchen. Start by toasting a half-teaspoon of your favorite ground baking spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, allspice) in a small skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant. Transfer to a small bowl to stop the cooking, then stir in a pinch or two of the spice into your applesauce, adding more to taste.
Maple-Cider
For an extra dose of fall sweetness, a drizzle of pure maple syrup is just the thing. You can even go sweet-and-tangy with a quickly simmered combo of a couple teaspoons of pure maple syrup and a splash of apple cider vinegar. This concoction is especially good alongside freshly-seared pork chops or a nice slab of ham.
But, hey, don't let this stop you from making your own:
