For applesauce, the tablespoon-to-grams conversion is 15.9 g per tablespoon. One cup weighs 255 g, so the calculation is 255 ÷ 16 = 15.9 g, and one teaspoon, a third of a tablespoon, is 5.3 g. Those three numbers cover almost every recipe that lists applesauce by the spoon.
All figures on this page are approximate, taken from King Arthur Baking and measured spooned and levelled. Use the tables below for the exact amount you need, and check with a kitchen scale when the result has to be right.
About Applesauce
Cooked, pureed apples; unsweetened is best for baking. Baking as a fat or egg replacer, and as a side dish. That is why it shows up in recipes measured by the tablespoon: it is used in amounts too small for a cup measure to be practical, yet large enough that guessing the weight can throw a dish off. Knowing that one tablespoon weighs 15.9 g lets you move between the spoon and the scale without stopping to work it out.
Storage. Refrigerate after opening; use within 1 week.
Tablespoon to grams table
| Tablespoons | Grams |
|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon | 5.3 g |
| 1 tablespoon | 15.9 g |
| 2 tablespoons | 31.9 g |
| 3 tablespoons | 47.8 g |
| 4 tablespoons | 63.8 g |
| 5 tablespoons | 79.7 g |
| 6 tablespoons | 95.6 g |
| 7 tablespoons | 111.6 g |
| 8 tablespoons | 127.5 g |
| 9 tablespoons | 143.4 g |
| 10 tablespoons | 159.4 g |
| 11 tablespoons | 175.3 g |
| 12 tablespoons | 191.2 g |
| 13 tablespoons | 207.2 g |
| 14 tablespoons | 223.1 g |
| 15 tablespoons | 239.1 g |
| 16 tablespoons | 255 g |
One tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup, so every figure above is the cup weight of 255 g divided by 16 and rounded to one decimal place. Sixteen tablespoons make one cup, which is why the last row of the table matches the cup weight exactly. All figures are approximate; verify with a kitchen scale when it matters.
Cups to grams for reference
Most recipes switch between cups and tablespoons, so here is the same ingredient measured in cups. Use this table when a recipe gives a cup amount and you want to weigh it, or when you have already measured in tablespoons and want to check the total.
| Cups | Tablespoons | Grams |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 cup | 4 tablespoons | 63.8 g |
| 1/3 cup | 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon | 85 g |
| 1/2 cup | 8 tablespoons | 127.5 g |
| 2/3 cup | 10 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons | 170 g |
| 3/4 cup | 12 tablespoons | 191.2 g |
| 1 cup | 16 tablespoons | 255 g |
| 1 1/2 cups | 24 tablespoons | 382.5 g |
| 2 cups | 32 tablespoons | 510 g |
Worked examples
A bowl of morning oatmeal
A bowl of oatmeal for one person takes 2 tablespoons of applesauce, about 31.9 g, stirred in while the oats are still hot. Two tablespoons sweetens the bowl and adds texture without needing extra sugar. Add the fruit at the end of cooking so it softens slightly but keeps its shape, rather than boiling it into the porridge.
A trail mix for a walk
A bag of trail mix for two people uses 6 tablespoons of applesauce, 95.6 g, mixed with nuts and seeds. Six tablespoons across a whole bag gives a piece of fruit in most handfuls, which is the point of trail mix: a little sweetness alongside the savoury nuts. Keep the mix in a sealed bag or jar, because dried fruit picks up moisture from the air and turns sticky.
A fruit loaf or a tea bread
A fruit loaf for a family uses 8 tablespoons of applesauce, about 127.5 g, soaked first and then folded into the dough. Eight tablespoons makes the loaf properly fruity rather than sparsely dotted. Soak the fruit in hot water or tea for twenty minutes before baking, which plumps it up and stops it from drawing moisture out of the loaf while it bakes.
How the figure is measured
Applesauce is measured spooned and levelled: spoon it loosely into the tablespoon, then sweep the top flat with the back of a knife. Do not scoop directly from the bag or jar, because scooping packs the ingredient down and a scooped spoon can weigh far more than a spooned one. The spoon-and-level method is the one the source data assumes, so it is the method that makes the numbers on this page true.
The cup weight of 255 g comes from King Arthur Baking. The tablespoon figure is that cup weight divided by 16, rounded to one decimal place, which is why the table is consistent from one row to the next. All results are approximate: brand, grind, humidity and temperature all move the real weight a little, so when a recipe has to work the first time, weigh the ingredient on a kitchen scale and use these numbers as a guide.
When you do not have a scale
Not every kitchen has a scale, and a tablespoon measure is a perfectly good tool for small amounts of applesauce. The key is technique: fill the spoon the way the source data assumes, which for applesauce is spooned and levelled. A level spoon is the standard, and a heaped spoon is a different measurement altogether, so level the top with a straight edge and do not guess.
For amounts larger than a few tablespoons, a cup measure is more reliable than counting spoons, because each spoonful adds a little error and the errors add up. One cup of applesauce is 255 g, which is 16 tablespoons, so if a recipe calls for a cup, use the cup measure rather than counting sixteen spoonfuls. And when a recipe has to work the first time, borrow or buy a scale: it costs less than a single failed bake, and it removes the biggest source of variation in home cooking, which is the way ingredients pack into a spoon or a cup.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams is a tablespoon of applesauce?
One tablespoon of applesauce weighs 15.9 g, approximately. The figure comes from dividing the cup weight of 255 g by 16, since one tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup. One teaspoon is 5.3 g, and one cup is 255 g.
Is 15.9 g per tablespoon exact or approximate?
It is approximate. The cup weight of 255 g comes from King Arthur Baking, measured spooned and levelled, and the real weight of a tablespoon varies with brand, grind, humidity and how the spoon is filled. For most cooking the approximation is fine, and for baking or any recipe that has to work the first time, verify with a kitchen scale.
How do I measure applesauce without a scale?
Fill a measuring tablespoon spooned and levelled and level it off with a straight edge. For amounts up to a few tablespoons, that is accurate enough. For larger amounts, use a cup measure: one cup of applesauce is 255 g. Count spoonfuls only for small amounts, since the error on each spoon adds up over sixteen of them.
How much does 63.8 g of applesauce work out to in tablespoons?
That is 4 tablespoons, which weigh 63.8 g. Four tablespoons is a quarter of a cup, so it is a convenient amount to measure with a quarter-cup measure if you have one. The same arithmetic works for any amount: divide the grams by 15.9 to get tablespoons.
Does the weight change if applesauce are sticky or clumped together?
Yes, a little. Sticky pieces pack more tightly into the spoon and leave fewer air gaps, so a tablespoon of clumped fruit weighs slightly more than a tablespoon of loose pieces. Break the pieces apart before measuring, level the spoon, and treat the figure of 15.9 g as approximate.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Scooping directly from the bag, which packs the ingredient down and makes a spoonful weigh far more than a spooned one.
- Leaving the spoon heaped instead of levelling it, which adds an unpredictable extra amount every time.
- Measuring a damp or clumped ingredient without breaking it up first, which leaves air pockets and a short measure.
- Using a regular eating spoon instead of a measuring tablespoon, since eating spoons vary widely in size.
The thread running through all of these is the same: a tablespoon is only a standard measure when it is filled in the standard way. Measure applesauce spooned and levelled, level it off, and check the weight on a scale when the recipe has to be right, and the numbers on this page will serve you well.