Hi, Ellen! Thanks for the question. I've never tried this substitution, but I'm guessing it would be absolutely delicious! If I were going to try this, I would substitute about half the amount of applesauce for apples, so 1 cup. This way, you're not adding a lot more liquid to the party. You can always stir some more in later if it seems like it needs it -- and/or add a little more at the end if the applesauce breaks down too much during cooking. I hope this helps -- and works! Let me know what you try and how it turns out. Thanks, again, Ellen. Enjoy! Cara 🙂

I hope everyone enjoys it -- and your time together during the holidays! I'm so happy to share this with you and your family :).