Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US) rubbish! piffle! an excl. of horror.

1884		R.C. Hartranft Journal of Solomon Sidesplitter 161: ‘Airthquakes and apple-sarce!’ exclaimed the school-mistress, as she fainted.
1889		P. Cox Frontier Humor 448: Applesass and spinage!
1922		Appleton Post-Crescent (WI) 28 Apr. 17/4: Flapper Dictionary apple sauce – No good, awful.
1928		R. Carr Rampant Age 118: Applesauce! Snap out of it, Paul.
1934		J.H. O’Hara Appointment in Samarra (1935) 45: ‘I just didn’t want to spoil your evening, that’s all.’ ‘Applesauce,’ said Irma.
1942		E. Ferber ‘Grandma Isn’t Playing’ in One Basket (1947) 546: A curious grocer’s list vocabulary of rejection: ‘Nuts!’ ‘Applesauce!’.
1955		Mad mag. Aug.–Sept. 54: Applesauce – expression of disbelief.
1963		F. Kohner Affairs of Gidget 25: ‘Take the bike.’ ‘Applesauce,’ said Mimsy. ‘Take the bus.’.
1972		(con. 1916) G. Swarthout Tin Lizzie Troop (1978) 191: Personal basis? Applesauce.