The Best Substitute For Butter In Cooking

SomethingSwanky is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.

Looking for a substitute for butter? Check out this list of 12 substitutes for butter in cooking! From olive oil to mashed bananas, there’s sure to be a substitution that will work for your recipe.

Whether you’re vegan or have an allergy to dairy, there are plenty of options available. So get the perfect substitute for butter and start cooking!

Butter is a popular spread or baking ingredient, but some people avoid it because they think it’s unhealthy.

You can still enjoy your favorite foods without butter. Butter alternatives can be made from a variety of components, and this article explains how.

Why You Might Need A Butter Substitute

There are several reasons you might need to substitute butter in your diet.

Milk Allergy

Butter is low in protein but contains small amounts of milk protein casein which can make it allergenic.

It is important to avoid butter if you have a milk allergy. If your allergy is severe, you may have to stop eating butter altogether.

Lactose Intolerance

People with lactose intolerance can tolerate small amounts of butter lactose without any adverse reactions. 

Some people are more sensitive than others to lactose and may need to avoid butter.

Health Reasons

Butter is high in saturated fat, so some people avoid it. Although evidence is mixed, it has been shown that high intakes of saturated fat have been linked to an increased risk of developing heart disease.

According to some studies, butter’s saturated fats may raise cholesterol more than other dairy products like cream.

Butter is high in fat and high in calories. You might want to reduce your calorie intake by cutting back on butter.

Some people choose to limit their butter intake due to the high amount of calories per portion.

Substitute for Butter

There are many ingredients you can substitute for butter.

You don’t have to long for a particular recipe and wish you could make it. Instead, you can use one of our suggestions!

We have compiled a list of butter substitutes that taste great, and have the same effect as butter. We hope you’ll find a new favorite substitute.

1. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a great alternative to butter in baking. Coconut oil has a unique taste.

Coconut oil will be a great addition to your cooking if you like the flavor of coconut. Coconut oil may not be the best choice for you if you don’t like coconut.

Coconut oil can be used in baking at a 1:1 ratio.

Coconut oil behaves differently from butter and doesn’t provide the same soft texture. It also melts faster.

You might notice that baked goods have a greater crunch, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. The consistency of muffins will be the same. It also contains more saturated fat than butter.

2. Mashed Bananas

Mashed bananas are great for anyone looking to lose weight or find a healthier option to butter. You can eat fruit without feeling like you’re eating it. Click To Tweet

Bananas are a good choice because of their thick consistency. They can make your baked goods taste like bananas, but that isn’t always a bad thing.

Mashed bananas should be added slowly to your mixture. Because they are sweet, you can use less sugar overall.

3. Avocado

Avocado might not be the first ingredient you think of when you think about a butter substitute. It can be a great option.

Avocado is a naturally creamy and butter-like ingredient. Avocado is full of healthy fats, nutrients, and other great benefits.

You should only use avocado when it is ripe. Avocado can be very hard if it isn’t ripe. You can use it in a 1:1 ratio. However, because avocados cook quickly, baked goods should be cooked at a lower temperature for a longer time.

Avocado will give food a green tint due to its color. This can be off-putting for some people. However, you can use food coloring to counteract this.

4. Olive Oil

Olive oil is another great alternative to butter, especially since it is something you likely already have in your kitchen.

Olive oil is also quite affordable to buy.

Olive oil can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. However, because olive oil is a liquid, it may not be the best choice if you need a butter replacement that will be creamed.

You can use other butter alternatives to make frosting, for example.

If the butter in the recipe needs to be melted, this is an excellent option. It has a strong flavor so it might not suit everyone’s taste. It is delicious in savory dishes.

5. Hummus

Hummus is made with ground chickpeas. It is a popular food for vegetarians and vegans.

It has a thick consistency that can be compared to butter. It can be substituted for butter, but the flavor may not appeal at all.

Hummus is a healthier option for bread. It is a mild flavor that can be used in sandwiches to add a creamy texture and texture.

Although hummus is not the best choice for sweet recipes, you can use it if your savory recipe calls to butter.

6. Applesauce

Applesauce is an excellent ingredient to keep because it can be used in many recipes. It is not a butter substitute but it can be used to add sweetness to baked goods and it doesn’t have to be as sweet as butter.

It is a thick product that can be used as a substitute for meat, but it is very moist so you need to be careful.

It is much lower in saturated fat than substitutes such as margarine and coconut oil and is great for those who are trying to eat less fat.

7. Greek or Natural Yogurt

For many recipes, Greek yogurt or natural yogurt are great alternatives to butter. A full-fat yogurt should be thick and creamy. Yogurt can be used to make baked goods richer and more flavorful, even though it is quite plain in flavor.

You should use a ratio of 1:1. Greek yogurt is better than natural yogurt because it doesn’t contain as much moisture. This will prevent your baked goods from becoming too moist.

Natural yogurts and Greek yogurts may not be the best choice if you have dairy allergies or intolerances.

8. Pumpkin Puree

Pumpkin puree can be used as a butter substitute, which you may not have considered. However, it is a great alternative to butter.

Pumpkin puree is thick and full of nutrients. It is a healthy alternative to regular pumpkin puree.

Pumpkin puree can be used to replace butter in recipes. The ratio is 1:1.

It can be used in many dishes. You can have a naturally sweet taste without adding too much sugar.

Pumpkin puree is very moist. This means that you need to take care when using pumpkin puree. You can make the consistency of the recipe inconsistent by adding too much.

9. Vegan Spread

You can find butter alternatives to butter that you can use on bread or as a spread. There are many options. Some options taste like butter, while others are not butter-like. Others have a similar consistency.

Spreads made from vegan ingredients include sunflower oil and olive oil. They are delicious and creamy and suitable for vegans as well as those who can’t eat butter.

Although vegan spreads can still have high-fat content, they are generally healthier than butter.

10. Mayonnaise

You may find this a strange substitute, but it works in certain recipes!

Mayonnaise is creamy and great for making mashed potatoes and scrambled eggs.

Although it doesn’t work well with sweet recipes, it can be used in recipes that require some butter to add creaminess. It is not vegan.

11. Margarine

Margarine is not recommended by everyone. This is due to the high levels of trans fats in it.

Many margarine types are healthier and contain less trans fats. Although there are healthier alternatives, margarine is still a very unhealthy substitute.

It can be used if you’re stuck and cannot find other replacements. It has a higher water content which can affect the consistency of your baked goods.

12. Nut Butter

If you don’t have a nut allergy, peanut butter and almond butter can be substituted for butter.

Peanut butter has a similar consistency to butter and can be used to enhance your recipes. Peanut butter is a great alternative to butter.

Peanut butter can be quite fattening, but it’s full of goodness. These are great alternatives to melted butter in recipes.

We recommend using the same amount of nut oil in the recipe as butter.

A Smooth Conclusion

We hope you found this article helpful. There are many butter options to choose from, as you can see. Although you may be familiar with some of the substitutes on this list, you might not have considered others.

When using a substitute for butter, it is important to remember that they are different from butter. They will cook differently, even though they look similar and have the same consistency. It is important to slowly add the ingredients and to watch your bakes as you cook. Click To Tweet

It is always best to experiment with new ingredients before you make a decision. However, the more confident that you are with butter substitutes, the easier it is to cook.