There are plenty of options if you don’t want to use butter! Here are the best substitutes for butter in savory recipes and baked goods like cookies.
Looking for a butter substitute? Maybe you’re out of butter or want to make a plant-based or vegan recipe? Either way: We will help you! Keep in mind that the best substitute depends on the type of recipe you’re making. Baked recipes are different from cooking with butter.
Best butter substitute
1. Coconut Oil (best for cooking).
A good substitute for butter in baking is an equal amount of coconut oil! Coconut oil is an oil extracted from the flesh of coconuts. It is used as a substitute for butter in cooking, especially in vegan baking. Since coconut oil is solid even at room temperature, the properties are similar. However, keep in mind that the taste and texture of coconut oil is slightly different compared to butter.
- butter offers a richer, tastier flavor than coconut oil. It also imparts a softer, chewy texture to baked goods like cookies.
- coconut oil can sometimes impart a slight coconut flavor. This makes cookies slightly denser than butter. Refined coconut oil has a more neutral flavor than unrefined coconut oil, so it would affect the flavor less. You can also add a little salt to mimic the natural saltiness of butter.
2. Olive oil (uncooked).
Olive oil works well as a 1:1 substitute for butter. We do not recommend using olive oil in baked goods as the flavor can be strong. But it works well in savory recipes like soups and stir-fries.
3. Neutral oil, such as grapeseed oil or sunflower oil.
Neutral oils are an excellent choice as a 1:1 substitute for butter. It works well for things like quick breads and muffins. You can also add a little salt to mimic the natural saltiness of butter.
Related Recipes
Here are some of our favorite butter recipes:
