Need to substitute butter to make a plant-based recipe? Here is the best vegan butter substitute for baking and cooking!
Looking for a vegan butter substitute? There are many opportunities! We have been making vegan recipes here for over a decade and therefore have a lot of experience with substitutes. You can make vegan pie crusts, cookies, biscuits, cakes and more: all with the help of a few simple substitutions. Here is the best vegan butter substitute for baking and cooking!
Best vegan butter substitute
1. Coconut Oil (boiling and cooking).
The Best Vegan Butter Substitute? Refined coconut oil! Use equal parts coconut oil to replace the butter. Coconut oil is an oil extracted from the flesh of coconuts. Because it is solid at room temperature, its properties are similar to butter. But keep a few things in mind:
- Use refined coconut oil. This type of coconut oil has a neutral taste. It can still add a subtle coconut flavor, but it’s almost imperceptible. Unrefined or virgin coconut oil has a strong coconut flavor. See refined vs. unrefined coconut oil.
- Coconut oil makes cookies denser and softer than butter. Butter makes cookies crispier.
- Add a little salt. Standard (salted) butter contains salt. If you’re using coconut oil as a vegan butter substitute, you can add some salt to mimic the salty taste of butter.
2. Vegan Butter (Cooking and Cooking).
Another vegan butter substitute? Vegan butter! Plant-based butter is easy to find at your local grocery store. Vegan butter can have a texture and flavor somewhat closer to butter. The exact texture and taste depends on the brand and its composition. When shopping for vegan butter, check the ingredient lists and find one that’s minimally processed with real food ingredients.
3. Olive oil (raw).
Olive oil works well as a vegan 1-to-1 butter substitute. Avoid using olive oil in baked goods as the flavor can be strong. But it works well in savory recipes like stir-fries and soups!
3. Neutral oil, such as grapeseed oil or sunflower oil (all purpose).
Neutral oils are an excellent choice as a 1:1 substitute for butter. It works well in things like banana bread, muffins, and pancakes. Oil gives a slightly softer texture than butter. Again, as with coconut oil, you can also add a little salt to mimic the natural saltiness of butter.
Here are some of our favorite butter recipes:
