June 19, 2019

Top 5 Dairy Free Butter Substitutes

Last Updated on June 19, 2019 by Annie

There are many choices out there when it comes to picking a butter substitute. I have tried apple sauce, vegan butter, and everything in between, seriously I’ve even tried sweet potato… Here are my top 5 dairy free butter substitutes and their uses.

1. Bananas

*Bananas are without a doubt my favorite butter substitute.*

If you’re familiar with my recipes, it is no secret how much I love to use bananas as a butter substitute. There are many reasons for this swap. It is typically a 1:1 conversion which makes figuring out how much banana to replace the butter in a recipe a snap. Also, I typically have bananas on hand. But the biggest reason I use bananas is simply cost. At ~50 cents per pound, bananas are by far the most cost effective way to replace butter. They do not, unfortunately, work in every situation, hence the rest of the list…

2. Canola Oil/ Vegetable Oil

*Canola oil is the butter replacement in these delicious flour tortillas.*

When it comes to savory dishes, putting bananas in just doesn’t quite do it. Often, I replace butter with canola or vegetable oil in breads and tortillas. I have also used canola oil to supplement my use of bananas in cakes to help the cake stay moist longer. You can also use oil as a butter replacement when you are cooking on the stove (for example, to cook onions and garlic).

3. Coconut Oil

*Coconut oil helps these delicious brownies get their moisture and wonderful flavor.*

Another great butter replacement is coconut oil, which I tend to use when replacing butter in desserts (sometimes in conjunction with bananas). I have used it to replace butter in pancakes, brownies, and most recently in a banana bread (recipe coming soon). Coconut oil adds the moisture and fat you can get from butter but also brings a refreshing (but mild) flavor to the table. Adding it to my brownie recipe introduced a subtle hint of coconut that plays well with the chocolate and banana without being overpowering. If you are not a fan of coconut or have a tree nut allergy I would suggest sticking with the previously mentioned canola or vegetable oils as they perform similarly. But if the surprising flavor of coconut appeals to you, then go forth and enjoy!

4. Unsweetened Apple Sauce

*Unsweetened apple sauce helps make cakes moist without any additional flavors.*

To date, I have only used unsweetened apple sauce as a butter replacement in a no sugar added banana cake (recipe coming soon), but it turned out wonderfully and you can be sure I’ll work with it more in the future. Generally speaking, it works great in cakes and breads. Something I appreciate about unsweetened apple sauce is its ability to provide moisture to the dish without introducing its own flavor. Another added bonus, it’s very cost efficient.

5. Vegan Butter

*There’s not much better than a flaky pie crust with butter cut right in.*

While I prefer to substitute with things other than butters, there are just some recipes that are better when they are made with butter. I have tried various brands of vegan butter and have found they do not all work the same. Some of the varieties I have used are:
I Can’ Believe It’s Not Butter, vegan
Earth Balance
Country Crock Plant Butter with Olive Oil

I have noticed that these butters are softer than traditional butter. For this reason, when you are using it in a pie crust or biscuit I would recommend freezing and grating it into the mixture. But the number one way I use vegan butter as a butter replacement is simply spreading it on to a good piece of bread.

This is by no means a comprehensive list of things you can use in place of butter, but I hope it has given you an idea of some ways you can replace butter in your own cooking. If you have a replacement you enjoy feel free to comment below with what you use and how!!