5 Dairy Free Butter Substitutes for Cooking and Baking

Last Updated on August 26, 2026 by Annie

There are many choices out there when it comes to picking a butter substitute. Wether you simply ran out of butter at home and are looking for a pantry staple swap or you are looking for a non dairy option for butter this list has got you covered.

What can I substitute for butter?

After over 7 years of dairy free baking I can honestly say I have tried just about everything as a butter substitute.

My favorite ingredients to use in place of butter for cooking and baking include, banana, canola oil, coconut oil, unsweetened apple sauce, and vegan butter.

1. Bananas as a butter substitute

I have enjoyed using banana for a butter substitute since the start of this blog for a number of reasons. Typically I already have a bunch on hand (or in the freezer), they add a natural sweetness which allows me to decrease the processed sugar in recipes, and they are super cost effective.

To replace butter with banana you have a 1:1 swap meaning 1 cup of mashed banana can replace 1 cup of butter in recipes.

I have swapped the butter for bananas in cinnamon banana bread, lemon bundt cake, and oatmeal pancakes.

You can also supplement the mashed banana with oil to help keep the baked good moist. I use a banana and oil combination in chocolate banana bread and baked oatmeal bars.

While banana makes a great substitute for butter in baking, I would not recommend it for cooking which leads us to the second best substitute for butter, vegetable oil.

2. Vegetable Oil as a butter substitute

When it comes to savory dishes, putting bananas in just doesn’t quite do it, unless of course you are slapping it on some banana toast.

My go-to vegetable oils include olive oil, canola oil, or a plain vegetable oil.

In cooking I would use one of these oils as a replacement for butter in a 1:1 ratio. My go-to oil for cooking is olive oil. So when a recipe says to use 1 Tablespoon of melted butter to cook with I would simply use 1 Tablespoon of olive oil.

With oil as a butter substitute in baking I like to use canola oil or vegetable oil. Usually when baking the general consensus is to decrease the amount of oil used to replace butter. A recipe that calls for 1 cup of butter could be made with 3/4 cup of oil.

Some recipes I have replaced butter with oil include homemade tortillas and pumpkin chocolate chip muffins.

3. Coconut Oil as a butter substitute

My second favorite butter substitute for baked goods is easily coconut oil. Just like with vegetable oils, I would use a 3/4 cup replacement for every 1 cup of butter called for by the recipe.

Coconut oil adds the moisture and fat you 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.

My husband also swears that my coconut oil chocolate chip cookie is hands down his favorite chocolate chip cookie I make, which really feels like it is saying something since I have about a dozen different chocolate chip cookie recipes on the site.

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 as a butter substitute

To date, I have only used unsweetened apple sauce as a butter replacement in a no sugar added banana cake. but it turned out wonderfully and you can be sure I’ll work with it more in the future. Generally speaking, it works great as a butter substitute in cakes and breads because it will yield a more dense texture.

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 and is something you can keep on hand in the pantry.

The general rule of thumb is a 1:1 conversion with butter to applesauce.

5. Vegan Butter in place of traditional butter

If you are looking for a butter substitute that acts just like traditional butter there are a number of vegan butters on the market that work well. I like to use vegan butter in pie crust, cookies, and creamy sauces.

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 or letting the dough chill in the refrigerator before baking.

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!!

If you would like to look into other butter substitutes I recommend looking at this article: 10 Substitutes for Butter in Baking from Delishably.