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Unsalted Butter Substitutes for Baking & Cooking

7 Best Substitutes for Unsalted Butter

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Running out of butter mid-recipe isn't uncommon. Choose your substitute based on whether you're baking or cooking. This guide helps you select and use the best alternative for your dish.
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Prep Time 7 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 13 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Substitutes
Cuisine: General
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Salted Butter Use 1:1 ratio and reduce added salt by half to compensate for saltiness.
  • 1 cup Margarine Use 1:1 substitution for baking and stovetop cooking with milder flavor.
  • ¾ cup Coconut Oil Use ¾ cup per 1 cup butter; adds slight coconut note; use refined for less flavor.
  • ¾ cup Olive Oil Use ¾ cup per 1 cup butter; best for cooking only due to fruity, peppery flavor.
  • 1 cup Vegetable Shortening Use 1:1 ratio; neutral flavor; best for flaky pastry and pie crusts.
  • ½ cup Greek Yogurt Use with ¼ cup oil per 1 cup butter; keeps baked goods moist and tangy.
  • ½ cup Applesauce Use ½ cup per 1 cup butter; works only in baking where denser texture is okay.

Method
 

  1. Choose your substitute based on cooking or baking needs to achieve best results.
  2. Prepare substitutes as needed: blend Greek yogurt with oil; use refined coconut oil to lower coconut flavor if desired.
  3. Measure substitutes according to specified ratios: salted butter and margarine 1:1, coconut oil and olive oil ¾ cup per cup butter, etc.
  4. Adjust recipe salt when using salted butter to avoid overly salty results.
  5. For baking, prefer substitutes that provide fat and structure like margarine, coconut oil, or shortening.
  6. For stovetop cooking and roasting, salted butter or olive oil are suitable alternatives.
  7. Taste-test or check consistency after substitution and adjust seasoning or moisture as needed.

Notes

Reduce salt slowly when using salted butter to avoid overly salty results.

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