What is a healthy substitute for butter in recipes?

Question 1

Good day everyone here, my name is Medina and this is, I guess, my last question for today. Actually, a few hours ago I wanted to cook a second meal for tomorrow. I have many plans and I won’t have any time to cook so I decided to do it today. But I have read that I need butter for this dish and, to be honest, I don’t want to use such the amount of this productin dishes so I want to replace it with something else, but more healthy.

One point that I’m interested in is the following: what is a healthy substitute for peanut butter? I eat it even more often and think that I’ll never be able to give up this habit. As I started to lead a healthy way of life I must give up all bad habits I had before.

You know that without butter dishes are dry and untasty. So, what is a healthy substitute for butter in recipes? Any ideas? Thank you!

Question 2

Dear Medina, what are you cooking exactly? Because it depends. Butter has its healthy substitutions indeed. If we are talking about baking, here is the list. You may try some applesauce, Greek yogurt (also good for mashed potatoes), avocado, buttermilk as well as vegetable, coconut or olive oil. Pumpkin or prune puree will also go well (prune baby food is appropriate). Or a combination of applesauce and buttermilk. Some butter alternatives are really surprising but it`s worth trying when we are on our way to eat a healthier meal. Please check the proportions on the ingredient you`ll choose on the Internet and share your cooking experience. In most cases, you won`t notice the difference or it may taste even better than with butter. Good luck!

Mary Lace Staff · Answer · Published: August 16, 2018 | Modified: October 15, 2019

Dear Medina, what are you cooking exactly? Because it depends. Butter has its healthy substitutions indeed. If we are talking about baking, here is the list. You may try some applesauce, Greek yogurt (also good for mashed potatoes), avocado, buttermilk as well as vegetable, coconut or olive oil. Pumpkin or prune puree will also go well (prune baby food is appropriate). Or a combination of applesauce and buttermilk. Some butter alternatives are really surprising but it`s worth trying when we are on our way to eat a healthier meal. Please check the proportions on the ingredient you`ll choose on the Internet and share your cooking experience. In most cases, you won`t notice the difference or it may taste even better than with butter. Good luck!

Question 3

Hello Medina! Healthy substitutes for butter in baking that can be easily incorporated into recipes. It may be surprising to see beans, avocado, and applesauce as replacements, but they work! Many home bakers might think that without butter, all is lost, but that’s far from true. Depending on the type of recipe and your dietary restrictions, there are various healthier dairy and plant-based alternatives that can be used in your favorite baking recipes.

Greek yogurt is a dairy-based nutritional powerhouse that is excellent eating as is, yet even better adding to baking recipes. For every 8 ounces (1 cup) of butter, replace with 1/2 cup Greek yogurt.
Nuts are tiny but mighty in that they naturally pack protein and fat.Nuts like peanut, almond, cashew, and macadamia will add its characteristic flavor which is best for cookies, bars, cakes, brownies, muffins and quick bread.A 1:1 replacement for butter can be used.
Olive oil is a favorite fat to use because of its naturally rich taste and healthy unsaturated fat profile. For every 1 cup of butter, ¾ cup of oil should be used.

Joey Bright · Answer · Published: August 20, 2018 | Modified: October 15, 2019

Hello Medina! Healthy substitutes for butter in baking that can be easily incorporated into recipes. It may be surprising to see beans, avocado, and applesauce as replacements, but they work! Many home bakers might think that without butter, all is lost, but that’s far from true. Depending on the type of recipe and your dietary restrictions, there are various healthier dairy and plant-based alternatives that can be used in your favorite baking recipes.

Greek yogurt is a dairy-based nutritional powerhouse that is excellent eating as is, yet even better adding to baking recipes. For every 8 ounces (1 cup) of butter, replace with 1/2 cup Greek yogurt.
Nuts are tiny but mighty in that they naturally pack protein and fat.Nuts like peanut, almond, cashew, and macadamia will add its characteristic flavor which is best for cookies, bars, cakes, brownies, muffins and quick bread.A 1:1 replacement for butter can be used.
Olive oil is a favorite fat to use because of its naturally rich taste and healthy unsaturated fat profile. For every 1 cup of butter, ¾ cup of oil should be used.

Question 4

Hi, Medina!

I think that’s a good idea to substitute butter in dishes, but could you tell which dishes do you cook? There are different options.

For toasts you can use avocado puree. Nut butter is also very good here.

Olive oil is a good butter substitution for pasta sauce and mashed potatoes.

As for baking, greek yoghurt is a perfect option. You can also use applesauce for sweet baking recipes.

All of these substitutions has many vitamins and are healthy. Hope this answer will help you.

Tania Kharkevich Staff · Answer · Published: August 21, 2018 | Modified: October 15, 2019

Hi, Medina!

I think that’s a good idea to substitute butter in dishes, but could you tell which dishes do you cook? There are different options.

For toasts you can use avocado puree. Nut butter is also very good here.

Olive oil is a good butter substitution for pasta sauce and mashed potatoes.

As for baking, greek yoghurt is a perfect option. You can also use applesauce for sweet baking recipes.

All of these substitutions has many vitamins and are healthy. Hope this answer will help you.

Question 5

Hello, sweetie!

I am very thankful for this question. There are really a lot of different products which you can use instead of butter. Everything depends on a meal which you are cooking. Let’s take it generally. I will give you some of my ideas and you can choose which one fits you better. I must admit, that for a long time I am not eating butter. This is not one of that healthy products.

So, let’s go and decide what you can use instead of butter:

Peanut butter (it may be peanut butter, hazelnut butter, cashew nut or almond butter. It’s suitable not only for sandwiches but also for pancakes and pies.)
Avocado paste (add a bit of salt and garlic crushed by the press. An avocado paste is suitable not only for bread but also for sliced vegetables.)
Hummus with chickpeas (olives or dried tomatoes can also be added to hummus. It is a tasty and healthy alternative to traditional butter.)
Baked garlic (is a very aromatic addition to bread in a variety of forms. Fresh slices of bread or roasted baguette. It goes well with different herbs.)
Coconut oil
Olive oil
Mustard
Tomato puree (good for sandwiches and garlic bread.)
Banana puree
Pesto

Hope you like it!

Kelly Westwood · Answer · Published: August 27, 2018 | Modified: October 15, 2019

Hello, sweetie!

I am very thankful for this question. There are really a lot of different products which you can use instead of butter. Everything depends on a meal which you are cooking. Let’s take it generally. I will give you some of my ideas and you can choose which one fits you better. I must admit, that for a long time I am not eating butter. This is not one of that healthy products.

So, let’s go and decide what you can use instead of butter:

Peanut butter (it may be peanut butter, hazelnut butter, cashew nut or almond butter. It’s suitable not only for sandwiches but also for pancakes and pies.)
Avocado paste (add a bit of salt and garlic crushed by the press. An avocado paste is suitable not only for bread but also for sliced vegetables.)
Hummus with chickpeas (olives or dried tomatoes can also be added to hummus. It is a tasty and healthy alternative to traditional butter.)
Baked garlic (is a very aromatic addition to bread in a variety of forms. Fresh slices of bread or roasted baguette. It goes well with different herbs.)
Coconut oil
Olive oil
Mustard
Tomato puree (good for sandwiches and garlic bread.)
Banana puree
Pesto

Hope you like it!

Question 6

Hey Medina!

Let me add some words to protect the butter. This product had the long history of pro and cons. In the past this dairy fat was unreasonably demonized. Despite of this butter could be really pretty healthy. As for me, it’s much better in taste compare to margarine and other substitutes.

New nutrition studies prove that there is no association between saturated fat and heart disease. Butter contains short- and medium chain fats. What is important is the fact that butter contains a lot of fat-soluble vitamins. Especially grass-fed butter is particularly rich in Vitamin K2, which can have powerful health benefits. Due to the high content of Vitamin K2 butter may even reduce heart attack risk. That being said, there is no reason to go out of your way to eat more of it. Butter in small amounts is fine. Of course if you eat it too much it may cause some problems.

Maxim Nikitin Staff · Answer · Published: September 3, 2018 | Modified: October 15, 2019

Hey Medina!

Let me add some words to protect the butter. This product had the long history of pro and cons. In the past this dairy fat was unreasonably demonized. Despite of this butter could be really pretty healthy. As for me, it’s much better in taste compare to margarine and other substitutes.

New nutrition studies prove that there is no association between saturated fat and heart disease. Butter contains short- and medium chain fats. What is important is the fact that butter contains a lot of fat-soluble vitamins. Especially grass-fed butter is particularly rich in Vitamin K2, which can have powerful health benefits. Due to the high content of Vitamin K2 butter may even reduce heart attack risk. That being said, there is no reason to go out of your way to eat more of it. Butter in small amounts is fine. Of course if you eat it too much it may cause some problems.