Make The Swap With These Better-Than-Butter Alternatives

BySamantha Bansil, 10/11/2017

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You find butter everywhere, whether it's spread on toast or whipped into a velvety batter. We, as a culture, are butter-obsessed! If you're looking to cut back on your butter intake, however, here are a few clever substitutes.

Coconut Oil

The latest health food fad: coconut oil. You may have heard that it can work miracles on your hair and skin, but did you know it could be used for cooking as well? Try replacing butter with coconut oil for frying from time to time. Just know that coconut oil, like butter, still contains saturated fat and should be consumed judiciously.

Olive Oil

You can also try to use olive oil instead of butter to pan fry your meals. It's full of monounsaturated fat, which is known to have a variety of health benefits. Olive oil is not just for cooking either! Add some herbs and dip bread in it for a truly Mediterranean meal.

Nut Butter

Everyone knows about peanut butter, but there are other nut spreads such as almond and cashew butter that are gaining in popularity. After all, nuts contain valuable nutrients such as potassium, Vitamin B6, magnesium, and fiber. For healthier baking, try swapping out regular butter with nut butter. It still contains enough fat, so you won't have to skimp on the texture or flavor!

Applesauce Or Mashed Bananas

In baked goods, apple sauce and mashed bananas also make great butter substitutes. They might turn out denser or sweeter than the original recipe, but no less delicious! Tip: you might want to try this with foods with a mushier texture (e.g. muffins and breads) rather than cookies.

Margarine

Although they may look the same, butter and margarine have a few notable differences. Namely, butter is a dairy product while margarine is mostly made up of vegetable oil. It generally contains less cholesterol and saturated fat than butter. Just read the label closely: margarine can be high in trans fats, depending on the brand and the way it's processed.

Like this article? Check out our favorite butter-free dessert recipes!