What is the best substitute for butter when baking?

[Leonor]

When baking cookies? Must be dairy free.

Thanks

[bettyandbob]

I use spectrum shortening.

[stripe]

Dairy-free, margarine, I'd imagine, but I can't recommend a brand. But definitely check the water/fat percentage -- you want one that mimics butter's, about 80% fat and 20% water. If it is very watery, it won't come out right at all. If you decide to use some sort of shortening, you may want to experiment with adding a bit of water (a spoonful or two) to compensate.

[Deanna in TN]

Extra virgin coconut oil, but you have to like coconut because there will be a slight coconut taste.

[LaxMom]

Didn't I reply to this earlier? I remember typing... :001_huh:

 

Coconut oil works well, has essentially the same melting point as butter (a little lower, but it's solid at cool room temp).

 

Earth Balance is vegan margarine that tastes like butter and, more importantly, cooks / melts like butter. I'm not sure I would use it to, say, finish a sauce or make a buttercream, but I have used it in all other butter-related applications to my satisfaction.

[5Youngs]

Extra virgin coconut oil, but you have to like coconut because there will be a slight coconut taste.

 

Ditto.

I use 3/4 of the fat amount called for in the recipe, and it turns out fine....

You could also try grapeseed oil, which has a neutral flavor.

[mom2mea]

We use Earth Balance for baking cookies and they turn out yummy! We usually bake cookies with whole wheat pastry flour, though, so sometimes we have to add extra Earth Balance so that the dough "sticks."

[kalanamak]

We use Earth Balance for baking cookies and they turn out yummy! We usually bake cookies with whole wheat pastry flour, though, so sometimes we have to add extra Earth Balance so that the dough "sticks."

 

Earth Balance will fool every eater. It is terrific for baking.

[Country Mouse]

I use Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread, it's a vegan margarine. It works great for all my vegan baking.

[lighthouseacademy]

I have used Earth Balance for buttercream for a vegan birthday cake and that tasted yummy... now the gingerbread cookies I made with it were eh. I could taste the Earth Balance in them. I prefer Virgin Coconut oil in cookies and cakes- I don't notice a coconut flavor when I bake with it in cookies.

[Emmy]

We *love* earth balance!

[dawn of ns]

I'd pick a fat with something of the same consistency - margarine or shortening.

[Mom0012]

Another vote for Earth Balance.

 

Lisa

[5knights3maidens]

Spectrum Shortening or Earth Balance.

:)