10 Best Healthy Alternatives to Butter in 2023

Medical experts advised that switching to a more plant-based diet and using a ‘butter’ spread produced from unsaturated, plant-based fats will help lower cholesterol, enhance heart health, and reduce inflammation.

And, before you dismiss butter alternatives because of their negative reputation, consider this: traditional trans-fat-laden margarine brands are no longer available. Healthy butter alternatives now use healthy fats instead of partially hydrogenated oils.

 Here are ten of the healthiest butter alternatives recommended by dietitians.

#1. Earth Balance Pressed Avocado Oil (pressed avocado oil): 

According to Palinski-Wade, this is a wise choice because it contains three ingredients and is high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which can help blood lipids. It’s also ideal for vegans, dairy-free eaters, and gluten-free eaters. 

This fatty fruit should be used in most dishes. Avocado is a heart-healthy fat that contains approximately 20 vitamins and minerals. Mashed avocado can be used in place of butter in a 1:1 ratio and is especially good in chocolate recipes. 

Its creamy texture and mild flavor go nicely with chocolate’s sweetness. Plus, chocolate’s dark tint hides green avocado well, she adds. It might also work in cookies, but they would turn out a touch green.

Unlike butter, avocado oil is a vitamin-rich cooking choice that is also low in calories. If a recipe calls for butter, use an equal amount of avocado oil in place of the butter. Baked items will also be softer and moister.

Avocado oil is high in nutrients but has a mild flavor. Monounsaturated fats (the beneficial sort) are abundant in oil, but saturated fats are few (the bad kind). In addition to being an excellent cooking oil, Avocado oil can also be used as a beauty product to reduce inflammation and hydrate the skin.

#2. Nutiva Coconut Manna: 

This Organic Coconut Manna is an incredibly tasty, whole food made of pure, dried coconut flesh. This Fresh organic coconut meat is flaked and transmitted through a hot air dryer running at 170°F within a few hours of shelling, and then ground like nut butter.

It hasn’t been pasteurized or polished in any way. It’s a whole-food coconut nut butter that’s high in protein, carbs, fiber, and oil. It’s not the same as our organic virgin coconut oil, simply coconut oil that has been expeller pressed. This spread is made entirely of pureed coconut by Nutiva. That’s right, there’s only one component in it!

This plant-based spread is sodium- and cholesterol-free, making it a wonderful butter and cream cheese substitute,

#3. Carrington Farms Organic Ghee:

Carrington Farms is a certified organic farm. So, what exactly is ghee? It’s butter that has been clarified to remove all the water (to create a higher smoke point while cooking). Many of the proteins in dairy, such as casein, are also removed throughout the process. 

Ghee, according to Palinski-Wade, is an alternative butter spread that is easier to handle for people with lactose intolerance. 

It’s also beneficial to your gastrointestinal tract. Butyrate acid, a fatty acid found in ghee, may aid in reducing inflammation and support digestive health.

Ghee is clarified butter that is commonly used in Indian cookery. It’s also been utilized in ayurvedic treatment for thousands of years. 

Although it is a sort of butter, the manner it is manufactured makes it a more nutritious type of butter. 

Because the milk particles are removed during the clarifying process, it has less lactose and casein than ordinary butter. 

Some persons with lactose intolerance or a milk allergy may be able to eat ghee without experiencing any unwanted side effects.

At a 1:1 ratio, ghee can be used to replace butter. When creating baked items like bread, it’s best utilized as a butter substitute.

#4. I can’t believe it’s not butter: 

According to Gorin, this brand is most closely associated with alternative butter, and it’s a great plant-based spread for various reasons. It’s American Heart Association Heart-Check certified, for starters. In addition, it contains 70% less saturated fat and 40% fewer calories than dairy butter.

All of the palm oil it includes is sustainable; its processing produces 70% fewer carbon emissions than dairy butter. 

#5. Olivio Ultimate Spread:

Many of the Olivio alternative spreads may be used in place of dairy butter. Still, the Ultimate Spread stands out: it’s vegan, non-GMO, and includes no preservatives, as well as a boost of ALA omega-3s, a type of fatty acid found in plants that may help with heart health. 

Olivio spreads offer less fat, fewer calories, and no cholesterol than ordinary butter and margarine, in addition to a better taste. Each spread and spray is produced with the best ingredients available.

#6. Country Crock Plant Butter with Olive Oil: 

Palinski-Wade recommends using this plant-based spread made from olive oil as a butter substitute in cooking and baking because it contains less saturated fat than butter. Because butter is widely used as a substitute for olive oil, the two can be used interchangeably in some recipes.

Because olive oil is a liquid and butter is a solid, substituting the two isn’t an exact science. When cooking or baking, you may need to use a lower amount of olive oil instead of butter.

Olive oil is high in vitamins, polyphenols, and monounsaturated fat, it’s a healthier alternative than butter in terms of nutrition. Because of its strong antioxidant content and anticancer effects, it is a staple in the Mediterranean diet.

#7. Miyokos vegan butter: 

Unlike other vegan butter substitutes, this vegan butter substitute may be used in baking and cooking. Palinski-Wade adds that it’s also palm oil-free and soy, lactose, and gluten-free, making it a versatile option for many buyers. 

The main nutritional differences between plant-based and normal butter are that plant-based butter is cholesterol-free, contains less saturated fat, and includes more healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

Despite having a better fatty acid profile, plant-based butter is just as calorie-dense as normal butter. As a result, consuming too much of either might lead to increased calorie intake and weight gain over time.

Furthermore, plant-based butter may contain more sodium, depending on the brand, than unsalted butter. Plant-based butter, on the whole, tends to give better fats. However, because they shouldn’t be your main source of calories, selecting plant-based butter over normal butter is unlikely to substantially impact your health.

As a result, butter may be the less processed option, depending on your chosen product. That isn’t to say that there aren’t healthier plant-based butter alternatives. Look for items that have fewer artificial additives and processed oils. It’s also vital to think about how you’ll use the butter, because the taste and texture of plant-based butter may not always be able to match that of traditional butter.

#8. WayFare Salted Whipped Butter:

You might be surprised to learn that this vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, plant-based butter contains pureed lima beans, but Palinski-Wade claims that the legumes give the spread a creamy texture while keeping the overall fat and calorie count low. 

This plant-based butter substitute uses pureed lima beans to create a creamy texture with fewer calories and fat.

#9. Benecol Buttery Spread:

Are you looking for a healthy butter substitute that can significantly improve your nutritional profile? Lainey Younkin, MS, RD, a dietitian at Lainey Younkin Nutrition, suggests Benecol, which contains plant stanols, a chemical that has been shown to lower total and LDL cholesterol but is hard to come by in a typical diet.

You’d have to eat 12 pounds of broccoli, 29 pounds of carrots or 60 pounds of tomatoes per day to get the recommended two grams of plant stanols per day for cholesterol reduction, according to Younkin.

You could also eat Benecol, the recommended two grams of plant stanols in four tablespoons. Because it’s a one-to-one substitution, Younkin recommends using it just like conventional butter.

#10. Smart Balance Original Buttery Spread:

This spread is dairy, gluten, partially hydrogenated oils, and trans-fats-free. But don’t think you’re buying an empty tub. 

Smart Balance lands a final spot as a healthy butter substitute because the brand loaded its spread with heart-healthy oils, omega-3s, and vitamins, so it tastes yummy and is good. 

The spread is made of ingredients such as; Water, Less than 2% salt, Whey, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Oil Blend. Vitamin A Palmitate, Beta-Carotene Color, Vitamin D, and a lot of other rich nutrients.

FAQ on 10 Best Healthy Alternatives to Butter

what are the alternatives to butter for making cakes?

If your recipe calls for melted butter, as in many quick pieces of bread, pancakes, brownies, blondies, and some cakes, you can replace it with an equal amount of neutral oil such as safflower, canola, or vegetable. Try virgin coconut or olive oil if you want to play around with flavors.

What are the health benefits of butter alternatives?

Changing to a more plant-based diet and using a ‘butter’ spread produced from unsaturated, plant-based fats will help lower cholesterol levels, promote heart health, and reduce inflammation, and; before you dismiss butter alternatives because of their negative reputation, consider this: traditional trans-fat-laden margarine brands are no longer available. Healthy butter alternatives now use healthy fats instead of partially hydrogenated oils. That’s a good thing because a review of studies published in the British Medical Journal in 2015 indicated that trans fats are linked to increased coronary heart disease (CHD) and the number of CHD-related deaths.

Are butter substitutes healthy?

Butter substitutes are generally better for heart health because they are made from vegetable oils, which means they are cholesterol-free and contain “good” fats.

It is possible to use butter alternatives in making a chocolate cake. Still, the measurements will be more than when butter is used, but consider that butter alternatives are cheaper and healthier.

What is the cheaper substitute for butter?

The cheaper substitute for butter is Coconut oil, as it does not cost much as butter. Coconut oil can replace butter in baking at a 1:1 ratio, though it may slightly change the flavor, with some types of coconut oil affecting taste more than others.

Conclusion

If you enjoy baking, there’s no reason to refrain from creating delectable treats in your home. In other circumstances, such as when making a family recipe, you might want to stick with the tried-and-true butter that’s asked for. 

Other times, you can reduce calories and fat, improve your nutrition profile, or modify a recipe to meet your dietary needs by substituting butter with suitable alternatives.

References

Recommendations

Leave a Reply
You May Also Like