If you need a good substitute for vegetable oil in baking, this baking guide will help. I have found many easy ways to replace vegetable oil that will keep your baked goods soft, fresh, and delicious. So, whether you need a healthy substitute for vegetable oil or just something with a better taste, this guide will help you find the perfect ingredient!
Jump to:
- What is vegetable oil exactly?
- What are examples of vegetable oils?
- Consideration when replacing vegetable oil
- What is the best vegetable oil substitute?
- 1. Melted Butter
- 2. Ghee
- 3. Coconut Oil
- 4. Olive Oil
- 5. Avocado Oil
- 6. Shortening
- 7. Greek Yogurt
- 8. Applesauce
- 9. Nut Butters
- So what is the best vegetable oil alternative for cooking?
- So, what is the best vegetable oil substitute for baking?
- What can I use instead of oil for frying?
- So, what is the best vegetable oil substitute for dressings?
- Vegetable oil Substitutes FAQs
- More Substitute Guides
- The BEST Vegetable Oil Substitute
What is vegetable oil exactly?
Vegetable oil is a very mild, odorless oil that is used for cooking, baking, and frying. It can be made from seeds, grains, nuts, and even fruits. However, the vegetable oil in the grocery store is almost always soybean oil. Labeling the soybean oil as "vegetable oil" allows manufacturers to blend in corn oil or other oils as needed.
To make the oil, dried soybeans are crushed and then spun at high speeds to separate the oil from the plant matter. It is then distilled and refined to remove impurities and contaminants before being bottled.
Vegetable oil has a high smoking point which means it can withstand high temperatures. It is often used for frying for this very reason. Many recipes use vegetable oil for baking because it has a neutral taste and will keep cakes, breads, and muffins soft and tender. Plus, it is a very inexpensive fat that can easily be found in every grocery store.
But, if you need a baking substitute for vegetable oil, I can help! I know plenty of replacements for vegetable oil that are easy and tasty.
What are examples of vegetable oils?
In the United States, the grocery store bottle of vegetable oil may primarily be soybean oil, however, there are other types of vegetable oils as well. Here are a few examples of vegetable oils that you may find:
- Coconut oil
- Corn oil
- Cottonseed oil
- Palm oil
- Olive oil
- Avocado oil
- Lemon oil
- Safflower oil
- Sesame oil
- Sunflower oil
- Peanut oil
There are many more nut oils, fruit oils, and seed oils that fall under the umbrella of vegetable oil as well.
Consideration when replacing vegetable oil
When replacing vegetable oil, you should consider what the oil does in the recipe. Is it being used to fry foods, keep muffins tender or is it creating an emulsion of ingredients? Learning the role of the vegetable oil in your recipe is essential.
Also, are you replacing vegetable oil to make your recipe healthier? Perhaps you want a low-fat vegetable oil substitute or one that contains more vitamins and minerals. You may also want to keep in mind that vegetable oil is vegan, a benefit that you may want to keep!
Remember that vegetable oil has almost no flavor so using a substitute for vegetable oil in baking may alter the taste of your baked goods. This can be a good thing but should certainly be kept in mind.
What is the best vegetable oil substitute?
If you need a good substitute for vegetable oil in baking, you have come to the right place. Each of these vegetable oil substitutes will help you make delicious cookies, cakes, brownies, and breads without needing even a drop of vegetable oil!
1. Melted Butter
I know a lot about butter. In fact, I wrote a whole butter substitute guide as well! Butter is a great substitute for vegetable oil for baked goods as long as you know how to use it correctly. Butter is a great substitute for vegetable oil in baking muffins and the best substitute for vegetable oil in baking cookies.
Real butter has a rich taste and creamy texture that is perfect as a substitute for oil in baking. While butter is the key fat ingredient in many baking recipes, butter does not keep baked goods as moist as other types of oils. You may find your muffins dry out quicker when using butter instead of vegetable oil.
Melted butter also has a low smoke point so it is not good for deep frying. It is the best vegetable oil alternative for baking, though!
How to use it:
So, how much butter to substitute for vegetable oil? Replace one cup of vegetable oil with 1 ¼ cup of melted, cooled butter. The butter needs to be of a liquid consistency to blend into your batter or dough correctly.
2. Ghee
Ghee is an excellent low-fat substitute for vegetable oil and one of the best cooking oil alternatives. It is actually a butter that has been heat-treated to remove all the milk solids. It has a great, nutty flavor and is dairy-free. Plus, ghee has lots of omega-3 fatty acids so it is a healthy alternative to vegetable oil. Such a great swap!
Replace butter with ghee in any chocolate chip cookie recipe or make a nice apple pie. Ghee is best used in recipes that need to be crispy as it browns faster than vegetable oil or butter. It also has a high smoke point so you can even use it for cooking and frying.
How to use it:
Replace vegetable oil with ghee using a 1:1 ratio. So, the substitute for 1 cup vegetable oil for baking is one cup ghee. Heat the ghee slightly so that it has a liquid consistency but is not too hot.
3. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has a unique flavor that will add a little extra sweetness to your baked goods. It also has a high smoking point so it is good for all kinds of cooking. If you want a healthy vegetable oil substitute in baking, coconut oil is also the answer. It has lots of vitamins and minerals and is often considered a "healthy fat".
This is one of my favorite vegetable oil substitutes in baking muffins because of the added flavor and nutrition. Check out my top muffin recipes and give baking with coconut oil a try!
How to use it:
Use one cup of melted coconut oil to replace one cup of vegetable oil. Use refined coconut oil if possible which will have less flavor and match the taste of vegetable oil better.
4. Olive Oil
You may think that olive oil is only for cooking but you can definitely bake with it as well! It is an easy vegetable oil substitute in baking bread, brownies and so much more.
Extra virgin olive is a more nutritious oil alternative to vegetable oil. It has a strong, unique taste but can be tasty and exciting in baked goods. The low smoke point makes it even better for baking than cooking or frying!
How to use it:
Replace one cup of vegetable oil with one cup of olive oil. Blend the olive oil in the same way you would use vegetable oil and your recipes will turn out perfectly.
Olive oil is also great for salad dressings and marinades. It will add more flavor than vegetable oil ever could!
5. Avocado Oil
Avocado oil has become increasingly popular over the years and I'm a big fan of using it in baking. You can replace vegetable oil quite easily with avocado oil and end up with desserts that are more nutritious and still super tasty.
Refined avocado oil is practically flavorless so it's great for baking and using in place of vegetable oil. It has a high smoking point so you can fry with it, too. Avocado oil is fairly expensive but all those healthy polyunsaturated fats and health benefits are worth it!
How to use it:
Replace vegetable oil in baked goods using olive oil with a 1:1 ratio. It is also a great alternative for vegetable oil for cooking and a substitute for vegetable oil for frying.
6. Shortening
Did you know that shortening is essentially vegetable oil in a solid state? If you have a jar of shortening in your pantry, you have vegetable oil on hand already. That means replacing vegetable oil with shortening is a seamless switch.
If you need a shortening alternative, however, check out my shortening substitute guide here!
How to use it:
To substitute vegetable oil, first the shortening so that it melts but do not let it get too hot. Then, use the liquid shortening to replace vegetable oil using a 1:1 ratio. If you are wondering what can I substitute for vegetable oil in brownies, shortening may be your answer!
7. Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is a good vegetable oil replacement in baking. While it isn't a fat or oil, it works much the same way in baked goods making it a suitable, alternative to vegetable oil. Greek yogurt will keep your cakes, brownies, and sweet breads tender and moist. Plus, it will reduce the amount of fat in your baked goods, giving them a lower-calorie makeover. It is a very good healthy substitute for vegetable oil in baking.
How to use it:
Use one cup of Greek yogurt to replace one cup of vegetable oil. Know that the final product will have a little bit more tang due to the acidity in the yogurt. This can be a good thing, especially in super sweet desserts.
8. Applesauce
I love replacing vegetable oil with applesauce in baked goods. You can make really tasty brownie muffins or banana bread with this vegetable oil alternative. Applesauce will add just a bit of sweetness while keeping baked goods moist and tender.
Applesauce is a great low-fat, low-calorie vegetable oil substitute as well. It is an all-around great alternative to baking with fats!
How to use it:
Replace every one cup of vegetable oil with one cup of applesauce. This substitute is best for soft baked goods that don't rely on fat for getting crispy. It also won't work well to substitute cooking oils or for making dressings.
9. Nut Butters
Almond butter, peanut butter, and even cashew butter can all be used to replace vegetable oil in baking. Keep in mind that this substitute is only for those without a nut allergy! However, if that isn't an issue, then using nut butter in place of vegetable oil is a great idea!
Nut butter will add loads of flavor to your recipes and also lots of natural protein. They have tons of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber as well. Plus, there are tons of healthy nut butters to choose from; walnut butter, pecan butter, even pistachio butter! Consider the other flavors in your recipe and match your nut butter choice to compliment.
How to use it:
Replace one up of oil with one cup ¾ cup of nut butter. You will want to soften the nut butter a little by heating it up. I also like to add 2 tablespoons of liquid, usually milk or water, to my recipe for every cup of oil being replaced. This will help the dough or batter have the same texture.
So what is the best vegetable oil alternative for cooking?
The best vegetable oil substitute for cooking is avocado oil. Avocado oil has a natural taste just like vegetable oil and it has a very high smoking point making it great for high-heat cooking. Avocado oil has more vitamins and minerals than vegetable oil so it is a healthy cooking oil as well.
So, what is the best vegetable oil substitute for baking?
If an animal product is not a concern, butter is the best substitute for vegetable oil in baking. Use 1 ¼ cup of melted butter instead of 1 cup of oil.
The best vegan vegetable oil substitute for baking is coconut oil. Coconut oil has a wonderful, sweet flavor that is great in cookies, brownies, and cakes. Plus, you can use it in the exact same way you would use vegetable oil.
What can I use instead of oil for frying?
Avocado oil is great for frying. It can be used to deep fry foods just like you would use vegetable oil or canola oil. Avocado oil is a little bit more expensive but it also has a lot of nutrients that vegetable oil just doesn't have. It is worth the price!
So, what is the best vegetable oil substitute for dressings?
I like to use olive oil in place of vegetable oil for making salad dressings. Olive oil is naturally creamier, better for your health, and also has a richer flavor than vegetable oil. Many dressings are made with olive oil and there is a reason why- it is so tasty!
Vegetable oil Substitutes FAQs
Melted, unsalted butter is the best substitute for oil in a cake mix. Coconut oil is also a great option.
Coconut oil, avocado oil, or butter are all great substitutes for oil in brownie recipes. Try any of these options in this tasty brownie recipe and you will find out how great they all work!
Vegetable oil is often used in baking because it has a neutral flavor, keeps baked goods moist, and is also inexpensive. It blends nicely into batters and doughs making it a good baking ingredient.
More Substitute Guides
The BEST Vegetable Oil Substitute
The best vegetable oil substitute for cooking
- 1 cup avocado oil
The best vegetable oil substitute for baking
- 1¼ cup butter
The best vegetable oil substitute for frying
- 1 cup avocado oil
The best vegetable oil substitute for dressings
- 1 cup olive oil
Instructions
- Use any of the above substitutes to replace one cup of vegetable oil.
Note
- Ghee
- Coconut Oil
- Shortening
- Greek Yogurt
- Applesauce
- Nut Butters
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