When you’re going dairy-free, it’s crucial to find tasty replacements for everyday pantry staples. We’ve rounded up top vegan butter substitutes. Some aim to mimic butter’s color and flavor, while others embrace alternative ingredients. Most vegan spreads will clearly mention their dairy-free status, but if they don’t, look out for whey, lactose and casein.
Easiest to Find: Earth Balance Vegan Butter
Commonly available in grocery stores, as well as online, Earth Balance is highly rated for its great flavor and texture that’s useful for baking as well as eating like spreading butter. The brand specializes in vegan products, and they offer several varieties of vegan butter substitutes, including a soy-free buttery spread, ideal for spreading onto sandwiches or toast, a whipped variety, and olive oil spread.
Most Butter-Like: Miyoko’s Creamery European-Style Cultured Vegan Butter
Organic, low-sodium, non-GMO, and free of palm oils, Miyoko’s European-style cultured vegan butter is made with a coconut oil base and added protein-rich cashews. The butter is made with real cultures, like traditional dairy-made butter. Unusual for vegan butters, this option actually browns well, making it perfect for delicious sauces. (Never browned butter? Here’s why you should—tonight!)
Margarine Option: Fleischmann’s Solid Margarine
You might assume that all margarine is vegan—but it’s not. The main ingredients in margarine are vegetable oil, salt, and water, but many margarines add animal products, such as whey and lactose. Make sure to read the label! Fleischmann’s margarine is indeed vegan, and it’s ideal for baking and frying.
Meltiest: Park Butter Vegan Buttery Spread Butter Substitute
A small-batch vegan butter, Park Butter is both dairy and gluten-free, and comes packaged in an eco-friendly compostable package. To mimic the look of real butter, turmeric adds a brilliant yellow hue. It’s even safe to cook at high temperatures—roasting and frying, for instance—making it handy for a cook’s repertoire.
Offbeat Alternative: Binnie’s Coconut Butter Organic Spread
While many vegan butters attempt to match the flavor and texture of traditional dairy butter, some brands boldly embrace the flavors and textures of non-dairy ingredients. In Binnie’s coconut spread, coconut is the star of the show; the spread only includes coconut flakes and oil. It’s friendly to all kinds of special diets, including raw, low-carb, gluten-free and keto. Try it as a spread on bread, as well as a dip for veggies or as a cooking oil.
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Kelsey Rae Dimberg