If you’re a coconut lover, you’ve probably tried (or at least heard of) coconut butter. It’s a tasty concoction that you can eat plain or spread across all of your favorite foods. But what happens when you run out of this delectable treat and need to find a coconut butter substitute?
Fortunately, you have some suitable options to use in place of coconut butter. In this post, we’ll share more about what’s in coconut butter, why it’s different from coconut oil, and what you can use as a coconut butter substitute. Let’s dig in!
What is coconut butter?
Coconut butter is a creamy and spreadable paste that’s made from coconut flesh. You can use coconut butter like peanut butter and add it on top of bread, apples, waffles, or in smoothies. If you’re making vegan baked goods, you can use coconut butter in place of traditional butter.
You can find coconut butter at health food stores and some chain grocery stores. Alternatively, you can whip up your own coconut butter at home. To make it, you’ll just need unsweetened shredded coconut and a food processor, as well as a bit of sea salt and some sweetener (both optional).
How is coconut butter different from coconut oil?
Although they might seem similar, coconut butter and coconut oil have some key differences. The most crucial distinction is that coconut butter is meant to be eaten on top of other foods (or even directly from the jar).
On the other hand, coconut oil is an ingredient used within recipes to add fat. It’s frequently used to replace butter in baked goods or as an alternative to olive oil when sautéing veggies.
Unlike coconut oil, coconut butter contains the meat of the fruit. The meat is the fiber-rich part of the coconut, which gives it such a delicious and distinct taste.
What’s a good coconut butter substitute?
There are a few suitable coconut butter substitute options if you don’t have any on hand or can’t make your own.
Most nut butters (such as peanut butter, almond butter, and cashew butter) will work as a coconut butter substitute. However, you should be aware that these types of products will only replace the consistency of coconut butter. They won’t offer the same coconut flavor.
Unfortunately, you can’t reliably use coconut oil as a coconut butter substitute, since they serve very different purposes in the kitchen. Plus, coconut oil is a liquid at room temperature. It just won’t do the trick if you’re trying to replicate the velvety texture of coconut butter.
With that said, there isn’t a coconut butter substitute that will match the flavor and consistency exactly. But with more grocery stores stocking this tasty treat, you shouldn’t have to go through too much trouble to find it near you.
If you still can’t find it, try making your own. It’s incredibly easy and doesn’t require expensive ingredients or tools. Plus, coconut butter tends to be pricey, so you’ll save yourself some money by making it at home.
For more recipe substitution ideas and cooking tips, check out the Tastessence blog.
