Here’s What to Use As a Vegetable Oil Substitute Baking

It’s a common misconception that you need to use vegetable oil (or something similar) in order to make perfectly moist and tasty baked goods. In reality, there are plenty of alternative ingredients that you can use as a vegetable oil substitute baking.

In this post from Tastessence, you will learn what to use in place of vegetable oil for brownies, muffins, cakes, and more. We’ve put together a variety of options to suit different tastes and budgets, including dairy-free vegetable oil substitutes. Keep reading to find out our best picks for vegetable oil substitute baking.

Applesauce

Did you know that you can swap applesauce for oil (or even egg) in many baked goods? Like vegetable oil, applesauce contains moisture that helps items like cakes and brownies get their delicious texture.

In your recipe, simply swap out an equivalent amount of applesauce for the recommended amount of oil. When possible, opt for unsweetened applesauce, so you don’t inadvertently add too much sugar.

Butter

In baking, oil and butter are pretty much interchangeable. As a result, you can switch them out for one another quite easily. When you need to use butter in place of oil, use a bit more butter than you would use vegetable oil.

It’s worth mentioning that butter isn’t the healthiest option as a vegetable oil substitute baking. Also, it’s not suitable for vegan diets. With that said, butter is easy to find and probably already sitting in your refrigerator.

Greek yogurt

Greek yogurt is another somewhat surprising vegetable oil substitute in baked goods. It’s packed with protein, calcium, and probiotics, which offers a healthy advantage when compared to vegetable oil.

When subbing Greek yogurt for vegetable oil, you’ll need to use a little bit less than the amount of oil in the recipe. If your treats require a cup of oil, for example, you should use ¾ cup of Greek yogurt instead.

Avocado

If you’re in search of a dairy-free vegetable oil substitute, avocado is another fantastic option. Not only does avocado contain healthy fats, vitamins, and more, but it’s also a tasty way to add freshness to your baked goods.

Before adding it into your desserts, make sure your avocado is thoroughly mashed. Try to blend it to the point where it’s smooth and creamy. Although you can make a 1:1 substitute for avocado and vegetable oil, it’s a good idea to start by replacing half of your oil with avocado (and keeping the other half oil). Otherwise, the texture and taste of your treats might be off.

If none of these options appeal to you, there are even more alternatives that you can use as a vegetable oil substitute baking. Other oil swaps include mashed banana, pumpkin, sour cream, and shortening.

With any of these ingredients, you should still be able to achieve the consistency that vegetable oil would provide (although the taste might be slightly different). But when you’re in a pinch, these ingredients can help you deliver delicious desserts.

For more baking tips and ideas, check out the Tastessence blog.