Substitutes for Unsalted Butter: 6 Best Alternatives!

Butter is one ingredient that is constantly required in the kitchen. It is our companion in practically every meal we prepare, which only adds to the enjoyment of relishing a good meal.

Butter is our go-to ingredient in the kitchen for pies, cookies, cakes, cupcakes, pastries, and any other dish. It’s a product that’s easy to find in your local market, and it’s one that we rely on.

Butter is broadly divided into two types: salted and unsalted. The salt content is the sole difference. Furthermore, unsalted butter is commonly utilized in many recipes as a healthier alternative.

But what if you’re out of butter and don’t want to go to the store? Is there anything you can use in place of butter in your recipe?

Salted butter (one that has salt in far lesser quantities than available in the market), vegetable shortening, vegetable oil, lard, unsweetened applesauce, and completely unsalted butter are the best-unsalted butter replacements.

Also, read about what you may use in place of unsalted butter when preparing a frosting; there’s a list of options that will make your frosting even better.

Unsalted butter substitutes

If you’re out of unsalted butter and your recipe calls for it, don’t panic; we’ve compiled a list of the best substitutes to assist you.

Remember that the substitutions may modify the flavor, but they’ll still help you save time and get the flavor you’re looking for.

No. 1 Butter that has been salted sparingly

The butter that has been salted sparingly at home is a straightforward and quick solution as an alternative to your everyday salted butter from the market. Add an equivalent amount of salted butter to your recipe to replace unsalted butter. Because there is salt added to the butter, you only need to modify the amount of salt in the recipe. All you have to do is select the quantity of salt for each stick of butter used as per your preference and scale accordingly.

Because different types of butter have varying salt levels, use a single stick of butter with 18 to 12 tablespoons of salt. Taste your recipe to see if anything needs to be changed. In your recipe, there would be no change, especially in terms of additional salt to be added.

No. 2 Shortening made from vegetables

It is a 100 percent fat product manufactured from vegetable oils. There is no water in shortening and no gluten-producing steam either. It is a product that will soften and tenderize your baked goods a lot more than butter can. It has the potential to make them taller and more powerful. It has no flavor, and if you use shortening, you will not change your recipe. Desserts, dairy-free, and vegan meals can all benefit from it.

If you use this product to substitute butter in a recipe, such as a flaky pie crust, be warned that the result may not turn out as you had hoped. It is critical not to substitute this product if the recipe explicitly states that butter is required. Use a measure for measuring when making the substitution. It is preferable to maintain consistency when baking.

No. 3 Extra virgin olive oil

You can use vegetable oil instead of unsalted butter in a recipe that calls for melted butter. If you’re going to use it to make baked products like bread or muffins, the vegetable oil will be ideal. Because both products are liquid fats, they will have a similar effect on your recipe.

You’ll get highly comparable results as if you followed the original recipe exactly. Vegetable oil is a frequent option that works well. It’s easy to find in your neighborhood store.

When substituting with unsalted butter, use 78% vegetable oil and 1 cup unsalted butter. Make sure to substitute it appropriately, and it’s not a good idea to use it in baking because it will change the consistency.

No. 4 Lard 

Lard is swine fat rendered and used in various old-fashioned recipes. This fat alternative may be more challenging to get than the others, but it can be highly beneficial, so keep it on your list.

One can make pie crusts with lard and they will be just the right amount of flaky and consistent to make the pie delicious. For that type of cuisine, lard is frequently used as a replacement. This product can make a difference in your recipe and have a distinct influence, but it all depends on what you’re cooking.

For 1 cup of unsalted butter, substitute 78% cup lard. This animal product will not fit into your vegan diet and is a non-vegan / non-vegetarian substitute for cooking and baking.

No. 5 Apple sauce (non-sweetened)

It is an excellent unsalted butter alternative, especially for baking. It is a cholesterol-free, fat-free, sodium-free product. It’s used to make muffins, cakes, and bread because it’s so good at keeping food wet without adding saturated fats.

Because this is a naturally sweet product, you will need to reduce the amount of sugar in your recipe.

You can use half the amount of unsalted butter called for in the recipe. It will assist you if you are trying to be cautious and track how many calories you are consuming. Sugar cookies, banana bread, and zucchini bread can benefit from this substitution.

No. 6 Butter that has not been salted

There are two types of butter: salted and unsalted. So the significant difference between them is the amount of salt, and because the amount of salt in salted butter varies, bakers have produced a recipe for unsalted butter.

As a result, unsalted butter is preferred in health-conscious recipes. You may store unsalted butter in the freezer, and if you want to use it right away, microwave it for 10 seconds, and it’ll be OK.

Unsalted butter includes 100 calories, 12 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of protein, 0 grams of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and no calcium, no sodium, or potassium. Unsalted butter can be used to bake, cook, and produce a variety of recipes. It’s typically utilized in dairy-free, vegan, or low-fat recipes.

Questions to consider:

What can I use instead of unsalted butter when it comes to frosting?

Butter is an essential component of the frosting process. So, if you’re out of unsalted butter, check out this list of alternatives.

One can substitute unsalted butter with salted butter. Both are functional, and the slated one tastes better when eaten or in simple recipes. The only drawback is that there is no way of knowing how much salt is in the butter, so you must be careful not to overuse it. Sugar in the icing will assist in balancing out the saltiness.

Another alternative is margarine, which has similar fat content. If you’re replacing frosting, use the same proportions.

One can use cream cheese instead of butter to hold the sugar and moisten the frost in the frosting. It has a sour flavor, and one should use 3 to 4 ounces for every cup of butter to be used. If you’re creating a cake with cream cheese, don’t leave it in a room with a high temperature since it will soften, and your cake won’t turn out well.

One can make a fluffy and light frosting from whipping cream. For every 3 cups of heavy cream, use 1 cup of butter. In a mixing dish, combine all ingredients and add powdered sugar. It will form a stable frosting, just like butter, and it won’t need to be refrigerated.

Peanut butter is the last of the substitutes that will give your frosting a unique flavor. It will assist the frosting and peanut butter in achieving a creamy flavor. Because you can’t replace the entire amount of butter with peanut butter, use 12 tablespoons of peanut butter and half a cup of shortening.

What if I don’t have unsalted butter on hand to make cookies with?

What is the difference between unsalted and salted butter in a recipe? If a recipe calls for butter and you don’t have any, you can always use unsalted salt to reduce by 14 percent.

Even if you don’t know what you’re doing, make sure the flavor is balanced. It can be challenging to determine, but a good recipe will specify it. There is a general guideline that it is unsalted if not indicated, but each recipe has its requirements.

When baking, do you use salted or unsalted butter?

When baking, bakers usually use unsalted butter since it is easier to control the salt. The unsalted butter is used in most recipes that call for it, including desserts.