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GramKitchen

Substitutions

Substitute for Butter

6 tested substitutions — with the ratio and the caveat that decides whether it works.

Ratio Butter Works in
×0.75 Neutral oil (canola/sunflower)

Butter is ~80 % fat — use 3/4 the weight in oil.

Kitchen-tested 		baking · cooking
×0.75 Olive oil

3/4 the weight; fruity note — fine for savory bakes, careful in cakes.

Reference ratio 		cooking
×1 Margarine

Closest texture; check fat % — low-fat spreads ruin pastry.

Reference ratio 		baking · cooking
×1 Ghee (clarified butter)

Pure fat — slightly richer; lower milk solids (less browning).

Reference ratio 		cooking · baking
×0.8 Coconut oil (melted)

Solid at room temp like butter; coconut scent shows through.

Reference ratio 		baking
×0.5 Greek yogurt

Partial swap only — replace up to half the butter for moist crumb.

Reference ratio 		baking

Baking is less forgiving than cooking — stick to substitutions marked « baking » and respect the ratio.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best substitute for Butter?

It depends on the recipe — the table above shows which substitutes work in baking vs cooking.

Can I substitute Butter in baking?

Baking is less forgiving than cooking — stick to substitutions marked « baking » and respect the ratio.