My Creamy Homemade Vegan Butter Recipe | Gina Burgess (2024)

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I cannot explain my EXCITEMENT to share this vegan butter recipe!

Pre-vegan, I was a butter lover. I loved it on toast, sandwiches, crumpets, baked potatoes, scones, potato cakes.. you name it. So it’s been an aim of mine to re-create a vegan butter for a while now, and I’ve finally nailed it!

Personally, I don’t like using the supermarket hydrogenated spreads and margarines too often. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with them (in fact they’re brilliant in baking) but I actually don’t think they taste very buttery.

Therefore, I wanted to create a slightly healthier, more creamy, and super buttery vegan butter recipe – and here it is!

Oh, and how about spreading some of this vegan butter on a warm slice of my Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread? Mmm.

So, without further ado, here’s how to make vegan butter!

Why Make Vegan Butter at Home?

As I wrote above, as much as the supermarket vegan versions of butter are great and convenient, nothing was quite ‘doing it’ for me. I wanted something more like the real thing (and I think I’ve done it).

This vegan butter recipe looks like butter, spreads like butter, and tastes like butter! In fact, non-vegan family members didn’t even realise this was vegan (whereas usually, with supermarket-bought vegan alternatives, they’re on to me within seconds).

How Do I Store Vegan Butter?

You’ll definitely want to keep this in the fridge. It goes very hard like ‘real’ butter, but a few minutes left out at room temperature will help with that. I’d advise having a butter tray to store it in though! I love this one

My Creamy Homemade Vegan Butter Recipe | Gina Burgess (1)My Creamy Homemade Vegan Butter Recipe | Gina Burgess (2)My Creamy Homemade Vegan Butter Recipe | Gina Burgess (3)

Is Vegan Butter Actually Healthy?

Vegan butter can be a healthy alternative to ‘traditional butter’ (made from dairy products), but it depends on the specific ingredients used (and the quantities you consume it in – as with anything, moderation is key).

Some vegan butter brands are made with healthier oils like coconut oil, avocado oil, or olive oil (like mine below), which can provide healthy fats and antioxidants. However, other vegan butter brands may use highly processed oils or additives that are not as healthy.

When choosing a vegan butter, it’s important to read the ingredients list carefully and look for options that are made with natural and minimally processed ingredients. It’s also important to note that like traditional butter, vegan butter is still a high-fat food and should be consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

How Do You Make This Vegan Butter Recipe Taste Like Butter?

Magic! Just kidding.

To give my vegan butter recipe a ‘buttery’ flavour, I’ve used the odourless coconut oil, olive oil, raw cashews and plant milk. Some vegan butters also use nutritional yeast too (which I have to admit, I’ve previously added to this recipe and loved!)

Vegan Butter Recipe: The Ingredients

To make this amazing vegan butter recipe, you’re going to need these ingredients (and here’s why…)

Refined/Odourless Coconut Oil (melted but cooled): Coconut oil is a great ingredient for vegan butter because it is solid at room temperature and has a neutral flavour. The refined/odourless version has had the coconut flavour and aroma removed, so it won’t overpower the other ingredients in your butter. When melted and cooled, it will help give your butter a solid but spreadable texture.

Olive Oil: Adding a small amount of olive oil to your vegan butter recipe can help balance the flavor and add a hint of fruitiness. Olive oil also contains healthy fats that can contribute to the overall texture of your butter.

Raw Cashews (soaked in hot water for an hour before): Cashews are a great source of healthy fats and can help give your vegan butter a rich, creamy texture. Soaking them in hot water beforehand helps soften them up and makes them easier to blend.

Neutral Unsweetened Plant Milk: Plant milk adds moisture and creaminess to your vegan butter recipe, while also helping to blend the other ingredients together. Using a neutral, unsweetened plant milk will keep your butter from being too sweet or overpowering in flavour.

Apple Cider Vinegar: A small amount of apple cider vinegar adds a tangy, slightly acidic flavour to your vegan butter. It also helps to emulsify the other ingredients and keeps them from separating.

Salt: Salt is a crucial ingredient in any butter recipe, as it enhances the overall flavour and can help balance any sweetness from the other ingredients. It also acts as a preservative and helps extend the shelf life of your vegan butter.

Turmeric (optional – for yellow colouring): Turmeric can add a beautiful golden colour to your vegan butter, which can make it look more like traditional butter. It doesn’t contribute much to the flavour or texture, but it can make your butter more visually appealing.

My Creamy Homemade Vegan Butter Recipe | Gina Burgess (4)

Homemade Vegan Butter (Dairy, Gluten & Soy Free)

Georgina Burgess

Pre-vegan, I was a butter lover. I loved it on toast, sandwiches, crumpets, baked potatoes, scones, potato cakes.. you name it. So it's been an aim of mine to re-create a vegan butter for a while now, and I've finally nailed it!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 3 hours hrs

Course Side Dish

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup Refined/Odourless Coconut Oil (melted but cooled)
  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1/8 Cup Raw Cashews (soak in hot water for an hour before)
  • 1/4 Cup Neutral Unsweetened Plant Milk
  • 1/2 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1 Pinch Turmeric optional – for yellow colouring

Instructions

  • Pour the melted and cooled coconut oil into a blender along with the cashews, soy milk, apple cider vinegar, sea salt and turmeric (if using)

  • Blend for 30 secs/1 minute until a creamy liquid has formed

  • Add the olive oil and quickly blend again until incorporated

  • Pour into your dish of choice (a butter dish or a ramekin will work well)

  • Place in the fridge to set for 2-3 hours

Notes

Cover and store in the fridge for up to 1-2 weeks

P.S. I haven’t tried using this butter as an ingredient in baking or frying, I only know that it works for simple uses like spreading.

Keyword vegan side

Is Vegan Butter Healthier For You Than Regular Butter?

In general, vegan butter tends to be lower in saturated fat and cholesterol than regular butter, which can make it a healthier alternative for people who are concerned about their heart health or cholesterol levels.

Regular butter is made from animal milk and contains high levels of saturated fat and cholesterol. Saturated fat has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, while cholesterol can contribute to the buildup of plaque in the arteries.

Vegan butter, on the other hand, is typically made from plant-based oils such as coconut, canola, or soybean oil, which are lower in saturated fat and free of cholesterol. Many vegan butter products also contain healthy plant-based fats such as nuts and seeds, which can be beneficial for heart health.

That being said, some vegan butter products may contain added oils, salts, and other ingredients that can be unhealthy if consumed in excess. It’s important to read the nutrition labels and ingredient lists carefully and choose vegan butter products that are minimally processed and made with healthy ingredients.

Overall, vegan butter can be a healthier alternative to regular butter for people who are looking to reduce their saturated fat and cholesterol intake, but it’s important to consume it in moderation as part of a balanced and varied diet.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (About My Homemade Vegan Butter)

How Does it Keep?

The butter is best kept in the fridge. However, when using it for spreading, it’s worth taking it out and leaving for 10-15 minutes in room temperature to soften slightly (it does get very hard – like ‘real’ butter)

Can I use Virgin(Unrefined) Coconut Oil?

It’s entirely up to you! I would say though that you get a slight coconut-flavouring when using it which for me, takes away from the whole experience.

Can I add Nutritional Yeast?

It’s funny you ask! I personally feel a small amount adds even more buttery-ness to the butter. However, my family constantly shout at me for adding it to everything, so I’ve left it out of this. But certainly, a small amount (0.5 – 1 tsp) will help!

Why Add Turmeric?

Mostly for colouring. Without it you don’t get quite the same colour as a ‘real’ butter.

What should I eat this butter with?

Definitely my scones recipe!

My Creamy Homemade Vegan Butter Recipe | Gina Burgess (2024)

FAQs

Can vegan butter be creamed? ›

What you do is put your room temp butter (or in this case, vegan butter) in the bowl of your mixer and beat it up a little, till it's nice and soft and pliable. Then you begin to add the sugar to the butter, and you mix them together for quite a long time. This is called the creaming method.

What is the ratio of vegan butter to butter? ›

1. Plant-Based Butter Alternatives. Pros: Can typically be used as a one-to-one ratio swap for butter, has a similar taste and consistency to butter, and can be used for baking and cooking and as a topping.

What are the ingredients in plant based butter? ›

Vegan butter is a non-dairy butter substitute made from plant-based ingredients. It is typically made from a blend of vegetable oils such as coconut, palm, or soybean and other natural ingredients such as nuts, seeds, and even algae. This makes it a great alternative for those who: Follow a vegan diet.

What is a vegan substitute for butter in baking? ›

What are good vegan butter substitutes? In baking, you can use vegan butter, applesauce, dairy-free yogurt, coconut oil, coconut butter, olive oil, nut butter, mashed banana and mashed avocado. In cooking, you can use olive oil, coconut oil, vegetable stock, or avocado oil to replace butter.

Does vegan butter bake the same as regular butter? ›

It is my personal opinion that vegan butter:1) works much the same as traditional dairy butter, when it is worked properly; 2) gives excellent texture to baked goods, when you use a high-fat vegan butter; and 3) lends excellent color and flavor.

What do vegans use as cream? ›

What Do Vegans Use Instead of Heavy Cream? Fortunately, nearly any plant-based milk can be made into a heavy cream substitute. Nut milks, including hemp milk, oat milk, coconut milk and soy milk can all be used as the base for a heavy cream substitute with the addition of the right fats.

Does vegan butter taste like real butter? ›

The best vegan butter should be smooth, rich, salty, creamy, and, most of all, it should taste like butter—delicate, sweet, and fatty. Plant based butter doesn't have to taste like vegetable margarine. Vegan butters that include almond milk, coconut oil, or olive oil are completely welcome here.

What dairy free butter is best for baking? ›

Brands to look for are Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks and Melt Organic Vegan Butter Sticks, both plant-based and made to taste like butter. Blue Bonnet Lactose-Free sticks are made with vegetable oil and are dairy-free and gluten-free, and have the "same great taste as Blue Bonnet."

Is country crock plant butter vegan? ›

It is a limited-edition item made by us in our plant in Germany to help our U.S. production meet the high demand for our products, which has increased due to more people are eating at home during the pandemic. Are Country Crock® products okay for vegan diets? Country Crock® Plant Butter is suitable for vegan diets.

What milk is vegan? ›

Vegan milk is any milk that is made from plant-only sources — an alternative that is just as suitable for all the same purposes of regular milk. The majority are sourced from beans and nuts including soy, almond, and macadamia, but can also be sourced from oats, coconuts, and even rice.

What is vegan butter called? ›

Plant butter” is the newest addition to the buttery spread alternatives. Plant butter is a nondairy butter substitute that's typically made from a mixture of plant derived oil, such as olive, avocado, coconut, and palm kernel oil.

What do vegans use in place of eggs? ›

Coconut oil. Coconut oil is widely used as an egg replacement in vegan baking and it's easy to see why. Once melted, this delicious oil will mix well into most batters, brownies and bakes. And it can be used to replace eggs when you're breading foods, such as tofu, before baking or frying.

Is ghee vegan? ›

For the reasons listed above, no, commercial ghee is not dairy-free and is definitely not vegan. However, there are vegan options in stores, just as vegan butter, vegan cheese, and vegan yogurt are available!

Does vegan butter melt like butter? ›

The point at which butter softens/melts is called its melting point, which is typically between 90°F-95°f, depending on the fat/water ratio in the butter. These same qualities exist for vegan butter.

What is a substitute for creamed butter? ›

The Best Butter Substitutes
  • Margarine. Replacement ratio: 1:1. ...
  • Cream cheese. Replacement ratio: 1:1. ...
  • Unsweetened full-fat natural yoghurt. Replacement ratio: 250g or less, 1:1. ...
  • Full-fat mayonnaise. Replacement ratio: 1:1. ...
  • Olive oil or vegetable oil. Replacement ratio: 1:1. ...
  • Unsweetened apple sauce. ...
  • Mashed banana. ...
  • Nut butter.

How do you thicken vegan buttercream? ›

If it's just a little soft, chilling the dairy-free vanilla frosting for 10-20 minutes may work. For slightly more thickening power, add more powdered sugar. For the thickest vegan buttercream, replace half of the plant-based butter with vegetable shortening.

Can I use almond milk and butter instead of heavy cream? ›

Simply melt unsalted butter, let it cool slightly, and then whisk it into milk, using a ratio of 1 part melted butter to 3 parts milk by volume. Whole milk is ideal since increasing fat content is the name of the game here, but this hack is even doable with buttermilk or nondairy milks like almond and oat.

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