Fat is essential in baking.
This ingredient adds flavor, contributes to texture and consistency, and can help to stabilize other ingredients.
Without fat, most of your favorite recipes just wouldn’t taste the same.
This becomes painfully obvious when you compare ‘fat-free’ baked goods to their traditional versions.
But, just because fat is essential in baking, it doesn’t mean that you should choose just any source for your cooking adventures.
Some fats are better than others both in technical performance and health terms.
What is the Healthiest Fat to Bake With?
Learn about the best fat for baking and make smarter and healthier choices for you and your loved ones.
Organic Grass-Fed Butter
In recipes that call for vegetable oils, the rest of the options on this list will do.
However, for recipes that ask for butter, it’s the organic grass-fed variety that will perform the best.
Butter is used in baking because it has a specific consistency, moisture content, flavor profile, and melting point.
Although butter can be swapped out for solidified vegetable oil products, they won’t work as well or taste as good.
If a recipe asks for butter, use it. In moderation, natural butter is surprisingly good for you.
It is rich in vitamins A, D, and K, which are essential nutritional building blocks.
Grass-fed butter includes high levels of cancer-fighting compounds like conjugated linoleic acids, so you can feel good about eating it if you don’t go overboard.
Use unsalted butter in baking to avoid unwanted changes in flavor.
This Vital Farms Alfresco Butter is made from 85% butterfat from grass-fed dairy cows.
Cold-Pressed Olive Oil
Vegetable oil is common in cooking.
You can use any kind you like and get similar results in terms of consistency and flavor.
For many experienced home bakers, cold-pressed olive oil is the only way to go.
Extra virgin oil undergoes minimal processing.
This keeps nutrients intact and preserves the quality of the product. Cold pressing is the healthiest way to produce olive oil.
Use a quality natural oil made from non-GMO olives.
This Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a little more expensive than basic cooking oils, but you’ll get better results in baking with an incredible mild flavor that elevates all of your recipes.
Coconut Oil
We mentioned that butter should always be used when the recipe calls for it.
However, for people who don’t eat butter for either health or ethical reasons, virgin coconut oil is an alternative.
While it doesn’t have quite the same consistency as butter, it works in a similar way to add flavor and incorporate other dry ingredients.
It has less cholesterol than butter and is ideal for vegan, whole food, keto, paleo, and gluten-free diets.
It’s the best alternative to butter, especially when compared to margarine, olive spread, or even lard.
So, if you want to move away from relying on dairy products, coconut oil is ideal.
Buy virgin oil to ensure quality and the right consistency for baking.
This Nutiva Virgin Coconut Oil is USDA-certified organic and is one of the highest quality options on the market.
The Best Fat for Every Recipe
When it comes to baking, butter is often a go-to ingredient for those who don’t mind using animal products.
However, if you prefer to use plant-based ingredients, there are some great alternatives available.
For example, olive oil is an excellent substitute for standard vegetable oils such as castor oil.
It adds a unique flavor and richness to your baked goods.
Another versatile option is coconut oil, which can be used as a substitute for butter.
Coconut oil is a popular choice among those who follow a vegan diet, and it adds a subtle coconut flavor to your baked treats.
Additionally, coconut oil is a great source of healthy fats and can add a unique texture to your baked goods.
So, whether you’re looking to experiment with new flavors or stick to a plant-based diet, there are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to baking fats.
