🔄 Conversion Basics
Key Difference: Butter is ~80% fat (20% water), while oil is 100% fat.
⚠️ Texture Alert: Oil and butter behave differently in recipes. Oil creates moister textures, while butter adds structure and flavor.
- 1 cup oil = ¾ cup butter (accounting for fat content)
- 1 stick butter = ⅓ cup oil approximately
- Room temperature matters - measure butter when softened
- Melted vs solid - different volumes for same weight
🥧 Baking Guidelines
Best Substitutions:
- Muffins & Quick Breads: Oil works excellently (moister result)
- Cakes: Oil creates tender, moist texture
- Cookies: Butter preferred for structure; oil makes them spread more
- Pie Crusts: Butter essential for flakiness
- Bread: Both work, oil gives softer crumb
💡 Pro Tip: When substituting oil for butter in cookies, reduce liquid ingredients slightly and expect softer cookies.
🌱 Alternative Options
Vegan Butter Substitutes:
- Coconut Oil: Use same amount as butter (solid when cool)
- Vegan Butter: 1:1 replacement for butter
- Applesauce: Use ½ the amount (reduces fat, adds moisture)
- Mashed Banana: Use ½ the amount (adds flavor)
Different Oil Types:
- Neutral oils: Vegetable, canola, grapeseed
- Flavor oils: Olive oil (baking), sesame oil (cooking)
- High-heat oils: Avocado, peanut, sunflower