Vegan
We Tasted 10 Vegan Butters in the Name of Science
Here's what (flaky, heavenly goodness) we baked up.
Photo by Gena Hamshaw

The Food52 Vegan Cookbook is here! With this book from Gena Hamshaw, anyone can learn how to eat more plants (and along the way, how to cook with and love cashew cheese, tofu, and nutritional yeast).
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25 Comments
IntisarsGourmetDesserts
January 22, 2023
Which butter works well in custard, sweet potato, pumpkin, or other creamy pies?
[email protected]
January 2, 2023
Would be nice if you added the ingredients and contents to the nondairy vegan butter.
Honorgram
October 25, 2022
Hello! Which of these products does not include a fermented ingredient? I can’t have dairy or peas but I also can’t have anything fermented and it’s hard to tell from reading the ingredients.
Thanks so much
Thanks so much
Sadavee
June 13, 2022
Kite Hill butter is DELICIOUS! I still use some of the others mentioned here depending on what I’m making but Kite hill is my favorite and is good enough to have on toast or fry up some eggs—yum!!! I also use butter olive oil (from Sedona olive oil co) as an alternative. Great article!
Layla97
February 2, 2022
The items all seem to be the salted variety. I prefer unsalted butter so I can find Miyokos unsalted with difficulty. Are there any of the brands listed above in unsalted?
Mary
February 2, 2022
Trader Joes has a new plant-based butter alternative that opted to try since Myyokos was unavailable the day I shopped. And yes, it is a Trader Joes packaged product.
This butter alternative baked up well in my vegan chocolate chips cookies, slightly crispy around edges but soft inside. But what I really noticed about this product was that it nicely browned my sauteed apples slices that I was putting atop my vegan pancakes.
Happy happy daughter #2.
Has anyone else tried it?
This butter alternative baked up well in my vegan chocolate chips cookies, slightly crispy around edges but soft inside. But what I really noticed about this product was that it nicely browned my sauteed apples slices that I was putting atop my vegan pancakes.
Happy happy daughter #2.
Has anyone else tried it?
Carrie F.
February 2, 2022
I gave up on Earth Balance years ago because after eating it on bread, I felt like there was a thick coating in my mouth. I haven't heard anyone else voice that complaint. I wonder if the formula has changed in the last 5-8 years. Miyoko's lightly salted, on the other hand, melts in your mouth and is so good (to my taste at least) that I have been know to lick the cutting board after it dribbles through holes in the sourdough toast.
Lucyann7
January 22, 2022
hello. you started talking about palm oil but missed the main worry about it. to be vegan yeah shoukf be to care about animals but it really should be for you to want to be healthier. because you care about what your putting into this vessel. i think you should have made a point that palm oil can be a significant ingredient in plant based diets but it’s actually not healthier than eating for example real butter. it’s high in saturated fats and while it’s also a big part of are forest being knocked down. so i suggest staying away from palm oil. these company’s might say “we will get palm oil in a more eco friendly way” bullshit, they just want your money!!
pklenk
December 21, 2021
Thank you for a very interesting article! Because I was considering baking a vegan cake I had to check out vegan butter options and this information was very helpful! I've been a Smart Balance user but never tried for baking. Will be checking out your recommendations and also hope to find more unsalted options for baking as well as for sodium restricted diets.
Steven W.
December 18, 2021
I make and sell nut brittles for our dog rescue medical fund Thanksgiving through New Year's and this year I was happy to have been able to sell vegan nut brittle, using Country Crock sticks. That brand was VERY reasonably priced, out of all the options (3) in my local grocery chains. I sold more vegan version brittle than I thought I would. Each batch takes one stick and I ended up buying two pounds for over 10 pounds of brittle total. Will absolutely promote vegan nut brittles next holiday season. I didn't notice any difference in flavor or texture.
Layla97
February 11, 2021
Thank you so much for this article! But there was no mention of unsalted products. Do you have recommendations for unsalted vegan butter? I currently use Miyoko but would be interested in something with a richer flavor without added salt.
Sierra R.
November 28, 2020
I am not a fan of smart balance for baking. It has a horribly strong chemical flavor and has essentially ruined every dessert I’ve attempted to bake with, especially pound cake and vanilla cake.
Tracie
April 22, 2020
I really like Better Buttah. Best tasting IMHO. Melts quickly, great for hot pasta. Have not tried baking with it.
Ellie
April 22, 2020
Does anyone know of a palm oil free (for ethical reasons) and coconut free (because of food allergy) vegan butter brand? Or have a recipe?
Steven W.
December 18, 2021
I don't but I was concerned about the cashew butter products and cashew products in general---from what I see it's a hard-won product and getting the nuts takes a toll on the women who do this work.
Mary
April 22, 2020
Gena Hamshaw thank you. I am a self described reluctant vegan while my daughter resides with us before graduate school begins in Europe. Tiny apt, galley kitchen, I love to cook, I love good food. You have given me many good ideas for compromise vegan cooking.
Vegan baking has been difficult, the browning so often unsatisfactory. I will keep my eyes open for Fora in the markets. All good health to you and keep the ideas coming.
Time for some bacon...😁
Vegan baking has been difficult, the browning so often unsatisfactory. I will keep my eyes open for Fora in the markets. All good health to you and keep the ideas coming.
Time for some bacon...😁
michellequan
March 16, 2020
Love this list! I’m relatively new to the plant-based scene; I went dairy-free about 3 years ago. But I’m an avid baker and giving up buttery baked good has been a challenge. I will say, I am NOT a fan of Earth Balance for baking. True, texturally it works fine, but there is this awkward aftertaste, almost chemically or like burnt plastic. I’ve used Country Crock and that’s been much better, but yields slightly less better baking results (ok for cakes, not great for pastry). Excited to try the others on this list!
Dee A.
March 15, 2020
I used the Earth Balance sticks for making some ginger cookies for a crowd that may have included vegans. Even as a child of the Margarine Generation, I was unprepared for how bad they would taste. I tossed the entire batch. They had a weird chemical taste I just couldn’t get over. Might have been OK as a spread but not for baking.
Nozlee S.
March 12, 2020
This is so helpful!! I have long wondered about all these brands, but with hefty price tags I usually stick to my beloved Earth Balance (which is spreadable straight out of the fridge -- a staple for breakfast toast in the summer in my household, when cow's milk butter would melt on the countertop). I'm excited to check them out!
I am so WILDLY impressed at your vegan croissants!!
I am so WILDLY impressed at your vegan croissants!!
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