As I recall Earth Balance Soy Free Butter Alternative is made with Canola Oil which is derived from "Rapeseed" Rapeseed is GMO. I would not use it. I prefer butter flavored non hydrogenated Butter Flavored Spectrum.
Sorry gang. I agree with Sam. Why post this question on a cooking website? It should be on a vegan website. The poster does not want "butter". They just want some medium to use to bake. Let's not call it butter. It's not anywhere remotely like butter. And don't dare spank me! I too am allowed to voice my opinion.
Cheers
irina
Yes why on earth did someone ask a question about food on a food website? Oh it's vegan? Because Food52 doesn't have vegan recipes and has never addressed veganism/plant based topics. š
Yours is an odd statement/question. My daughter has MS & Top 8 food allergies, she is not vegan or vegetarian. My granddaughter has the Top 20 food allergies, she is not vegan nor vegetarian. We require safe allergen free alternatives as well as to balance diets.
For baking, I like to use coconut oil or Spectrum non-hydrogenated shortening. I have a small bakeshop, and we do a lot of vegan baking for customers with allergies and for vegans/vegetarians. I started making soy-free shortening using a tutorial I saw on veganbaking.net. I use about 2/3 coconut oil and 1/3 sunflower oil. You could also use safflower oil or canola oil.
I agree with Mattcooper. Let's have some more respect on the hotline, for members and those seeking answers to simple questions. The goal of hotline is to help people, no make them feel badly about their choices. It really frustrates me to see F00d52ers ragging on each other!
I have a question. I'm trying to make some apple brownies (which call for 1 stick of butter). I subbed out the butter with 1/2 Cup of Coconut Oil. They taste fine, but the batter was too crumbly. Should I add more coconut oil or add the 1/2 cup with some applesauce. Recipe is below: http://www.mygingergarlickitchen.com/apple-cinnamon-brownie-with-caramel-drizzle/ I'm not doing the caramel drizzle. I'm making this dairy/soy free due to my child's allergy to Dairy and Soy. Thank you
I hate to join the anti-vegan faction here. But why? If it's for social reasons, you have to question where does your food come from in the winter if you live in the north and the carbon footprint of bringing you fruit in New York in December. I also question the 'healthy' as some vegan things are far more lab processed depending on factory process than just butter etc.
Vegan food is fine and well for me...but I cringe when I see frankenburgers, or meat like products, or butter substitutes...Which are born in a lab. It's still factory food you can't make at home--despite the 'organic' vegan label. If you're committed to the life style, don't use substitutes made in a lab. Just forgo any processed lab created foods no matter what, or rethink your diet choices into local products. Local butter, milk and creme and eggs are great IMHO.
It's ironic that vegans want to 'get back to nature' when they purchase non-local stuff or want substitutes manufactured by a lab. Or coconut oils..etc..ect which have a much higher carbon footprint from being shipped from tropical regions to the states.
I know that many people have strong feelings and misperceptions about other peoplesā decisions to limit the types of food they put into their bodies. Some of these decisions are based on medical issues others on firmly held ethical beliefs. I can understand this having been a vegan for many years and one who still eats mostly plant based foods. What I canāt understand is the need on the part of a small minority of the Food52 community to offer unsolicited advice to vegans, vegetarians, and those who choose to limit gluten in their diets. Brunchwear asked a simple question about soy-free butter substitutes. Why this constant need on the part of some to give unrequested for information or snide and condescending comments about āfrankenburgersā? Just answer the damn question and if you donāt like the question, skip it and let someone else answer it.
I agree with beyondcelery. Coconut oil is an excellent option. I usually cut it with some safflower oil to mellow the flavor, unless it is something I want the coconut flavor to come through on (and that happens a lot).
For frosting, I usually use non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening and coconut oil.
A lot of it depends on exactly what you are baking. Care to share?
Sorry I lost the question and kind of just realized the 'my question' spot. To be short as possible I I'm not a vegan (this was in debate) I just eat a very limited amount of dairy, it makes me very fatigue. And I don't like margarine because I prefer to stay away from hydrogenated oil and I also try to limit my soy intake.
Palm oil will work in some instances. Coconut oil works very well, but has limits. I've used coconut oil successfully as a butter substitute in muffins, cakes, cookies, and pie crust. I don't recommend trying it with croissants. Also keep in mind that if you're just making quick breads, muffins, and cakes, you can usually substitute canola oil (made from rapeseed) for melted butter. The crumb will be slightly altered, but it'll work just fine. This is where I'll add applesauce to help increase the moisture in a cake's crumb, if I find it's too dry.
I've successfully used applesauce to replace up to half the butter in a quick bread recipe, but no more than that. For this, very smooth pureed homemade applesauce works best for me.
If you're feeling adventurous, use olive, walnut, peanut, or sesame oils in quick bread recipes in place of butter. These will add their own flavors to the final product, but it can be really delicious. For example, I use olive oil in savory recipes and nut- or seed-based oils in banana or pumpkin bread. Walnut oil can be delightful in the right cake, if you're willing to pay for it.
23 Comments
Cheers
irina
http://www.veganbaking.net/fats/vegan-shortenings/776-how-to-make-vegan-shortening
I agree with Mattcooper. Let's have some more respect on the hotline, for members and those seeking answers to simple questions. The goal of hotline is to help people, no make them feel badly about their choices. It really frustrates me to see F00d52ers ragging on each other!
Vegan food is fine and well for me...but I cringe when I see frankenburgers, or meat like products, or butter substitutes...Which are born in a lab. It's still factory food you can't make at home--despite the 'organic' vegan label. If you're committed to the life style, don't use substitutes made in a lab. Just forgo any processed lab created foods no matter what, or rethink your diet choices into local products. Local butter, milk and creme and eggs are great IMHO.
It's ironic that vegans want to 'get back to nature' when they purchase non-local stuff or want substitutes manufactured by a lab. Or coconut oils..etc..ect which have a much higher carbon footprint from being shipped from tropical regions to the states.
Voted the Best Reply!
For frosting, I usually use non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening and coconut oil.
A lot of it depends on exactly what you are baking. Care to share?
I've successfully used applesauce to replace up to half the butter in a quick bread recipe, but no more than that. For this, very smooth pureed homemade applesauce works best for me.
If you're feeling adventurous, use olive, walnut, peanut, or sesame oils in quick bread recipes in place of butter. These will add their own flavors to the final product, but it can be really delicious. For example, I use olive oil in savory recipes and nut- or seed-based oils in banana or pumpkin bread. Walnut oil can be delightful in the right cake, if you're willing to pay for it.
Good in baking, not in pastry.
Also a prune spead callwd, if memory serves, Lekvar.