Would butter work instead of olive oil?

Nancy
  • Posted by: Nancy
  • July 27, 2017
  • 2456 views
  • 8 Comments
Grown-Up Birthday Cake
Recipe question for: Grown-Up Birthday Cake

8 Comments

creamtea July 28, 2017
In the headnotes, Midge states that the original called for vegetable oil, and that she subbed olive oil. So it seems you could go back to the original and use another such as sunflower or safflower, or you could try filtered coconut too
 
Nancy July 28, 2017
THANKS!!!
 
PieceOfLayerCake July 27, 2017
Out of curiosity, what draws you to this recipe? Why not find a butter cake?
 
Nancy July 28, 2017
I've already made this cake and loved it but my daughter didn't like the olive oil! Oh well...
 
PieceOfLayerCake July 27, 2017
Sure. You could cream 2 sticks of softened butter with the sugar or just use a cup of melted butter...just measure after you melt.
 
Nancy July 27, 2017
POLC - might it not be 1.25 cup butter to replace 1 cup oil (as butter is about 80% fat but oil is 100% fat)?
reference link:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/427972-can-i-substitute-butter-for-vegetable-oil-in-a-cake-mix/
 
PieceOfLayerCake July 27, 2017
I would try and cook off the extra water, and then measure out a cup. Not quite clarified, but I don't really want to add extra water to the cake with the extra butter. I suppose I should have specified that. Lightly browned butter wouldn't hurt either. I add brown butter to whatever I can. If you're creaming the butter, I'd still stick with 2 sticks...but you're changing the consistency of the cake when you change both the fat and the mixing technique.

Personally, I'd go for the 1 cup of "clarified" butter. Just make sure to bring it to room temperature before serving. :)
 
Nancy July 27, 2017
Understood. I also worried about the extra water. Like both the ideas of almost-clarified and brown butter.
 
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