10 Healthy Alternatives to Use for Butter

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Butter is a popular ingredient that plays an important role in some of your favorite recipes. Also, regardless if you are sauteing, pan frying or baking, butter may provide full flavor.

It also provides a fuller waistline over time if you use it in almost everything. The fat present in butter is mostly the saturated kind, the kind that raises LDL or badcholesterol, clogs arteries and a contributing factor in heart disease.

But you don’t have to sacrifice taste, to remove that dollop of extra calories, fat and sodium. Below are ten healthier alternatives that you can use for butter.

 

10 Healthy Alternatives to Use for Butter
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1. Applesauce

To save up on tons of calories, another way to ensure a delicious and healthy baked goods, is opting for applesauce, which works well in sweet recipes.

Applesauce is a great alternative when baking sweets, because it adds fiber and moisture to your baked goods and you save up on tons of calories. You can use equal amount of applesauce for the butter needed in your recipe.

2. Avocado

Using avocado on your bread is just as delicious and even provide a dose of fiber, vitamin K and potassium. It is high in fat, but the healthy kind known as monounsaturated fat. This fat helps to lower bad cholesterol while raising good cholesterol.

3. Canola Oil

In recipes that requires melted butter, you can use canola oil instead. It is an emulsifier that cuts cholesterol, sodium and saturated fat, almost in half. Also you can have those muffins and cookies faster, if you use this oil instead of butter.

4. Coconut Oil

You can use coconut olive oil as the emulsifier in your pan instead of butter. Coconut oil might be high in saturated fats or the good fats, but it lacks the trans or bad fat, that butter contained.

You can also use flax-seed oil, if you are not a big fan of coconut flavor. It has the the same healthy attributes as coconut oil.

5. Fruit Puree

Fruit purees are pure, mashed fruit preserves. These are not jams and it can be easily prepared at home, with the use of a food processor.

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You can use a thick layer of apricot, strawberry, mango, raspberry, pear, blueberry or peach puree, which contains less calories, more fiber and absolutely no fat.

6. Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt is rich in protein. So, if you swap that one cup of butter in your muffin or cake or muffin recipe, for half the amount of nutritious plain Greek yogurt; you will not only cut the saturated fat and calories. But you will end up with a protein-rich cake that is super moist.

7. Hummus

Hummus, is known as the signature Mediterranean chickpea spread. It also makes a delicious and healthy sandwich spread.

You can use it in place of butter, mayonnaise and margarine. Since chickpeas are high in antioxidants and protein, hummus makes for a more nutritional and flavorful turkey Sammie.

8. Nut Butter

Like avocados, nut butters can be use as spread on bread and toast. Added to that it offers heart-healthy fats, fiber and potassium, which unlike boast very few nutritional benefits.

9. Olive Oil

Olive oil is a common ingredient in stir fries and salad dressings. But you can also use it when baking.

You can use 3/4 cup of olive oil for every cup of butter that is in the recipe. Olive oil is an effective butter substitute in mashed potatoes and pasta sauces. It is considered to be a heart-healthy staple by the American Heart Association. Also olive oil is filled with healthy unsaturated fats that are worth the extra calories.

10. Pumpkin Puree

You can use pumpkin puree in making coffee cakes and muffins. Not only will you benefit from added nutrients like vitamin k, potassium, and fiber, but you will also add delicious flavor into your baked goods and for only a little extra calories.

You can use ¾ cup of pumpkin puree for every cup of butter needed. Also you can also use in equal amounts pumpkin puree for any oil called for in baked goods.

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