Swap in an Easy Margarine Substitute for a Healthier Recipe (2024)

Low on margarine? Swap in any of these easy substitutes. We've also got some healthy margarine substitutes.

By

Sheena Chihak, RD

Swap in an Easy Margarine Substitute for a Healthier Recipe (1)

Sheena Chihak is a registered dietitian, former food editor and current edit lead for BHG with over 17 years of writing and editing experience for both print and digital.

Updated on November 24, 2023

It's no secret that our Test Kitchen loves a good cookie or pound cake recipe loaded with a buttery flavor. But what about margarine? Before we get into what kind of margarine substitute to use, it's important to know fats and oils add flavor and contribute to the texture of your baked goods. Since margarine is found in the same section of your grocery store, you might be wondering if you can easily swap margarine with butter or another butter substitute in a recipe.

The short answer is while there is no exact rule for substituting the fats in your recipes, you'll likely be able to use butter or shortening as a one-to-one swap for margarine. In addition to butter, we're sharing some easy (and healthier swaps) for when you need a margarine substitute right away.

Swap in an Easy Margarine Substitute for a Healthier Recipe (2)

Margarine Substitutes

While oil provides moisture to many baking recipes (we're looking at you, olive oil cake!), you need your margarine substitute to be in a solid form so the proper amount of air can be incorporated. For example, you want to be able to cream your butter and sugar together to get your chocolate chip cookies with the perfect texture. For this reason, cooking oils such as vegetable or canola are not recommended substitutes for margarine.

Substitute Butter for Margarine

The easiest, fool-proof way to ensure your baked goods will turn out the most similar is using butter. For 1 cup margarine, substitute 1 cup butter or 1 cup shortening plus ¼ teaspoon salt.

Substitute Oil for Margarine

It's easy to swap in coconut oil, olive oil, canola oil, avocado oil, or vegetable oil for margarine. In most recipes, oil is substituted for margarine at a 3:4 ratio. This accounts for any water or other ingredients in the margarine. So, for every cup of margarine in the recipe, use 3/4 cup of oil.

Healthy Margarine Substitutes

For 1 cup margarine, substitute 1 cup of the following:

  • 1 cup softened cream cheese (or one 8 oz. block) or reduced-fat cream cheese, which has fewer calories and fat.
  • 1 cup 60% to 70% vegetable or olive oil spread, which are trans-fat-free.
  • 1 cup tofu (best in brownies).
  • 1 cup baby prunes (best in dark baked goods due to color).
  • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce, which cuts the fat and adds vitamin C.

More Cooking and Baking Substitutions

Keep the healthy kick going by learning more ways to bake with less fat. Or download our free healthy substitutions chart to keep even more ideas on hand for your next meal.

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Swap in an Easy Margarine Substitute for a Healthier Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a healthy substitute for margarine? ›

It's easy to swap in coconut oil, olive oil, canola oil, avocado oil, or vegetable oil for margarine. In most recipes, oil is substituted for margarine at a 3:4 ratio. This accounts for any water or other ingredients in the margarine. So, for every cup of margarine in the recipe, use 3/4 cup of oil.

What is the healthiest substitute for butter? ›

9 healthful substitutes for butter
  • Olive oil.
  • Ghee.
  • Greek yogurt.
  • Avocado.
  • Pumpkin purée.
  • Mashed bananas.
  • Coconut oil.
  • Applesauce.
Nov 15, 2018

What is margarine sold as a substitute for? ›

It is most often used as a substitute for butter. Although originally made from animal fats, most margarine consumed today is made from vegetable oil.

What is the healthiest, butter or margarine? ›

Margarine often tops butter when it comes to heart health. Margarine is a blend of oils that are mostly unsaturated fat. Butter is made from cream or milk. The type of fat found in animal products, such as cream, is mostly saturated fat.

What are some healthy alternatives to using margarine or butter as a cooking medium? ›

Home Cooking Butter Alternatives
  • Olive Oil. A champion of the Mediterranean diet, olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats and antioxidants that promote heart health and reduce inflammation. ...
  • Avocado. ...
  • Coconut Oil. ...
  • Ghee. ...
  • Nut Butters. ...
  • Applesauce.

What is a non margarine butter substitute? ›

Some recipes might require a bit of experimentation with different substitutes until you find what works best.
  1. Coconut Oil. Coconut oil is a popular butter substitute, especially for vegans. ...
  2. Fruit Purée. ...
  3. Lard. ...
  4. Vegan Butter. ...
  5. Olive Oil. ...
  6. Vegetable Oil. ...
  7. Vegetable Shortening.
Sep 27, 2020

What is a healthy substitute for butter if you have high cholesterol? ›

The Best Options

The most heart-healthy options are neither butter nor margarine, but olive oil, avocado oil, and other vegetable-based spreads. 7 In baked goods, consider substituting applesauce, nut butters, or squash purees for butter. Dip your crusty piece of bread into some olive oil.

What is the heart smart alternative to butter? ›

As part of a healthy diet, CSIRO and Heart Foundation recommend the use of margarine / table spread over butter. Using Nuttelex Original in place of butter will reduce the saturated fat intake by 2.5kg* per year *Based on 20g of margarine versus 20g of butter per day.

What to use instead of margarine on toast? ›

Olive oil spread is better for you than butter or margarine and it's great on toast. It's also really easy to make your own! The secret? Olive oil spread is simply olive oil kept at a cold enough temperature that it solidifies.

What are substitute goods butter and margarine? ›

Answer and Explanation:

Substitute goods are those commodities that can be entirely replaced with one another but yet they provide the same level of utility to the consumer. Butter and margarine are used as spreads on the bread. So, either of them can be used.

Is country crock butter or margarine? ›

Country Crock® is a spread made with oils from plants, whereas butter is made with milk or cream from cows. Country Crock® has less saturated fat per serving than dairy butter, but still has a delicious buttery taste. Country Crock® products also tend to be softer out of the fridge for easy spreading.

Is smart balance healthier than butter? ›

Smart Balance® Buttery Spreads are deliciously blended to be the healthier alternative to butter on your dining table and in all your favorite recipes.

What is the healthiest spread to eat? ›

"Margarine has the better nutrient profile in terms of being lower in saturated fat than butter, and both should be considered in the context of the whole diet," she says. "But emerging evidence suggests that there's an association between poor health and ultra-processed diets above and beyond nutrients."

What is the healthiest margarine you can buy? ›

When it comes to healthy margarine, Smart Balance may come to mind. With no hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils, Smart Balance may be one of the best cholesterol-reducing margarine brands on the market. Additionally, it contains zero trans fat.

Is I cant believe it's not butter healthy? ›

The fact is, just because something is “real” does not necessarily make it good for you. The “real” ingredients that “I Can't Believe It's Not Butter” is touting are oils and salt. The ingredient list of “I Can't Believe It's Not Butter” reveals unhealthy ingredients like tropical oils and salt.

Can I use crisco instead of margarine? ›

In general, you can substitute Crisco shortening for butter or margarine in equal amounts (1 cup Crisco shortening = 1 cup butter or margarine). Not only does Crisco shortening have 50% less saturated fat than butter and 0g trans fat per serving, it gives you higher, lighter-textured baked goods.

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