As the name suggests, butter extract replicates the rich flavor of butter without adding any extra calories to your dishes.
It is commonly used in baking recipes, including cupcakes, cookies, or brownies. Alternatively, you can sprinkle it into custards, muffins, or icings to give your dishes a buttery twist.
Butter flavor extract is similar to the real butter in the sense that it is a dairy product. Consisting of milk proteins, it does not lend itself well to vegan recipes.
That being said, unlike melted butter, this extract is lactose-free, making it the ideal option for those who are intolerant to this substance.
The following substitute for butter extract are not only tasty but also very handy. So whether you want to make sweet and savory dishes, there are suitable alternatives for you.
List of 6 Best Substitutes For Butter Extract
1. Vanilla Extract
Vanilla extract is created by soaking vanilla beans into a blend of water and alcohol. Vanilla and butter flavored extract’s tastes bear a striking similarity, to the point that people often mistake one for another.
This means vanilla extract can be the perfect alternative if you can’t lay your hands on butter extract. In addition, vanilla extract can take your sweet treats, such as cakes, custards, and puddings, up a notch.
Bear in mind that the flavor of vanilla extract is a tad more intense than pure butter extract. Therefore, we suggest you reduce its quantity in your baked goods. Otherwise, your dishes might become overly sweet.
Your solution should contain at least 35 percent methanol and 100 grams of vanilla beans per liter to lend a deeper flavor to your sweets.
The more concentrated your vanilla extract is, the less you have to use in order to yield the desired taste.
2. Almond Extract
While almonds are sometimes loathed for their bitter taste, almond extract, surprisingly, is mild and delicate.
This pure and nutty extract enriches the flavor of numerous ingredients, ranging from coffee, cherry to chocolate, all of which are ubiquitous in baking recipes.
This imitation butter extract can also be used to add a touch of sweetness to your cakes’ toppings, fillings, or salad dressings.
Almond extract can be found in either the baking aisle or the flavoring sections in grocery chains like Walmart or Whole Foods.
You can also purchase via e-commerce platforms such as Amazon or eBay. Wherever you buy, a standard almond extract container often retails for roughly $4.
3. Real Butter
What’s a better way to inject a buttery flavor into your dishes than real butter? This delicious ingredient is a staple in many Western dishes due to its distinctively rich and creamy taste.
What’s more, this butter flavoring replacement serves as an ideal carrier for other fat-soluble substances.
For example, if you add vanilla extract to butter, the full flavor of this extract will be carried by the butter and ultimately delivered to the dish.
Both salted and unsalted butter are readily available in supermarkets and grocery stores. We recommend you purchase the latter and then add as much salt as you wish to your dishes.
By doing this, you can control your dishes’ level of saltiness much more quickly and accurately.
4. Olive Oil
Thanks to its fat content, olive oil can be a substitution for butter extract. A few dashes of olive oil impart a rich, delightful and irresistible flavor to your sweets.
This butter extract alternative pairs exceptionally well with brownies, pies, and cornmeal cakes.
Olive oil is richer than butter extract, so a little goes a long way. If your dish, for instance, requires 4 teaspoons of butter extract, then 3 teaspoons of olive oil are more than enough to complement the flavor of your baked goods.
When baking, opt for extra virgin olive oil as opposed to refined olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil preserves the sophistication of olives’ taste and aroma, thereby enhancing the flavor of your sweets.
In addition, unrefined olive oil is scientifically proven to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and it is also packed with vitamins and minerals.
5. Canola oil
Extracted from a wide range of rapeseed, canola oil is a godsend for baking recipes. While it lacks the taste of butter extract, its light, neutral flavor is often preferred since it does not stand out as the prominent flavor.
For this reason, if you intend to use gourmet ingredients in your recipes, such as organic milk or dark chocolate, then canola oil is guaranteed to bring out their tantalizing flavors.
This butternut flavoring substitute is also notable for its low saturated fat content, especially in comparison with other vegetable oils.
Canola oil, therefore, is the all-time favorite choice among health-conscious individuals.
6. Greek yogurt
Greek yogurt makes an amazing substitute for butter extract, thanks to its unique creamy taste. It can be used in sweet and savory cooking applications, making this ingredient one of the handiest replacements.
Besides, casein, a milk protein in Greek yogurt, can aid moisture retention when making sweet treats. For example, this butternut extract substitute can help thicken muffins’ batter, hydrate buns’ dough, and keep banana bread moist and tender.
Another icing on the cake is its incredible benefits to your physical well-being. Plain Greek yogurt is fat-free, sugar-free, contains a considerable amount of protein and probiotics, which do wonders for your digestive and immune system.
Here is a video walking you through the steps of making a cake using this substitute for butter flavoring:
FAQs
Is vanilla extract calorie-free?
Generally speaking, yes. Since only the extracted flavor of vanilla beans is used, it is very low-carb and low-calorie.
In fact, most extracts contain a negligible amount of fat, sugar, and calories. Extracts are even used as an alternative to sugar to reduce daily sugar intake to a minimum, thus lowering blood pressure and warding off cardiovascular diseases.
What’s the difference between butter flavoring vs butter extract?
Extracts taste milder and subtly deepen the flavors of other ingredients rather than overpower them.
Extracts should be incorporated into dairy products or confections as they retain the same flavor profiles of these dishes.
On the other hand, flavor concentrates are more robust and can maintain their taste for a more extended period. Flavoring is often used in ice creams, taking their taste to the next level.
Is extract stronger than powder?
It depends on each brand’s formulation, but the powder is usually less potent and includes no added sugar.
The powder is best suited for popcorn and a wide assortment of beverages, including energy drinks, milkshakes, or liquid supplements.
Is butter extract artificial?
Yes. Butter extract does contain chemicals; however, these compounds have been repeatedly proven to be safe for human consumption. What’s worth worrying about is alcohol, though.
The alcohol used to make butter extract is the same type of alcohol found in beer, wine, and liquor.
Therefore, if children consume an excessive amount of butter extract, they may be susceptible to alcohol poisoning.
Do baking extracts expire?
Their shelf life varies significantly from brand to brand, but in general, flavoring extracts last from 6 months to 1 year.
Pure vanilla extract, however, might never deteriorate, thanks to its alcohol content. If kept in a tightly sealed container and stored in a cool, dark place, the vanilla extract may even taste better with age.
Conclusion
The wide variety of substitutes for butter extract leaves a lot of room for experimentation. One alternative might pair well with cakes, while others may complement brownies.
Feel free to swap butter extracts with these delectable replacements to showcase your creativity. We hope you enjoy not only the flavor but also the experience of crafting your own superb recipes!
