How to Make Your Own Vegan Butter - EASY DIY Recipe! (2024)

Home » Recipes » Course » Condiments » Vegan Butter

posted by Jessica Hylton on Jan 26, 2024 42 comments »

Jump to Recipe

5 (from 24 ratings)

For the perfect dairy-free butter, look no further than this homemade vegan butter recipe. You can spread it, sauté with it, bake with it, use it in frosting, and yes, you can even brown it!

How to Make Your Own Vegan Butter - EASY DIY Recipe! (1)

We’ve been making vegan butter for about a year now and not only has it saved us tons of money making it at home, but we’ve also learned how to fully customise it for the various uses that we want. Whether it’s savoury, herbed, salted, or unsalted, I’ve got options for you.

After several tries, I settled on a version that uses cashews for my best vegan butter yet. Why cashews? After testing almonds and other ingredients, this recipe gave me the creamiest texture, the best set, the longest storage life, and it actually browned. (But don’t worry, I also have an incredible nut-free version!)

How to Make Your Own Vegan Butter - EASY DIY Recipe! (2)

Why You’ll Love This Vegan Butter Recipe

  • Budget-friendly. All of those vegan meats, cheeses, and milks really start to add up! If you’re looking for ways to make your grocery trips more affordable, making your own vegan butter (and vegan buttermilk, vegan chicken, vegan yogurt—so many options!) is a great way to do it.
  • Ingredients you know. When you make vegan butter at home, you control what goes into it. You can also customise it for yourself, and let’s be real: sometimes it’s just cool making things from scratch!
  • Versatile. You can use this homemade vegan butter any way you would use traditional butter—spread it on toast, sauté vegetables, bake with it, use it in frosting, and even brown it!
  • Easier than you think.Making vegan butter may seem complicated, but it’s actually quite simple. This recipe uses just a handful of ingredients and it’s easy to make in large batches for future use.
How to Make Your Own Vegan Butter - EASY DIY Recipe! (3)

Notes on Ingredients

Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.

  • Soy milk – If you can’t have soy milk, you can use full-fat cashew milk with soy lecithin granules. The lecithin in the cashew milk is crucial for the butter to set up.
  • Refined coconut oil – You want to use refined coconut oil to keep the butter from tasting like coconut.
  • Neutral oil – Such as sunflower oil, safflower oil, canola oil, or avocado oil.
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Sea salt – Add up to 1 teaspoon for salted butter, but you can leave it out completely if you plan to use this vegan butter for baking.
  • Nutritional yeast
  • Raw cashews – Soak these for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight. If you forget, you can boil them in water for 5 minutes on the stove top.

Can I make vegan butter without nuts?

Yes, you can! To do this, simply make the recipe as written and omit the nuts. That’s literally it. It’ll taste great and still “set up” (because of the soy milk), but you won’t be able to “brown” with it and it won’t have the same level of creaminess.

How to Make Vegan Butter

How to Make Your Own Vegan Butter - EASY DIY Recipe! (4)
How to Make Your Own Vegan Butter - EASY DIY Recipe! (5)
  • Blend. Add all of the ingredients to a high powdered blender and blend on high speed until the cashews are smooth.
  • Chill. Pour the butter mixture into a container or mould. Cover, chill, and allow the vegan butter to set completely for at least 5 hours, but preferably overnight.
  • Use. Remove from the refrigerator to use, then return to the fridge afterwards. Use your homemade vegan butter any way you’d use dairy butter!

Tips for Success

  • Follow the instructions. This isn’t a recipe where you can decide to skip something (other than the cashews, as described above!) or replace ingredients based on what you have; it just won’t work.
  • Don’t use extra-virgin olive oil. I usually love this oil but oh my gosh, it’s so bitter once emulsified! Use a neutral oil for the best results.
  • Don’t useONLYcoconut oil. Coconut oil will solidify and won’t give you the desired result.
  • Use room temperature ingredients. This will give you the best quality. Without room temperature ingredients, your butter may whip up a bit like my vegan mayo and it’ll still taste delicious, but it will never set like regular butter.

Making Vegan Compound Butter

You can easily make this into a vegan compound butter with herbs, which is amazing with vegan cornbread muffins. After you’ve blended the butter ingredients, add about 1 to 2 tablespoons of your favourite herbs, then pour the mixture into the dish to set.

How to Make Your Own Vegan Butter - EASY DIY Recipe! (6)

Ways to Use Vegan Butter

I’ve tried this for:

  • Whipping into frosting, like my vegan chocolate frosting
  • Browning (yes, you can make browned butter—just do it slowly at a lower temperature than you’d use for dairy butter)
  • Sautéing, like thisgarlic sautéed mushrooms recipe
  • Melting and drizzling over crispy smashed potatoes
  • Baking and cooking

How to Store

Homemade vegan butter will last in the refrigerator for about 2-3 weeks.Store it in a butter dish or airtight container.

Can I Freeze This?

Vegan butter freezes really well, and you may want to freeze half if you know you can’t finish it within a few weeks. Wrap it tightly or store it in an airtight container for up to 3 months; thaw it in the refrigerator before using.

More Vegan Basics

  • Vegan Egg Substitutes
  • Best Vegan Dairy Substitutes
  • Homemade Oat Milk Creamer
  • Coconut Whipped Cream (2-Ingredients)
  • The Best Vegan Cream Cheese

Enjoy friends! If you make this vegan butter recipe, please snap a photo and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! We’d also love it if you would leave a comment below, and give the recipe a rating! Thanks so much!

How to Make Your Own Vegan Butter - EASY DIY Recipe! (7)

Vegan Butter

Servings: 32 tablespoons

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 0 minutes mins

Resting Time: 4 hours hrs

Total Time: 4 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

You won't believe how easy it is to make your own vegan butter with this recipe! Spread it, sauté with it, bake with it, and so much more!

5 (from 24 ratings)

Print RecipePin RecipeLeave a Review

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup soy milk, room temperature, see notes for subs
  • 1 cup refined coconut oil, melted
  • 2 tablespoons neutral oil, such as sunflower oil, safflower oil, canola oil, or avocado oil
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt , (add up to 1 teaspoon for salted butter but you can leave it out completely it only using for baking)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons nutritional yeast
  • 1/3 cup raw cashews, soaked for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, or boiled for 5 minutes on the stove top

Instructions

  • Add all of the ingredients into a high powdered blender. Ensure they are all room temperature.

  • Blend on high speed until completely combined and cashews are blended out. This took about 15-30 seconds in a high powdered blender like Blendtec or Kitchenaid. If you're not using a high powered blender, blend until everything is fully blended, looking out that the mixture doesn't get too hot as it'll cause it to separate.

  • Pour the butter into a container that you're fine the butter taking the shape of. Cover and allow to set completely, at least 5 hours, but preferably overnight.

  • Remove from fridge, use as pleased, and put back. It's been testing for several uses including in frostings and works perfectly!

Notes

If you can’t have soy milk, you can use full-fat cashew milk + soy lecithin granules. The lecithin in the cashew milk is crucial for the butter to set up.

Serving size is for 1 tablespoon. This recipe makes about 2 cups butter.

This butter lasts in the fridge for about 2-3 weeks. You can easily freeze it too. When ready to thaw, thaw it in the fridge overnight.

You want to use refined coconut oil else it’ll taste like coconut oil.

Tips and tricks for making the best vegan butter

  • Follow the instructions. This isn’t a recipe to skip something or replace based on what you have; it just won’t work.
  • Do NOT use extra virgin olive oil to make this. I usually love this oil but oh my gosh, it’s so bitter once emulsified! Use a neutral oil (sunflower, canola, vegetable, safflower) for the best results.
  • Don’t use only coconut oil. Coconut oil will solidify, and will not give you the desired result
  • Room temperature is best for the best quality. If you don’t use room temperature, your butter may whip up a bit like my vegan mayo and it’ll still taste delicious, but will never set like regular butter.

Can I make vegan butter without nuts?

Yes, you can! So you’ll make the recipe as listedand just remove the nuts. That’s literally it.

Calories: 76kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Sodium: 20mg, Potassium: 16mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 14IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 6mg, Iron: 1mg

Disclaimer: Although jessicainthekitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Jessicainthekitchen.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.

Cuisine: American, Universal

Course: condiment, Jams, Sauces, Dips & Spreads

Author: Jessica Hylton

Condiments Dairy Free Egg Free Gluten Free Nut Free Recipes Vegan Vegetarian

published on Jan 26, 2024

42 comments Leave a comment »

« Previous PostVegan Chicken Parm Sandwich

Next Post »Sweet Potato Chips

Leave a Reply

42 comments on “Vegan Butter”

  1. Kim Cataquet Reply

    Can you make this without coconut oil, and is there a coconut oil-free replacement?

    • Jessica Hylton Reply

      Hi Kim,

      You do need coconut oil since it solidifies!

  2. Stephanie Compton Reply

    Hi Jessica, I was wondering if your recipe tastes similar to the Miyokos butter, since they both use cashews? I’m putting this on my list of things to make and would love to have butter without any questionable ingredients. Thanks for making my life easier!

    • Jessica Hylton Reply

      Hi Stephanie,

      It is similar to Miyokos butter! Hope that helps soo much!

Leave a comment »
How to Make Your Own Vegan Butter - EASY DIY Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

What ingredient is in vegan butter? ›

Vegan Butter Recipe with Cashew
  • 1 cup raw cashews, soaked overnight.
  • 1/2 cup refined coconut oil, melted.
  • 1/4 cup water.
  • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast.
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice.
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Mar 29, 2023

What can I use if I don't have vegan butter? ›

What are good vegan butter substitutes? In baking, you can use vegan butter, applesauce, dairy-free yogurt, coconut oil, coconut butter, olive oil, nut butter, mashed banana and mashed avocado. In cooking, you can use olive oil, coconut oil, vegetable stock, or avocado oil to replace butter.

How to make your own butter at home? ›

Here's the bottom line: Butter is simply heavy or whipping cream that's been whipped beyond its comfort zone and broken down into solid butter and liquid buttermilk. So however you make whipped cream, do it — and keep on going until the cream separates.

How to make butter flavor without butter? ›

Read on to understand how the following 15 ingredients can act as butter substitutes for different recipes and dishes.
  1. MARGARINE. Margarine is a fat that is made mostly from vegetable oil that's flavored to taste like butter. ...
  2. SHORTENING. ...
  3. OLIVE OIL & VEGETABLE OIL. ...
  4. COCONUT OIL. ...
  5. PUMPKIN PURÉE. ...
  6. APPLESAUCE. ...
  7. GREEK YOGURT. ...
  8. BANANAS.

Is vegan butter basically margarine? ›

The main difference between margarine and plant butter is that while margarine may still contain small amounts of dairy, plant butters are free of any animal products. Although plant butter is typically 100% vegan, it can contain saturated fats due to the use of coconut and palm oils.

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 are the pros and cons of plant butter? ›

Pros: Can typically be used as a one-to-one ratio swap for butter, has a similar taste and consistency to butter, and can be used for baking and cooking and as a topping. Cons: Some plant-based butter substitutes (not WayFare's!) may have ingredients that can trigger allergies, like nuts, soy, or gluten.

How long does DIY butter last? ›

How long does homemade butter last? Homemade butter has a shelf life of up to 2 – 3 weeks when kept in the fridge. You can also keep your homemade butter in the freezer for up to 9 months.

Is it cheaper to make your own butter? ›

Butter isn't that expensive — it's about $3 per pound at the wholesale level. Cream costs roughly $3.50 for 16 ounces, or less if you buy a larger carton. That means the price of making your own butter isn't much more than buying it in the store, and often you can get organic cream cheaper than organic butter.

What do vegans use instead of butter? ›

Here are some of the best vegan substitutes for butter.
  • Olive oil. This should be in everyone's kitchen. ...
  • Macadamia oil. A natural oil made from the cold pressing of macadamia nuts. ...
  • Rice oil. A delicate oil with a subtle flavour that is appreciated in baked goods. ...
  • Extra virgin coconut oil. ...
  • Avocado pulp.
Jul 31, 2023

What can I use if I don't have butter for a recipe? ›

Butter alternatives
  1. Margarine. Replacement ratio: 1:1. ...
  2. Cream cheese. Replacement ratio: 1:1. ...
  3. Unsweetened full-fat natural yoghurt. Replacement ratio: 250g or less, 1:1. ...
  4. Full-fat mayonnaise. Replacement ratio: 1:1. ...
  5. Olive oil or vegetable oil. Replacement ratio: 1:1. ...
  6. Unsweetened apple sauce. ...
  7. Mashed banana. ...
  8. Nut butter.

How is plant-based butter made? ›

Plant-based butter, also referred to as vegan butter, is a nondairy butter substitute that's typically made by combining water with a plant-derived oil, such as olive, avocado, coconut, palm kernel oil, or a combination of oils.

Is plant-based butter better for you than regular butter? ›

Plant Butter vs Butter

In terms of nutritional value, plant-based butter has some positives in that they contain less cholesterol than normal butter, but are just as dense calorically. Plant butter also contains more coloring and artificial flavoring than dairy butter.

What are the ingredients in Country Crock plant butter? ›

Ingredients. Blend of plant-based oils (soybean, palm kernel, avocado, and palm fruit oil), water, salt, pea protein, soy lecithin, lactic acid, natural flavor, vitamin e acetate, vitamin a palmitate, beta carotene (color).

Is vegan butter an allergen? ›

While plant-based butter is a good option for those with dairy allergies or lactose intolerance, they may still contain other possible allergens. In particular, these butters may contain soy, tree nuts, or gluten.

Does vegan butter taste like butter? ›

The best vegan butter should be smooth, rich, salty, creamy, and, most of all, it should taste like butter—delicate, sweet, and fatty. Plant based butter doesn't have to taste like vegetable margarine. Vegan butters that include almond milk, coconut oil, or olive oil are completely welcome here.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Carmelo Roob

Last Updated:

Views: 6187

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (45 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Carmelo Roob

Birthday: 1995-01-09

Address: Apt. 915 481 Sipes Cliff, New Gonzalobury, CO 80176

Phone: +6773780339780

Job: Sales Executive

Hobby: Gaming, Jogging, Rugby, Video gaming, Handball, Ice skating, Web surfing

Introduction: My name is Carmelo Roob, I am a modern, handsome, delightful, comfortable, attractive, vast, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.