Butter is the typical choice for average baked goods. However, substituting peanut butter can be an excellent option for those of you looking for a more nutritious option. Though peanut butter is still high in saturated fats, it is a big improvement over those contained in butter.
To substitute peanut butter for butter in your baking, follow these steps:
- Combine an equal amount of peanut butter and oil. Make sure the peanut butter is soft and creamy, not stiff.
- Use the same amount of this mixture as you would have for butter. If the recipe calls for 1 cup of butter, use 1 cup of the mixture.
How to Replace Butter with Peanut Butter
- Select the peanut butter you will use to substitute. In general, pick the option with the fewest ingredients. If you can find peanut butter with just salt and peanuts on the label, even better!
- Check the original recipe to see how much butter needs to be replaced.
- Make sure your butter is creamy and combine an equal amount of peanut butter and oil. Many baking oils are usable, such as coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil.
- Replace the butter measurement with the same measurement of your new mixture.
- Note that if the recipe calls for salted butter, you may want to add some salt to your peanut butter mixture.
Why Not Butter?
The health value of butter has been hotly debated for years. Some research supports that the high amount of saturated fat in butter can lead to health problems. However, medical professionals have found that it actually can have health benefits when consumed in moderation.
If butter isn’t all that bad, why would I want to substitute it?
While it is true that butter is still a good option, you may have many other reasons to substitute it.
Dietary Restrictions
Food allergies are on the rise, and the ingredients of butter are no exception. If you have milk allergies, you may already know how butter negatively affects you.
Lactose intolerance is another reason to avoid butter. The rise in dairy-free milk substitutes is just one example of how we are learning to find alternatives for this dietary condition. While butter does not affect everyone with lactose intolerance, it can cause problems for people with especially high sensitivity to lactose.
Besides allergies, you may also want to avoid butter if you are vegan. The same is true if your diet calls for you to avoid animal products for any other reason.
Health Reasons
Though butter may not be the cold-blooded killer many have believed, it can still be bad for you in excess.
Butter has left some footprints on the crime scene for issues like heart disease, high cholesterol levels, and high calorie intake. In addition, butter has little nutritional value compared to its calorie count.
Why Use Peanut Butter?
For the reasons above, or any other, you may want to consider using an alternative to butter in your baking. Peanut butter is a wonderful option.
Better Ingredients
Compared to butter’s 80% fat, peanut butter contains just 50% fat. That’s already a big difference!
Peanut butter also has numerous health benefits. According to Medical News Today, 2 tablespoons of peanut butter contain about 7 grams of protein. Compare this to the protein contained in the same amount of butter, and you’ll see the difference. Healthline says butter contains just 0.24 grams per 2 tablespoons!
Peanut butter contains other beneficial ingredients: magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, niacin, and vitamin B6.
Other Benefits
Peanut butter has been shown to help with a number of health topics:
- Weight loss, especially for those with diabetes
- Heart health
- Bodybuilding
- Controlling blood sugar levels
- Minimizing the risk of breast disease
One warning: although peanut butter has many great benefits, it is still high in saturated fats. Please be sure to keep a balanced diet and avoid going overboard on your peanut butter intake.
How Will My Baked Goods Taste?
Now you might be thinking that there are many good reasons to try substituting peanut butter into your recipes. You just have one lingering concern: Will it really work?
What Does Butter Add to a Recipe?
The main use of butter in baking is as a leavening agent. This means that once butter is creamed, it adds some air into the recipe.
The air is what gives you a light, flaky result. It also provides a moist texture and some of the richness of flavor.
What Does Peanut Butter Change?
Peanut butter can serve the same purpose as butter in your baking recipes. Still, if you are making a very delicate recipe with texture as a key factor, you may want to stick to the original ingredients.
However, if you are excited to try something a bit new, peanut butter will work well!
Peanut butter is best used in dense recipes. If you are making cookies or bars, it is the perfect option! It can also be used in cakes, muffins, and brownies. Fun fact: you can freeze brownies for storage..
Peanut butter will give some of its nutty flavor to your recipes. This can be a fun twist to your classic recipes and often enhances the taste! But if you are looking to have no nutty flavor in your bake, you may want to try a nut butter with a less distinct flavor than peanut butter.
Have Fun!
It can be intimidating to change up a recipe, but by understanding your options and the various benefits, you are ready to succeed! Introducing peanut butter into your baking is a great technique to add some protein and explore new flavors.
There are many other alternatives in baking. If you’re looking for a healthier recipe, consider what you might replace in your current one. For example, why not see how you can replace chocolate chips in your cookies or bars?
You can add some fun to your baking by trying new ingredients. Don’t be afraid to explore new ideas and combinations. Who knows, you might just have a new family favorite on your hand!