If you are making muffins and need a vegetable oil alternative, you will find the best options here, and how to use them in your recipe.
Whether you are all out of vegetable oil or trying to reduce the vegetable oil in your baking, there are multiple excellent substitutes you can use.
Each of these vegetable oil replacements are fairly common, so you likely have some already on hand.
So what are the best substitutes for vegetable oil when making muffins?
The top vegetable oil alternatives you can use when making muffins are butter, coconut oil, applesauce, grapeseed oil, and canola oil.
Make sure to read on for the details on how to use each of these alternatives in your particular recipe.
Related Recipe: Blueberry muffins from cake mix
Vegetable Oil Alternatives when Baking Muffins
Fresh baked muffins are a breakfast treat I love making for my family. My kids go bananas for muffins and I end up making them often.
But I don’t bake with vegetable oil often, and many recipes call for it. So I’ve spent time using all sorts of replacements in pursuit of moist, delicious muffins.
And if you’re in the same boat, you’re in luck! There are multiple ingredients you can use in place of muffins.
So vegetable oil provides moisture to muffins, so when replacing it we need to use something that provides us with a similar moisture level. We additionally need to use an ingredients that provides a flavor that compliments the other ingredients in our recipe.
Now let’s get to the details and how to use these vegetable oil substitutes to make moist and flavorful muffins.
Butter
Butter is a classic fat that is ideal for use in almost any muffin recipe. It also works well in muffin mixes. In fact, butter is my preferred vegetable oil alternative.
It’s always available and provides just the right amount of moisture for any muffin recipe. I use in banana, blueberry, chocolate, and just about any type of muffin you can think of!
The primary difference between vegetable oil and butter is that butter is solid at room temperature while vegetable oil is a liquid.
Vegetable oil therefore has a higher moisture level than butter, but that doesn’t mean butter won’t produce enough moisture for your muffins. I also find the flavor of muffins made with butter far more flavorful than those made with vegetable oil.
Related: Butter vs Lard
Equivalent
1 cup of butter equals 1 cup of vegetable oil
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has become one of the most popular baking substitutes for vegetable oil, and it is particularly well suited for making muffins.
Coconut oil is quite similar to butter, and is solid at room temperature meaning it has a lower moisture level than vegetable oil.
But it still produces a moist and tasty muffin. In fact, it can be used in any muffin mix or recipe. I prefer to use organic coconut oil, but you can use whatever type you have on hand.
Related: Coconut oil alternatives
Equivalent
1 cup of coconut oil equals 1 cup of vegetable oil
Applesauce
Another classic oil substitute, applesauce is a great option for muffins. It provides the ideal level of moisture, but the flavor is even better!
Apple compliments so many kinds of muffins, it really is a great way to liven up any muffin mix or recipe.
I like to use natural, unflavored applesauce but flavored can work if it pairs well with the other flavors in your recipe.
The final texture of your muffins will be quite a bit softer than if you used vegetable oil. But the tradeoff is worth it if you enjoy the flavor of applesauce.
If you want the flavor of applesauce and a more traditional flavor, you can use one part applesauce and one part butter or coconut oil for the best of both worlds!
Equivalent
1 cup of applesauce equals 1 cup of vegetable oil
Grapeseed Oil
For these last two alternatives, we will cover neutral oils that provide a finished muffin quite similar to what you get when using vegetable oil.
Grapeseed oil has a very subtle flavor while providing a lot of moisture to your muffins. For that reason, it can be used in any type of muffin.
Go with organic grapeseed oil if at all possible.
Related: Replacements for grapeseed oil
Equivalent
1 cup of grapeseed oil equals 1 cup of vegetable oil
Canola Oil
While I do not bake with canola oil often, it is another excellent option for replacing vegetable oil in muffins.
It is another neutral oil that won’t get in the way of the other flavors in your recipe. It is a popular baking oil and you may already have it on hand.
Again, go with organic if at all possible.
Equivalent
1 cup of canola oil equals 1 cup of vegetable oil
Muffins Without Vegetable Oil FAQ
Can you use olive oil instead of vegetable oil in muffins?
While you can bake muffins with extra virgin olive oil, the flavor is quite strong and can overpower the other flavors in your muffins.
If you use olive oil instead of vegetable use a 1:1 ratio.
Related: Using olive oil instead of vegetable oil
What can you substitute for vegetable oil in blueberry muffins?
The best vegetable oil substitutions in blueberry muffins are butter and coconut oil.
Both of these alternatives provide a great flavor and texture to your blueberry muffins. Use a 1:1 ratio of butter or coconut oil to vegetable oi.
Can you use pureed pumpkin instead of vegetable oil?
Yes, pureed pumpkin can be subbed in place of vegetable oil. Be certain that pumpkin will compliment the other flavors in your recipe. Use a 1:1 ratio when replacing vegetable oil with pureed pumpkin.
Are mashed bananas a good vegetable oil replacement?
Yes banana can be used in place of vegetable oil. It will produce a very soft muffin, and you need to be sure banana goes well with the other flavors of your recipe. Mash about two medium ripe bananas for each cup of vegetable oil.