You need good old vegetable oil to get started with your cake; it is an important ingredient that holds a lot of importance in baking. But there could be times when you walk to your pantry only to discover that you have run out of vegetable oil. In that case, don't panic, because these amazing substitutes will help you get through the recipe just fine. But the first thing you need to do is add vegetable oil to your next shopping list.
There are many alternatives to vegetable oil when it comes to baking a cake, such as olive oil and butter, so let's get started.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is your biggest saviour when it comes to substituting vegetable oil and you can use olive oil in place of vegetable oil in all baking recipes and not just cake. But make sure you pick an olive oil that has a mild flavour so that it doesn't alter the flavour of the cakes or muffins.
Applesauce
Although distinct, it most likely will come as a surprise to many that applesauce makes for a great substitute for vegetable oil. You can make your applesauce at home or to save time and effort, it is also easily available in stores.
Remember, apples have sugar naturally in them so make a wise decision before getting the applesauce, whether sweetened or unsweetened.
The best part about substituting vegetable oil with applesauce is that it will add moisture to your cakes while reducing the overall fat content of your baked goods. You can even experiment by using half applesauce and half vegetable oil, thus making it a healthy swap.
Coconut Oil
A popular ingredient in the culinary world, it is often praised for its health benefits but it is so much more than that. Coconut oil can be used as an alternative to vegetable oil when it comes to baking cakes.
The addition of coconut oil ensures that your cakes and muffins come out smooth without imparting a strong flavour to them. Coconut oil is a superior alternative to vegetable oil when it comes to baking so go ahead and use it without any worry.
Butter
An ingredient that is most likely available in your pantry for all 12 months of a year. Butter is the most widely used substitute for vegetable oil for baking cakes of all types. It is also a valuable baking ingredient in its own right.
The best part about using butter is that it gives you fluffier and smoother cakes and you can even enhance the flavour even further by using high-fat butter, like the ones with more than 80% butter.
Mayonnaise
This isn't something that you would traditionally use to replace your vegetable oil for baking cakes. But mayonnaise is made using a mix of eggs and oil, both of which are extensively used in baking. However, if you do opt to use mayonnaise, then you have to make sure that you use an unflavoured version, especially the one without garlic, and that the mayonnaise is as tasteless as it can be.
Dairy Products
Dairy products are very functional and they help in many preparations and this is no exception. The best part is that you can even use low-fat dairy products to reduce the number of calories in your baked goods if you are targeting weight loss in the long run.
You can use any product, such as yoghurt, cheese, or milk, but it is advised to avoid dairy products that are too watery since they will not be able to hold the dough together with their low-fat content. Yoghurt in particular helps to provide moisture, richness, and a little tangy flavour to your cakes. You can also opt for flavoured yoghurts to enhance the taste even further.