Best Substitutes for Coconut Oil for Cooking & Baking

Need a substitute for coconut oil? Whether baking or frying up an egg, there are many substitutes for coconut oil for cooking and baking. 

I’ve run out of coconut oil many times and found myself scurrying through my pantry to find the best substitute for this versatile cooking oil. If you have found yourself in this same circumstance, don’t fret! I can help you find the best oil substitute for your favorite recipes! 

What is coconut oil?

Before I dive into substitutes for coconut oil, I want to do a quick overview of coconut oil.

Coconut oil is a plant-based oil made by extracting oil from mature coconuts (see how to make coconut oil here). You’ll find two types of coconut oil on the market: Refined and Virgin. 

Refined coconut oil is processed coconut oil that uses heat to remove the coconut flavor from the oil. Virgin coconut oil is raw and has a slight coconut flavor. Both oils are solid at room temperature and are high in saturated fat. Virgin coconut oil has a smoke point of 350°F, and refined coconut oil has a smoke point of 400°F.         

Top 4 Substitutes for Coconut Oil   

Coconut oil is the perfect cooking fat for vegan baking due to it’s high saturated fat content and buttery texture. But if coconut oil isn’t an option for you, below you’ll find my top picks for replacing it in recipes.

#1 Butter

Because they’re both high in saturated fat and have a similar smoking point, butter is the best replacement for coconut oil when baking or sautéing. Butter can replace coconut oil for all baked goods and is amazing in homemade cookies, brownies and muffins.

How To Substitute Butter for Coconut Oil: Whether baking or cooking, you can substitute butter for coconut oil equally in a 1:1 ratio. If a recipe calls for melted coconut oil, use melted butter. If a recipe calls for cold coconut oil, use cold butter.

#2 Olive Oil

While olive oil may not be the best choice for baking (due to its strong flavor), it’s an excellent oil for cooking, sautéing, grilling, and homemade salad dressing and marinade. Extra virgin olive oil has a smoke point of 375°F, making it an ideal choice for light cooking. 

How To Substitute Olive Oil for Coconut Oil: Use olive oil in a 1:1 ratio for cooking and baking. Olive oil can be used in baked goods, but I don’t recommend using it unless the recipe specifically calls for it. Olive oil has a robust flavor and can change the taste of your baked goods. Check out my favorite brand of olive oil here.

#3 Beef Tallow

Surprised to see tallow on my list? Beef tallow is a forgotten cooking fat that has been used for cooking and baking for centuries. Tallow is dairy-free, which makes it a great alternative to butter when substituting coconut oil in recipes. With a high spoke point of 420°F, it’s an ideal cooking fat for high heat cooking, frying, and baking. 

How To Substitute Beef Tallow for Coconut Oil: Use beef tallow in a 1:1 ratio for cooking and baking. I know it may seem strange to use tallow to make pastries or pie crust, but it’s honestly the best fat for making flaky baked goods! If you’ve ever watched The Great British Baking Show, you will have seen the fantastic pastries and pies made with beef fat. You can also use tallow to sauté veggies, fry eggs, and for all of your cooking needs. Order beef tallow from your local butcher, or from amazon (affiliate link).

#4 Avocado Oil

Another excellent cooking oil, avocado oil, has a high smoke point, making it perfect for cooking and baking. In addition, it has a light flavor, so it works well in baked goods. Finally, avocado oil is high in oleic acid, vitamin e and is a monounsaturated fat.

How To Substitute Avocado Oil for Coconut Oil: Use avocado oil in a 1:1 ratio for cooking and baking. It’s an excellent oil for baking, cooking, and frying. It has an extremely high smoke point of 530°F.

More Coconut Oil Substitutes

Almost any cooking oil can replace coconut oil in your favorite recipes. I don’t personally use canola oil, vegetable oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, or corn oil, but all of them can be used in place of coconut oil for making recipes and dishes like cake, cookies, muffins, banana bread and brownies.

Related Articles:

• Coconut Milk vs Coconut Cream: What’s The Difference?
• How to Choose the Best Coconut Oil
• How To Make Desiccated Coconut

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