Vegan Butter

Make your own creamy vegan butter recipe to use on toast or even in your favorite recipes, like cookies. This smooth homemade butter is made with 8 ingredients and takes only a few minutes of your time.

Serve this on vegan mashed potatoes or on a slice of vegan pumpkin bread.

A block of vegan butter sits on a white plate with a wooden butter knife beside it. There are herbs around it with a bowl of melted butter behind it.

I’m so excited to share with you the best vegan butter recipe! Of course, you can buy plant-based butter in stores, but making your own is easy that you’ll want to do this time and time again. It’s just one more step in my plan to be a little more like Martha. Maybe I’m a vegan Martha? I like that.

There are so many ways you can use your own homemade butter, such as serving it on a warm Cinnamon Muffin or over Vegan Blueberry Pancakes. I love a pat of butter melting over my Whole Wheat Waffles, too.

Why is This the Best Recipe?

  • Curdling the soy milk adds depth of tangy flavors very similar to regular butter
  • Adding a pinch of nutritional yeast flakes adds both flavor and a bit of yellow color
  • Using refined coconut oil adds the rich fat necessary for good butter, but because it’s refined, you won’t have the coconut flavor.

Key Ingredients

You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe, including substitution ideas:

  • Soy milk — I do not recommend substituting another plant-based milk, because soy milk has a higher protein content, it works best for this recipe.
  • Apple cider vinegar — I do not recommend replacements because apple cider vinegar has both malic and acetic acids. This combination interacts with the protein in the soy milk, causing it to curdle and create the best flavor and chemical reaction to add buttery flavor
  • Salt — We’ll add a complexity of flavor by adding a little bit of salt
  • Coconut oil — You must use refined coconut oil or otherwise your butter will taste like coconut
  • Olive oil
  • Nutritional yeast flakes
  • Soy lecithin — We’ll use this lecithin as an emulsifier, binding the oil ingredients to and water ingredients.
  • Xanthan gum — This is a chemical created from fermenting vegetables. That doesn’t sound enticing but the powder that is created from it, called xanthan gum, is an emulsifier and a stabilizer. I have used it in my vegan meringue for its stabilizing effect. If you’re opposed to using xanthan gum, you can leave it out, but the resulting butter will not be suitable for things like making cookies or pastries.

How to Make Vegan Butter

Now that you’ve got your ingredients together, it’s time to make this recipe. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is.

  1. Combine the soy milk, apple cider vinegar, and salt in a small bowl. Stir this together and then set aside for at least 10 minutes.
  2. Place the coconut oil in a microwave-safe dish. Cook it for one minute at 40% power. The goal is to soften the coconut oil to the point of melting, without it getting hot.
  3. Transfer the melted oil to a food processor along with the olive oil, nutritional yeast flakes; room temperature curdled soy milk, lecithin, and xanthan gum. Give this a few quick pulses, then use a rubber spatula to push ingredients from the sides of the container and the lid. Pulse again, for up to 2 minutes, stopping to scrape the sides at least once in the middle.
  4. Transfer this mixture to a butter mold or other silicone mold. Then cover and place in the freezer for 20 minutes. It should be ready for use after that.
  5. Store vegan butter in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month. It can also be frozen for up to 6 months.

Here’s the step-by-step process on how to make vegan butter:

Step One: Curdle the Soy Milk

I’ve talked about vegan buttermilk before, and this recipe is a variation on that. It’s a different ratio of acid to milk, but it’s all for a good reason. You may not realize this when you eat dairy butter, but there is a tangy flavor. We’ll recreate that by curdling the soy milk.

A bowl has soy milk inside being curdled with vinegar.

To do this, combine the soy milk with the apple cider vinegar and salt. Stir this together and set it aside for at least 10 minutes. At a minimum, you don’t want the milk to be cold when you add it to the other ingredients.

But to maximize the flavor of the curdling process, letting this milk sit for 10 minutes (or even longer) works.

Step Two: Melt the Coconut Oil

Measure out the coconut oil into a microwave-safe bowl. The goal here is to melt the coconut oil, but not to the point that it’s hot. So, you can do this by cooking it for one minute at 30 to 40% power. Once it’s melted, pour it into a food processor along with the olive oil, nutritional yeast flakes, lecithin, and xanthan gum.

Once your milk has soured enough (and is room temperature), pour it into the food processor as well.

Step Three: Churn the Butter

Pulse the food processor a few times, and then use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl and the lid. Then process the butter for up to 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl at least one more time in the middle.

A mixture of soy milk and other ingredients are in the bottom of a food processor bowl.

Step Four: Transfer to a Mold

I recommend a silicone mold, but you can choose a variety of shapes. I prefer the molds specifically designed for butter.

A vegan butter mixture is being poured into a pink silicone mold.

Use a rubber spatula to transfer the butter mixture into the mold. The sooner you do this step the better because the liquidy butter will begin to solidify. Place the lid on the mold and place it in the freezer for about 20 minutes.

Your plant-based butter will be ready to use after that.

Slices of toast are stacked on a plate. The top piece has melted vegan butter on top. There's a bowl of jelly and more butter on a plate behind it.

Ways to Use Vegan Butter

This is a complete butter substitute, meaning you can use it just like you would dairy butter. Whether you’re making cookies or frosting or simply buttering your vegan garlic bread, this recipe will work.

I think it’s empowering to make your own vegan butter at home. Adding my vegan butter to vegan chocolate chip cookies or my vegan cream cheese frosting is very fulfilling!

Vegan butter is firm when it first comes out of the fridge. Like dairy butter, it’s not as spreadable over a piece of soft bread. Let it sit out for a few minutes, and it will soften.

Making Tub Butter

You can make your butter more spreadable like the stuff sold in tubs by reducing the coconut oil by two tablespoons. I found this gave the butter an almost whipped-like consistency.

Please note, you’ll need to push it down in the mold, but you’ll be pleased with the results.

Vegan butter is on a plate. Several slices have been cut out. A piece of toast is in the background. A wooden bowl holds melted butter with herbs beside it.

Storage Tips

Store vegan butter in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month. It can also be frozen for up to 6 months.

Frequently-Asked Questions

What is vegan butter made of?

Vegan butter is made from plant-based milk and other ingredients. It offers a texture, flavor, and mouthfeel similar to dairy butter which is made from cow’s milk, or the milk of some other herding mammal-like goats. Dairy-free butter is served on toast, pancakes, and can be used just like dairy butter in baking and other recipes.

What is the best vegan butter?

Earth Balance has been a popular dairy-free butter option. However, there are many more options in stores these days, such as Miyoko’s, Wildbrine, Forager, and more. The best vegan butter is the one that is most accessible to you, whether it’s store-bought or homemade.

What do vegans use for butter?

You can substitute vegetable oils in place of butter in many recipes. For example, olive oil is a great substitute for mashed potatoes. You can also use vegetable oils in a cake. However, using a store-bought or homemade dairy-free butter is another great option.

Vegan butter is on a plate. Several slices have been cut out. A piece of toast is in the background. A wooden bowl holds melted butter with herbs beside it.

Vegan Butter

Make your own creamy vegan butter with this simple recipe! You can use this homemade butter as a topping on toast, waffles, potatoes, and more. Or use it to make your favorite dishes, like cookies!
5 from 4 votes
Course: Sauce
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 16 tablespoons
Calories: 84kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine the soy milk, apple cider vinegar, and salt in a small bowl. Stir this together and then set aside for at least 10 minutes.
  • Place the coconut oil in a microwave-safe dish. Cook it for one minute at 40% power. The goal is to soften the coconut oil to the point of melting, without it getting hot.
  • Transfer the melted oil to a food processor along with the olive oil, nutritional yeast flakes; room temperature curdled soy milk, lecithin, and xanthan gum. Give this a few quick pulses, then use a rubber spatula to push ingredients from the sides of the container and the lid. Pulse again, for up to 2 minutes, stopping to scrape the sides at least once in the middle.
  • Transfer this mixture to a butter mold or other silicone mold. Then cover and place in the freezer for 20 minutes. It should be ready for use after that.
  • Store vegan butter in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month. It can also be frozen for up to 6 months.

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Notes

The estimated nutritional value is based on this recipe creating 12 tablespoons of butter (3/4 cup)
Calories: 84kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 38mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g

The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

This post was originally published in 2020 and was updated to include new photos, new text, and an updated recipe in 2021.

11 Responses to Vegan Butter

  1. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMichelle Reply

    Is there another oil I can substitute for coconut oil? I can’t have coconut. Can I substitute guar gun for the xanthan gum? I’m allergic to corn.

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Can you have cashews?

  2. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyCynthia Reply

    Hello! Can Sunflower Lecithin be used instead of Soy? Thanks Cynthia

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Hi Cynthia. Yes, sunflower lecithin and soy lecithin are 1:1 substitutions. Great question!

  3. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyJennifer Reply

    Will it work with oat milk? I can’t do soy.

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Hi Jennifer. I haven’t tested this recipe with oat milk, but I think it should work.

  4. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyChad Wolf Reply

    The lecithin I have it sticky and some stuck to the bottom. Any tips to prevent?

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Hi Chad. I haven’t had this problem with lecithin, but I have read it can get sticky. You could try adding a bit of water to a portion of the lecithin to help thin it out. Then portion out how much you need for the vegan butter and proceed with churning. I hope this is helpful!

  5. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyKayla Reply

    5 stars
    Thanks for this butter recipe. I love having it for when I run out!

  6. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMina Reply

    5 stars
    Wooh! Finally, a vegan butter for all the dishes I make! Yay! Thank you for this amazing recipe, Marly!

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      You’re welcome, Mina!

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