30 simple vegan swaps for popular recipe ingredients (2024)

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1. Who needs butter when you have applesauce?

According to POPSUGAR,you can use applesauce as a one-to-one replacement for butter in any recipe, although it is best used as a replacement in baking. But, be warned, this butter substitute will make your cake more dense than if you were using butter.

2. Flax and chia seeds can be used as a replacement for eggs.

Eggs provide structure, rise, and moisture to baked goods making them seem almost irreplaceable in most dessert recipes. Except, both flax seeds and chia seeds can be ground up and mixed with water to create a similar consistency, according to Tori Avey.

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3. Craving buttermilk pancakes? There’s a vegan alternative for that too.

Buttermilk isn’t a popular non-vegan ingredient, but it’s an important one nonetheless. A great buttermilk alternative can be created by mixing one cup of soy milk with one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, according to The Kitchn.

4. Condensed milk has plenty of vegan alternatives.

If you’re missing your favorite Thai iced coffee, you’ll be glad to know that both cream of coconut and canned coconut milk can be used as a replacement for both. These vegan alternatives can also work as a 1:1 replacement in recipes calling for sweetened condensed milk.

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5. Avocado can be used in place of butter.

As with applesauce, avocado can be used as a replacement for butter in baked goods. According to Kitchn avocado can be substituted one to one, but you will need to increase your wet ingredients to compensate for the moisture normally provided by butter.

6. Not all sugar is vegan — opt for agave instead.

According to Ordinary Vegan, some sugars are filtered with bone char. While there are many sugar brands that are naturally vegan, agave is a natural vegan alternative you could try as well. The Kitchn suggests using a two-thirds cup of agave for every one cup of sugar called for in a recipe. Agave can also be used as a one to one replacement for honey in recipes as well.

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7. Mashed banana might be the perfect egg substitute.

Vegan author Annie Shannon tells Livestrong that "mashed or pureed fruit like bananas can serve as a substitution for eggs in baked items like cakes." According to Shannon, you can use one medium sized banana (which is about one-quarter cup of mashed banana) for every one egg required in a recipe.

8. Soy milk is a great dairy milk replacement.

While it might not taste exactly like milk, soy milk can be substituted at a one to one ratio for milk in any recipe, according to Taste of Home. Soy milk also has a ton of protein and vitamins, making it a fairly healthy milk replacement.

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9. Coconut oil can replace butter.

While most people are already using coconut oil to cook their veggies and tofu on the stove, few people know that coconut oil can be used as a butter replacement for various baked goods. According to Livestrong, coconut oil can be used as a one to one replacement in any recipe that calls for butter.

10. Don’t underestimate olive oil’s potential to replace butter.

You might have already swapped butter for olive oil when it comes to eating bread, but did you know you can use olive oil as a butter replacement in recipes as well? According to Livestrong, one cup of butter can be replaced by three-fourths cup of olive oil when baking, sautéing, or frying. The best part is that olive oil is a healthy alternative to butter with no trans fats or cholesterol.

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11. Good vegan cheese does exist.

Upgrade your enchilada (or pizza) recipe with a vegan shredded cheese alternative. You can purchase pre-made vegan shredded cheese at a variety of super markets, but it might take a few tries until you find one you really like.

12. Molasses and honey are interchangeable.

While the look and taste of honey and molasses are completely different, molasses is a natural vegan sweetener that can be substituted for honey in a one to one ratio, according to Livestrong.

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13. Bring on the maple syrup.

Another vegan alternative to sugar is maple syrup. According to Tablespoon, you can use a three-fourths cup of maple syrup for every cup of sugar required in a recipe.

14. Applesauce can also act as an egg substitute.

Who knew applesauce could be such a great vegan replacement in recipes? According to SheKnows, one-fourth cup of unsweetened applesauce can be used as a baking replacement for eggs.

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15. Butter who? Pumpkin puree is where it’s at.

Pumpkin isn’t the first thing to comes to mind when searching for a vegan alternative to butter, but it turns out this fruit puree is a healthy and delicious plan B when it comes to baking. PopSugar suggests replacing one cup of butter with a three-fourths cup of pumpkin puree.

16. Puree your tofu.

Pureed tofu might not sound appetizing, but it can make a great substitute for eggs in almost any recipe. PETA recommends using one-fourth cup of soft tofu as a substitute for one egg.

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17. Don’t knock nutritional yeast until you try it.

Nutritional yeast is made from sugarcane and beet molasses that can replace cheese in almost any recipe, according to HuffPost. Nutritional yeast can be sprinkled on top of a dish like parmesan, or even made into a creamy cheese sauce for mac and cheese.

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18. Make your own vegan sour cream.

According to Healthline, coconut milk can make a great vegan alternative to sour cream. Skim off the top of full-fat coconut milk and blend with apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and sea salt to taste for the vegan substitute. This dairy-free sour cream can be used as a stand-alone product or incorporated into a recipe.

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19. Coconut cream is a yummy yogurt alternative.

Refrigerating a can of full-fat coconut milk for upwards of twelve hours makes a thick coat of coconut cream rise to the top. This cream can then be skimmed off and substituted for yogurt in any recipe in a one to one ratio, according to Go Dairy Free.

20. Crumbled tofu is always the answer.

Gone are the days of cottage and ricotta cheese. Instead, you can use crumbled tofu in its place as a one to one substitution, according to Veg Kitchen.

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21. Almond milk is a gluten-free, soy-free, vegan alternative to milk.

Packed with essential proteins, vitamins, and minerals everyone needs in their diet, almond milk is a healthy alternative for milk in most recipes. According to Livestrong, almond milk can be used as a one to one replacement, and there will be nearly no change in taste or color to the final product.

22. Cashews cream is a delicious dairy-free alternative to sour cream.

You only need five ingredients to make Simple Veganista’s sour cream alternative. Cashew cream is made by soaking cashews and then blending it with almond milk, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and a little mineral salt. You can use this is a one to one replacement for sour cream in any recipe.

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23. Mashed potatoes can be used as a vegan egg replacement.

As weird as it sounds, PETA claims that mashed potatoes can be used as a vegan baking replacement for eggs thanks to its binding properties. Just use two tablespoons of vegan instant mashed potatoes for every one egg required by a recipe.

24. Keep soda on hand at all times.

If you thought mashed potatoes was weird, you can apparently bake a whole cake without eggs or milk by using a can of soda. According to Livestrong, all you need is a vegan cake mix and a can of soda. That’s it.

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25. Beef and chicken broth can easily be replaced.

It’s pretty simple, actually. Just grab a box of vegetable broth and use as a one to one replacement in any recipe.

26. Worcestershire sauce isn't vegan, but soy sauce and vinegar are.

Brunch just got a whole lot better. ReplaceWorcestershire sauce with soy sauce and a hint of vinegar to create your own vegan version of the popular Bloody Mary ingredient, according to Holy Cow Vegan.

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27. Vegan gelatin, anyone?

Unfortunately, gelatin is not vegan, but that doesn’t mean vegans can’t enjoy the squishytreat or replace gelatin in a recipe with something vegan-friendly. In fact, all you need are some agar flakes to create this one to one substitution.

28. Make your own vegan mayo.

What fun is buying vegan mayo when you could just make your own? According to MNN, there are a few different ways to make vegan mayo, but after it’s made you can use as a one to one replacement in any recipe.

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29. Don’t underestimate the power of tofu.

According to Go Dairy Free, a simplified vegan mozzarella replacement is sliced smoked tofu. You can also replace mozzarella in a recipe by creating your own vegan version. Opt for this Minimalist Baker recipe can last upwards of a week in your fridge.

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30. Cash in on cashews.

Make your own parmesan cheese for use as a vegan pasta topper or pesto ingredient with this recipe from Minimalist Baker. All you need is a three-fourths cup of cashews, some nutritional yeast, garlic and sea salt to complete the vegan substitute. All it takes is five minutes.

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