topic Re: Baking Muffins + Oil Used??? in Recipes

Baking Muffins + Oil Used???

Nightowlz — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 21:21:43 GMT

So muffins are suppose to turn out better using oil vs butter. Oil leaves them moist where they say butter leaves them dry with more crumb.

Do you use oil or butter when you bake muffins?

If you use oil which one do you use?

I don't want to use vegetable oil, soybean oil or other oil with polyunsaturated fat since it causes inflammation. I used to used Canola oil before but not since it's been genetically modified. I started using Safflower oil but it also have pufa's. Now I can't find the brand I was buying anyway.

I'm going to try with butter to see how they turn out. Maybe try some applesauce with a little oil or some yogurt.

What have you tried & what has turned out?

I know eating none of the oils is best but that's not the question I'm asking. I also know they are not healthy but I'm not talking about that either. TIA

Re: Baking Muffins + Oil Used???

1Professor — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 21:34:01 GMT

@Nightowlz :

As a scientist who is now on a heart-healthy plant diet, I have found wonderful substitutes for oil and egg. No oil is good for our hearts, it turns out.

I bake oat bran muffins every week (with fruit added and strawberry applesauce, so delicious), and instead of oil, use this formula:

You can use flaxseed meal to replace up to 1/4 cup of oil in recipes. You use it in a 3 to 1 ratio. If your recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of oil, you use 3 tablespoons of flaxseed meal. If your recipe calls for 1/4 cup of oil you use 3/4 cup flax meal.

VERY moist!

Re: Baking Muffins + Oil Used???

Nightowlz — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 21:45:08 GMT

@1Professor

Thanks for your reply. I was online last night reading about different substitutes. Flaxseed was one of them. Banana was another but don't want blueberry muffins to taste like banana muffins.

There are things we still want to eat just want to make them a little more on the healthy side.

I would love your oat bran muffin with fruit recipe if you want to share. Thank you.

Re: Baking Muffins + Oil Used???

butterfly123 — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 21:49:37 GMT

@Nightowlz

Whether it's to cut calories, explore new flavors, or just make due with available ingredients, recipe substitutions are an inevitable—and fun!—part of the cooking experience. And after trying dozens and dozens of swaps over the past year or so, we've even come to prefer a few "replacements" to their original counterparts. When it's time to satisfy that sweet tooth, consider these healthier substitutions for baking fats.

Unsweetened applesauce
Swap for: Oil or butter

Fruit for fat? Yeah. For sweeter recipes like brownies and fruity muffins, this swap is a definite winner. Applesauce offers the same consistency as butter or oil, but with zero fat, a little extra natural sweetness, and fewer calories (though it will add a touch more sugar). It even works in boxed mixes!

Avocado puree
Swap for: Butter

Doubting this swap? Mashed or pureed avocado has a similar texture to butter with more heart-healthy fats and a smooth, rich taste that pairs perfectly with chocolate. We're looking forward to trying this swap in many batches of brownies and cakes to come!

Mashed bananas
Swap for: Oil or butter
This one's similar to the avocado swap but a whole lot sweeter, ripe bananas add potassium and fiber to our favorite recipes. It's a proven star in sweet stuff, too (banana bread, amiright?).

Prune puree
Swap for: Butter
Prunes don't always get the best reputation when it comes to taste and versatility, but 1/3 cup of prune puree can easily replace a stick of butter in denser baked goods. It's also great for dark and dense cookies, brownies, and even cakes.

Ground Flax seed
Swap for: Oil or butter
Rich in omega-3 fats and with a distinct nutty flavor, ground flax seed is one of the most surprising fat swaps out there. Mix three tablespoons of ground flax with one tablespoon of water for a paste that subs in for every tablespoon of oil or butter. Ground flax is perfect for recipes that already have a strong nutty flavor. And here's a fun fact: One tablespoon of ground flax plus two to three tablespoons of warm water makes a "vegan egg" and can be used as an egg replacement, too.

Re: Baking Muffins + Oil Used???

ahoymate — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 22:01:59 GMT

Butter, always!

Re: Baking Muffins + Oil Used???

godi — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 23:10:53 GMT

@1Professor how interesting your post. Is this ground up flax meal? Can’t you use apple sauce for oil also?

Re: Baking Muffins + Oil Used???

1Professor — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 23:41:39 GMT

@godi wrote:
@1Professor how interesting your post. Is this ground up flax meal? Can’t you use apple sauce for oil also?

@Nightowlz @godi

(For heart healthy high soluble fiber daily muffins) I use applesauce to substitute for 2Ts oil and 1Tablespoon flax + 3T water for each egg required.

Love the small containers of applesauce; been getting the strawberry unsweetened applesause containers when they show up at Safeway.

Re: Baking Muffins + Oil Used???

godi — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 00:00:21 GMT

@1Professor Thank you

Re: Baking Muffins + Oil Used???

m0rgan — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 00:33:26 GMT

I love to use coconut oil.

Re: Baking Muffins + Oil Used???

sunshine45 — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 00:37:19 GMT

i always use butter and have never found mine to be crumbly or dry.

Re: Baking Muffins + Oil Used???

Nightowlz — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 01:42:17 GMT

@m0rgan wrote:
I love to use coconut oil.

@m0rgan

I tried coconut oil in my blueberry muffins. They were good but day after they were soggy on top. May be I need to use less of it.

Re: Baking Muffins + Oil Used???

Nightowlz — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 01:43:43 GMT

@sunshine45 wrote:
i always use butter and have never found mine to be crumbly or dry.

@sunshine45

I will have to try the blueberry & banana muffin recipes with kerrygold butter to see how they turn out. I will have to do some experimenting.

Re: Baking Muffins + Oil Used???

house_cat — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 03:13:30 GMT

I usually use vegetable oil, but I have substituted applesauce with excellent results.

Re: Baking Muffins + Oil Used???

wagirl — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 15:56:51 GMT

@Nightowlz--I don't bake anymore--can't eat the carbs--- but I use olive oil and or avocado oil when I do any cooking. You can get avo oil at Traders Joes--has a nice buttery flavor. Heard Macadamia oil is great too but very pricy. Not sure how it would do in baking--but when I used it it was fine. How about coconut oil too?

Re: Baking Muffins + Oil Used???

Nightowlz — Sun, 03 Mar 2019 17:28:48 GMT

@wagirl wrote:
@Nightowlz--I don't bake anymore--can't eat the carbs--- but I use olive oil and or avocado oil when I do any cooking. You can get avo oil at Traders Joes--has a nice buttery flavor. Heard Macadamia oil is great too but very pricy. Not sure how it would do in baking--but when I used it it was fine. How about coconut oil too?

@wagirl

Thanks but we don't have a Trader Joes around here.

I will look around to see if I can find the Avo Oil any place else.

I read about using olive oil or avocado oil for baking. I'm sure it would work with some recipes but don't want my blueberry or banana muffins tasting like either.

I did run across a brownie recipe with avocado frosting that looked yummy.

Re: Baking Muffins + Oil Used???

wagirl — Sun, 03 Mar 2019 22:39:56 GMT

@Nightowlz---No there wouldn't be taste to either of those oils--the avo oil is more buttery and a light olive oil wouldn't taste different----

Re: Baking Muffins + Oil Used???

Nightowlz — Sun, 03 Mar 2019 23:00:18 GMT

@wagirl wrote:
@Nightowlz---No there wouldn't be taste to either of those oils--the avo oil is more buttery and a light olive oil wouldn't taste different----

@wagirl

The California Olive Ranch makes a buttery olive oil for baking. I found it online from Thrive Market at the best price. Nutiva also has an organic shortening.

Re: Baking Muffins + Oil Used???

wagirl — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 15:10:39 GMT

@Nightowlz-- that is a good thing to know-----will look into that. good info--thanks! Am a fan of CA Olive Ranch

Re: Baking Muffins + Oil Used???

lovesrecess — Sat, 13 Apr 2019 19:57:43 GMT

I use a jar of baby food prunes when I am baking something chocolate like a cake or brownies. Turned out just fine.