Love waffles, but hate the vegetable oil that is used to make them?
You’re not alone!
There are some great substitutes you can use instead of vegetable oil. We’ll dive into this and share our tips!
Table Of Contents
What is Vegetable Oil?
Vegetable oil is a versatile cooking ingredient. It’s not as bad for you as animal products, and it can be used in place of butter or other saturated fats.
What is vegetable oil made of? It is extracted from plants like corn, soybeans, sunflower seeds, or canola.
Vegetable oils provide flavor for food while they help keep the food moist when heated with water vapor during frying or baking.
What to use if you don’t have vegetable oil? Here are some best substitutes for you:
What’s a Good Substitute for Vegetable Oil in Waffles
What to use if you don’t have vegetable oil? Here are some best substitutes for you:
1. Applesauce
When looking for a substitute for vegetable oil in your waffles, your first move should be to reach into the cupboard to see if you have any apple sauce.
That delicious, thick sauce is an excellent substitute for vegetable oil in many recipes, especially in waffles.
First off, applesauce is a much healthier option than vegetable oil since it has low-fat content. Plus, it helps keep the batter moist and flavorful. When it comes to making waffles, it doesn’t get much better than that.
Depending on what type you use, the apple sauce can add a bit of sweetness and flavor to your batter, too. Choose sweetened sauce if you want to make your batch on the sweeter side.
If you want to make your waffles pack a punch with flavor, you can make your apple sauce from scratch during the fall months to make them taste fresh and flavorful.
Substitute Directions
You typically need a 1:1 ratio as a replacement for vegetable oil in waffles. This means that if a recipe calls for 1/2 a cup of oil, you substitute it out with 1/2 a cup of applesauce.
2. Yogurt
Another terrific substitute for vegetable oil is yogurt. This thick, creamy substance is sure to make your waffle batter just as thick and delicious.
Most bakers choose to use low-fat or even Greek yogurt. However, be aware that Greek yogurt has more of a pungent, intense taste. If that turns you off, your best bet is to stick to plain yogurt.
Substitute Directions
Since yogurt is much thicker than oil, substitute 3/4 of a cup of yogurt for one cup of oil when using this vegetable oil substitute for waffles.
3. Bananas
Subbing in bananas for your vegetable oil is also one of the most healthy substitutes you can use.
Banana mash adds fibers, potassium, and other essential nutrients to your morning waffles.
Not only is this substitute one of the more healthy choices you can use, but its light flavor mixes incredibly well with the mild flavor of your waffles. Because of this, bananas are a favorite go-to substitute in any baker’s kitchen.
Substitute Directions
Banna has a ratio of 1:1, so out equal parts banana when the recipe calls for vegetable oil.
4. Pureed Pumpkin
Who would think that pumpkin and waffles mix?
While this may not be a combination you’d think of, pureed pumpkin is a delicious substitute. Not only does it add a vibrant flavor with its deep spices, and it also adds a creamy texture.
Additionally, the pumpkin flavor pairs well with waffles, and especially around the holiday’s pumpkin puree make for a great waffle substitute.
You can use canned pureed pumpkin, or if you want to get fancy, you can puree your pumpkin for a fresher taste.
Substitute Directions
Use a ratio of 1:1 of pumpkin puree to vegetable oil when making this substitution.
5. Mayonnaise
Maybe mayonnaise isn’t the most healthy substitute for vegetable oil in waffles, so if you’re looking for healthier alternatives, you may want to skip this suggestion.
However, if you don’t have any oil in the house, mayonnaise is a great substitute that adds a mellow flavor and rich texture.
Substitute Directions
Since mayonnaise is thicker than oil, substitute out 3/4 a cup for every 1 cup of vegetable oil.
6. Ghee
Can I substitute butter for vegetable oil in waffles? Sure!
Recently Ghee has gained tremendous popularity as an alternative to vegetable oil.
Ghee is a type of clarified butter from India and is a much healthier alternative for those who don’t have significant reactions to butter and dairy.
In addition, it has a bold buttery and nutty flavor guaranteed to have you reaching back into the cabinet for more.
Substitute Directions
Ghee is another ingredient with a substitute ratio of 1:1.
7. Olive Oil
Can you use olive oil instead of vegetable oil for waffles? Of course yes!
This is probably the most logical substitute for vegetable oil in waffles. If you don’t have any vegetable oil in the house, but you still have olive oil, this is an excellent pick as the texture is about the same.
The tastes are a little different, so you might want to cut down some of the bite with water since olive oil can leave such a distinctive flavor.
Substitute Directions: Olive oil is very similar to vegetable oil. Because of this, you won’t have to change the recipe much for this substitute. Use a 1:1 ratio.
8. Pureed Cauliflower
That’s right; this hearty Brassica oleracea vegetable can make a mean waffle.
Well, by that, we mean it’s a fantastic substitute in waffles if you realize you’re low on vegetable oil.
Pureed cauliflower gives your waffle batter the stickiness and consistency it needs without messing too much with its color or taste. Try it out the next time you have weekend brunch.
Substitute Directions: Substitute out 3/4 a cup of cauliflower for every 1 cup of vegetable oil.
9. Sour Cream
As you might imagine, sour cream certainly leaves a distinctive mark on any batter that you mix it in with.
However, it’s heavy in fat and cream, so don’t use this if you’re trying to make healthier waffles.
Sour cream adds a lot of great flavors and will help with the consistency. Just make sure not to overdo it – sour cream has a way of overpowering the batter.
Substitute Directions: Substitute out 2/3 a cup of sour cream for every 1 cup of vegetable oil.
10. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a common vegetable oil substitute for waffles, but it does give a slightly sweeter taste to your batter than other replacements.
As a result, only use coconut oil when you know what you’re getting yourself into. If you wake up with a big ole sweet tooth, coconut oil may be the way to go.
Another drawback is coconut oil tends to be on the pricier side, so this may not be a staple substitute.
So, how much coconut oil to replace vegetable oil?
Substitute Directions
Coconut oil is very similar to vegetable oil. Because of this, you won’t have to change the recipe much for this substitute. Use a 1:1 ratio.
Waffles Recipe without Vegetable Oil
You can make waffles without vegetable oil!
Ingredients
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ¾ cups milk
- ½ cup vegetable oil (or whatever substitute)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
1. Combine dry ingredients. Whisk together all-purpose flour, white sugar, baking powder, and salt.
2. Then, beat in eggs, milk, vegetable oil (or whatever substitute you plan to use), and vanilla extract.
3. Spray preheated waffle iron with non-stick cooking spray.
4. Pour mix onto a hot waffle iron, and cook until waffles are golden brown.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 287Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 353mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 7g
Final Words
Finding a substitute for vegetable oil in waffles can be tricky. But, not to worry! We’ve got you covered with all the healthy substitutes above.
Try to make waffles without vegetable oil, you’ll be surprised at the texture. Enjoy!
Related Post
What are the directions for sour cream? Seems to be copied from the cauliflower section
Hey Aldo,
Thank you for pointing this out.
For sour cream, use 2/3 cup of sour cream for 1 cup of vegetable oil.
Hope this helps!