While vegetable oil is a suitable choice for preparing waffles, the health-conscious groups might not prefer it. This is why they are always on the lookout for a suitable alternative that will not mess up with the overall taste and texture of their delicious waffles.
If you are one of them, we have a surprise for you in the form of the 13 best substitutes for vegetable oil for making waffles. Our favorite ones are lard, butter, and ghee (clarified butter). However, there are several other options to choose from.
Without waiting any further, let us learn how to substitute vegetable oil with other alternatives to make waffles tasty as well as healthy.
What’s the Role of Oil While Making Waffles?
Before looking into the substitutes, let’s know what vegetable oil is used for in the waffle.
So, basically, there are three benefits of using vegetable oil while preparing waffles at home. The first role is to make the batter texture fluffy, light and crispy. Thus, you will get a golden brown crusty waffle.
Secondly, it helps to add flavor to the waffle.
Third, the waffle will not stick with the iron plates when you add vegetable oil.
Generally, there are many non-stick waffle pans available in the market, but the non-sticky layer vanishes after some time.
Don’t throw your pan in such a case. You can still use the waffle pan to make a crispy waffle.
You just have to coat it with oil before pouring the batter.
Once the waffle is cooked, you can easily take it off the pan without any hustle.
Some Other Alternatives for Vegetable Oil in Waffles
We have gathered the 13 best replacements. You can try and add different toppings with that and make your own delicious waffles at home.
1. Lard
You can get lard at any grocery store. Lard is a semi-soft, white fat present in the fattiest portions of a pig.
You can use lard as a replacement for vegetable oil while preparing waffles as it will add extra rise and crispiness, plus it has additional nutrients also.
To make your waffle better and more delicious, you can add some nuts and cinnamon. Or you can add lemon zest if you like the lemony flavor.
Don’t worry about the cooking process. You have to use lard in the same quantity as vegetable oil.
If you take one cup of vegetable oil for making a waffle, you have to take the same quality of lard.
Moreover, you can also use lard to fry meats and veggies too.
2. Butter
Waffles can also be made with butter. It’s very common, and you probably have it in your kitchen all of the time.
You can use unsalted butter while making a waffle. It will work as a great alternative to vegetable oil.
While using the quality, you have to be a little careful because the butter is heavier than oil, and thus, make sure to use it in moderation.
People who don’t like vegetable oil flavor can always opt for unsalted butter. It is neutral in taste and gives a buttery flavor. Plus, you can make waffles as per your taste buds.
Like, if you want it chocolaty, add cocoa powder and if you like vanilla, add vanilla essence. Butter can blend easily with any flavor.
Note: Before adding batter to the waffle mix, make sure to melt it in the oil form and then use it. It will ease your hard work of mixing all waffle ingredients together.
Don’t worry if you don’t have unsalted butter; you can add salted butter too.Â
But while adding butter to the waffle mix, make sure to adjust the quantity according to the salt taste.
Too much butter can increase sodium content, and then the waffle will become salty instead of sweet.
3. Pureed Pumpkin
You can make pumpkin puree or get it from the store to make waffles crispy and fluffier. Plus, it will give a new dimension to the waffle.
It will not be the same boring waffle. By adding pumpkin puree, you are enhancing and giving the waffle a new twist.
The best part of replacing pumpkin puree with vegetable oil is that it is a better and healthier option. The fat content is low. It has low carbs plus adds fibers, vitamin A, and vitamin C to your diet.
The ratio of pumpkin puree will be the same as the vegetable oil.
4. Mayonnaise
If you are vegan and don’t prefer adding dairy products while cooking waffle batter, then you can use an oil-based healthier option that is mayonnaise.
Yes, I know you must be shocked as mayonnaise is generally used with fries and sandwiches. But you can also replace vegetable oil with mayonnaise while making waffles.
This is due to the fact that it is an oil-based product with a neutral taste and is light, which aids in making the batter lighter and crispier inside.
If you want to cut down on your calories, you must go with mayonnaise as it has lower unsaturated fat compared to vegetable oil.
Note: Before adding molten mayonnaise into the waffle batter, make sure to melt it.
There is no change in the recipe process. You just have to replace one cup of oil with mayonnaise.
I am sure you will love this alternative. Try making it once.
5. Ghee
You can replace vegetable oil with ghee too!
It is an Indian clarified butter that is a better alternative for individuals who aren’t allergic to butter or dairy.
These days, ghee has become quite popular as a substitute for vegetable oil because it is free of polyunsaturated fats.
Thus, it makes it a healthier alternative. You can add one cup of ghee to the waffle batter.
Plus, it is high in antioxidants that aid in body cleansing and vitamins A, D, E, and K.
6. Coconut Oil
Next, a healthy option in replacement of vegetable oil is coconut oil.
While adding this to the waffle batter, it will make the waffle fluffy and give it a hint of coconut flavor.
However, one disadvantage of utilizing coconut oil is that it is costly.
But compared to vegetable oil, it is far superior in nutrient content. You may also use it to grease the waffle pan.
7. Mashed Bananas
If you have ripe bananas in your kitchen, then you can mash them and add them to the waffle batter in place of vegetable oil.
Yes, it works wonders, plus it is healthier because it adds fibers and antioxidants, helps in weight loss, plus gives your waffle a fruity flavor.
If you want to give some twists, you can add cinnamon powder or nutmeg powder as well.
The ratio is not the same as other alternatives. If you are using one cup of vegetable oil, you have to add 3/4 ripped mashed bananas in place of that.
8. Pureed Cauliflower
That’s correct. You read it right. The nutritious Brassica oleracea veggie can also make a delicious waffle.
Just in case you run out of vegetable oil and need to make waffles, then using pureed cauliflower can work as a great substitute.
It will give waffle batter the right consistency and also provide stickiness. It won’t change the color or even taste.
So, next time you don’t have oil, you can add cauliflower puree to the waffle batter. Try it once.
9. Sour Cream
You can try sour cream in waffle batter as well.
Well, as you know, it is heavier and contains fat, so if you are preparing waffles for a healthy breakfast, then you must skip the sour cream and try the other alternatives on the list.
However, if you love a little extra-calorie dessert for your breakfast, then there is no harm in using sour cream.
Moreover, it also adds amazing flavor and gives a nice thickness but make sure to use it in the right quantity. Otherwise, the sourness of the cream will overpower the waffle.
Use ¾ cup of sour cream in replacement of 1 cup of vegetable oil in the batter.
10. Applesauce
Next, a healthy alternative for vegetable oil is applesauce. It is low in carbs. It adds fibers, vitamin C, and antioxidants. As it’s mostly fats, it’ll make tasty, moist, and soft waffles.
Try making waffles with applesauce this time. Just add ½ cup of the sauce to the batter. If you want the batter to be thin and wetter, you can add more as needed.
11. Avocado Oil
If you have avocado oil, you can add that to the waffle. It is tasteless, so don’t worry about the flavors. Moreover, it helps make light waffles, beats the wetness, and shifts the dryness.
It is a way healthier option than vegetable oil. As it is low in cholesterol, helps heart rate, and reduces symptoms of osteoarthritis.
The ratio of avocado oil is similar to vegetable oil. If you use one cup of vegetable oil in your waffle batter, replace it with one cup of avocado oil.
12. Yogurt
Do you enjoy eating yogurt? Well, everyone loves yogurt, whether it’s strawberry or blueberry.
It’s not only delicious, but it’s also helpful for our gut, helping to restore good bacteria in the intestine.
If you are running out of vegetable oil and preparing waffles for your kids, you can always opt for yogurt. It will make the batter lighter and give it the right texture. Plus, it will add a hint of tangy flavor.
Don’t worry if you don’t like the yogurt flavor in the waffle. You can get rid of it by adding some lemon juice to it.
When creating waffle batter, 1 cup of low-fat yogurt can be substituted for 1 cup of vegetable oil.
Note: Because the yogurt will add liquid to the waffle batter mixture, you will need to lower the amount of liquid in the waffle batter, whether it’s water or milk.
13. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
You can swap vegetable oil with extra virgin olive oil in waffles. It is a healthy option that contains antioxidants, antimicrobials, and anti-inflammatory.
If you choose it, it will also help you to cut down on your cholesterol percent because the monosaturated fat present in olives can replace bad cholesterol with good cholesterol.
Plus, it is also sugar-free, gluten-free, and sodium-free.
So, what are you waiting for?
This morning, cook some healthy waffles with olive oil. Your waffle will be crispy on the edges and a little fluffy in the middle.
What Type of Oil Can You Use While Preparing Belgian Waffles?
If you’re making a Belgian waffle, you can use any oil or fat that you’d use to make a regular waffle.
However, you have to take care of a few things while preparing a Belgian waffle.
First, the Belgian waffle machines take a little longer to heat up, so don’t base your smoke point on the starting temperature. Instead, consider the peak temperature.
Second, the grooves of Belgian waffle irons are deeper. You might discover that some oils hold to the metal better than others.
You can try a few out and see if any don’t. Otherwise, any oil that is suitable for normal waffles should also be suitable for Belgian waffles.
FAQs
What does oil do to waffles?Â
Oil can make the waffles soft and tender. It also improves the consistency of the batter to create crispy waffles. But the amount of waffles must be considered to ace the texture.
Why are my homemade waffles not crispy?
Sometimes, waffles fail to be crsipy due to the absence of moisture. You can use some oil or buttermilk to make them crispy. While buttermilk can be tricky, oil is considered to be an easy way out.
Are waffles better with oil or butter?
Using vegetable oil instead of butter while making waffles can make them light and airy. If that’s what you are going for, vegetable oil will not disappoint.
Well, That’s a Wrap!
So, the best vegetable oil substitute for making waffles is yours. You can add ghee, mayonnaise, sour cream, lard, or applesauce, whatever you like. These replacements will make the batter lighter, crispier outside, and fluffier inside.
You can put some lemon zest or cinnamon to give it additional flavor. Go with any substitute and try a different topping. Just remember that you don’t burn the waffle.
Moreover, if you know of any substitute not on the list, do let us know in the comment section below.
