Substitutes for Oil in Waffles

The 5 Best Substitutes for Oil in Waffles

Oil acts as the carrier for other ingredients when making waffles. Chefs like to use vegetable oil particularly because it holds heat evenly. Not to mention that it’s fairly cheap. 

So, what can you do if you don’t like using oil or you’ve just run out of it and you are cooking waffles for a crowd.

Here are the 5 best substitutes for oil in waffles.

5 Substitutes for Oil in Waffles 

Each of the following substitutes does the same job as oil. Keep in mind that each substitute will give your waffles a different texture and taste. 

1. Lard 

Lard is white fat that comes from meat. Many prefer using it over vegetable oil as it’s more nutritional and contains zero trans fat. However, keep in mind that it’s high in saturated fatty acids. 

You can substitute 1 cup of lard for 1 cup of oil. It gives the same taste and texture to your waffles as vegetable oil. 

2. Butter 

Butter and oil act as substitutes for each other in almost all recipes. When using butter to make waffles, make sure to use unsalted butter so your waffles won’t taste too salty. 

Also, use melted butter so you won’t have to overwork the batter to mix it. If you’re using salted butter, don’t add any additional salt to the batter. 

I recommend using butter in making waffles if you’re someone who enjoys its taste. Substitute 1 cup of unsalted, melted butter for 1 cup of oil. 

3. Applesauce 

This might sound odd to you, but applesauce serves as a great substitute for oil in waffles. It adds a sweet and fruity taste to your waffles making them taste even better. 

You can eat your waffles without using any additional toppings when using applesauce instead of oil. Substitute ¾ cup of applesauce for 1 cup of oil. If you need the batter to be more liquidy add more applesauce. 

The best thing about applesauce is that it’s much healthier and cheaper than using oil. You can use applesauce in other baking recipes as well. 

4. Mashed Bananas

Mashed bananas give you the same results as applesauce. They give your waffles a sweet, banana flavor with no need to add more sweeteners.  

When using bananas as a substitute for oil, pick the ripest bananas. They contain more sugar and are easy to mash. 

You only need to substitute ¾ cup of mashed bananas for 1 cup of oil. You don’t need to add liquids or sugar to your waffle batter. Your bananas provide you with both. 

Keep in mind that your waffles will have a banana taste, but that’s never a bad thing. The upside of using mashed bananas instead of oil is that bananas provide you with healthy fibers. 

The only downside is that you can’t preheat them. This is because bananas tend to brown quickly. 

5. Yogurt 

Yogurt is another alternative for oil in making waffles and maybe even better than oil. It makes lighter and fluffier waffles. 

Your waffles will have a tangy taste to them, which might taste even better. However, if this isn’t your taste add some lemon juice to your batter. It’ll reduce the tangy taste. 

When using yogurt instead of oil to make your waffles, make sure to reduce the liquids in the batter. Yogurt already adds liquid to the batter. 

It’s best to use greek yogurt, but you can use unsweetened yogurt as well. Substitute 1 cup of yogurt for 1 cup of oil.