
A warm childhood memory: Dad brings me back from kindergarten and buys me at the kiosk a green mint-flavored soda, or a block-shaped vanilla popsicle, wrapped in silver paper in the same way butter is wrapped.
Those were such happy times wrapped in warmth, love, and affection.

Those were the days when milk bottles were waiting for us at the door, and the sour cream was sold in glass jars with round curves. We would usually return the empty jars to the grocery store; But during the summer holidays, we, the neighborhood children, would turn them into small vases: we made pulp from newspaper shreds glued them to the jars painted them black gouache, and then glued yellow melon seeds on top.
On our street was a small lime factory. We would buy in cents a full bucket, whitewash the walls of the area near the stairwell of the building and turn it into our activity space. Quite a few rehearsals were held there for plays we wrote, directed, and acted (the parents were also recruited for the production and were responsible for preparing the costumes).
Like all the kids at the time – we spent many hours downstairs
.

At that time, butter and sour cream were considered luxuries. However, while most of the neighbors who were in a similar financial situation to ours compromised on margarine, soybean oil, and buttermilk – we spread butter on our bread, used it in fried omelets and french toast. Sour cream starred in Hungarian potato soup, Rakott Krumpli (a vegetarian version), a sweet filling for Palacsinta, and in many other dishes (please be patient, ok? 😉
I remember how a relative – scolded my mom for her “extravagant” behavior; But my parents, who managed to give us, despite the circumstances, a feeling of abundance, with the help of those “little things” that made the big difference – were not willing to give up the butter and sour cream. Substitutes were by no means out of the question. Regardless of the financial situation – we always ate well. As for sweets and other snacks – well, it is worth a post of its own…
This recipe for uncompromising vegan butter – is dedicated with love to my late parents and in memory of those innocent days.
This butter is part of the basic recipes that miraculously upgrade my kitchen. Here comes a big Tribute to Miyoko Schinner – who can rightly be crowned as the Guru of the Vegan Recipes. Many of them were developed on the shoulders of her recipes and inspired by her.
More than twenty years ago – when veganism was still considered by many to be a sort of esoteric cult, even then she had a restaurant in San Francisco called Now And Zen – where she developed some of her breakthrough recipes such as butter, “bacon”, “turkey” and of course her famous cheeses.

This recipe is based on her recipe as well as a recipe from The Gentle Chef’s excellent book.
After making it once you will forget about the store-bought version!
And most importantly – this butter is good for your heart:
Unlike the original recipe, which explicitly states that refined coconut oil is mandatory, I used cold-pressed coconut oil (see important note below the recipe).
Now listen: you do not feel the taste of coconut in this butter!
This sweeping concern throughout the network can be understood; I also stay away from cold-press coconut oil in chocolate sauce or in vegan Nutella! But here, in some mysterious way, the cold-pressed coconut oil actually contributes to the “buttery” taste; it gives this special sweetness that is characteristic of traditional butter.

So instead of eating with remorse at best and harming our health at worst. Why not earn nutritional value along the way as well? I’m sure there is no need to elaborate on the wonders of cold-pressed coconut oil; Just to mention that it raises the level of good cholesterol!
Disclosure: This recipe requires the addition of 1/3 cup of canola oil; In my opinion, however, the advantage of cold-pressed coconut oil outweighs the disadvantages of canola oil 🙂
Update: it works perfectly also with refined Sunflower oil or Avocado oil!
This recipe contains lactic acid (or apple cider vinegar), which saves us the fermentation process.
By and large, I prefer to make this recipe as it is: neutral; That way I can use it for both savory and sweet recipes. Later you can soften the butter and add goodies like garlic, herbs, and even saffron or truffle oil/salt. The butter can be solidified in silicone molds in various shapes.
I hope you enjoy this wonderful butter as much as I do.

- 1 cup cold-pressed coconut oil, melted see notes
- ⅓ cup refined canola oil, refined sunflower oil or avocado oil see notes
- ⅔ cup un-sweetened plant based milk almond or soy milk
- 4 tsp liquid sunflower lecithin (1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon = 20 ml or 4 tablespoons of lecithin granules.)
- 1 tsp white sugar
- ½-1 tsp nutritional yeast flakes
- ½ tsp Xanthan Gum or guar gum
- ½ tsp lactic acid or 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- ⅛-¼ tsp annatto oil optional; add gradually till you get the desired color
- Pour the melted coconut oil and canola or sunflower oil into a measuring cup with a spout.
- Dip a measuring spoon in the oil mixture; Add the lecithin to the oil with that spoon; This way, the lecithin will not stick to the spoon but will slide more easily; Mix with a whisk until a uniform mixture is obtained and set aside.
- Put the rest of the ingredients including the oil & lecithin mixture) in the blender* (see a note).
- Process on a high speed for about a minute until homogenous
- Stop the blender, clean the sides with a spatula, and process again for a few seconds.
- At this point, if desired you can add annatto oil. increase to high speed, and process for about 30 seconds.
- Transfer to a storage container and refrigerate. The butter can be stored in the freezer until use.
- The butter will keep in the fridge for two weeks.
- In the video, I added the oil to the blender in a thin stream; After filming, I found this was unnecessary: You can put the oil mixed with lecithin in the blender together with the other ingredients.
- Refined canola oil or refined sunflower oil yield the best results and contribute to the velvety texture. Avocado oil is also excellent but it gives a little greenish hue, the taste is very similar to that of canola or sunflower.
- Please note: It is essential to ensure the quality of the oils – a reliable manufacturer will ensure that there are no additives or fakes. When the oil is not 100% pure but mixed (without indicating on the packaging) with other oils/ingredients, it affects the texture of the butter.
- In winter – it is necessary to warm the coconut oil so that it does not harden when it comes in contact with the other ingredients. In summer it is enough that the oil is melted at room temperature.
- Butter with garlic and herbs: add to the softened butter 1-2 minced cloves of garlic, some chopped herbs such as chives, dill, or parsley; salt to taste and mix well.
- Truffle flavor: add a pinch of truffle salt or a few drops of truffle oil and mix well.
- Butter with saffron: add some saffron to softened butter, add salt to taste, and mix well.
- You can solidify the butter in silicone molds for pralines.
- It is possible and recommended to freeze the butter: you can double the amount and divide it into containers.
Hey, another great looking recipe.
Have you had much luck using your adaption in puff pastry making? I’ve used store bought vegan butters in the past and find it difficult as they don’t keep their shape unless very cold!
Hey Aaron, Thanks for the feedback 🙂
Puff pastry is on my TO DO list 🙂
But I have used the butter in many other pastry like QUICK CHEESE STRUDEL, which resembles puff pastry (recipe will be translated and posted soon) the butter is also suitable for frying.
From my experience bought butter is usually softer – probably because of the larger amount of mild oil on the account of coconut oil.
I attach a link to the cheese strudel (not translated yet), you can scroll down to the
recipe – there are demonstration images – you can see how similar it is to puff pastry
https://vgfoodstory.com/cheese-strudel-%d7%a9%d7%98%d7%a8%d7%95%d7%93%d7%9c-%d7%92%d7%91%d7%99%d7%a0%d7%94-%d7%9e%d7%94%d7%99%d7%a8/
Have you made a puff pastry with this yet? Looking to make vegan croissants.
Hi Andie,
I have not made puff pastry yet.
Since I’m also craving croissants – It’s on my list 🙂