What Brand of Butter is Dairy Free? Your Guide to Plant-Based Brands

October 21, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a 2023 study by the Vegan Society, the UK vegan market alone is projected to exceed £1.7 billion by 2026, indicating a growing demand for plant-based alternatives like dairy-free butter. For those navigating dietary restrictions or choosing a vegan lifestyle, finding a quality dairy-free butter brand is essential for enjoying delicious food. This guide breaks down the best options available on the market.

Quick Summary

Several brands offer quality dairy-free butter made from plant-based oils, suitable for cooking, baking, and spreading. Options range from widely accessible choices like Country Crock and Earth Balance to premium products like Miyoko's Kitchen. Key factors distinguishing brands include ingredients, flavor profile, and suitability for different culinary applications.

Key Points

Variety of Brands: Popular dairy-free butter brands include Country Crock, Earth Balance, Miyoko's Kitchen, Melt Organic, and Violife.
Performance Differences: Stick versions of dairy-free butter generally work better for baking due to higher fat content, while tub spreads are softer for spreading.
Flavor Profiles: Brands vary significantly in flavor; Miyoko's offers a tangy, cultured taste, while Country Crock is known for a classic buttery flavor.
Ingredient Variations: Most dairy-free butters are made from plant oils like coconut, palm, and sunflower. Those with nut allergies should check ingredients, as some brands like Miyoko's use cashews.
Best for Baking: Violife Plant Butter and stick versions of Earth Balance and Country Crock are often recommended for their baking performance.
Consider Your Use: Choose your brand based on whether you need it for spreading (tubs) or baking (sticks). Be mindful of how brands behave at different temperatures.
Price and Accessibility: Earth Balance and Country Crock are widely accessible and affordable, whereas Miyoko's is a more premium and expensive option.

Top Dairy-Free Butter Brands

The dairy-free market has expanded significantly, offering consumers a wide variety of plant-based butter options. These products use a range of plant oils and other ingredients to mimic the taste and texture of traditional butter. Here’s a look at some of the most popular brands and what sets them apart.

Country Crock Plant Butter

Country Crock is a well-known name that has successfully entered the plant-based market. Their Plant Butter products, available in both tubs and convenient baking sticks, come in several varieties, including olive oil and avocado oil. Many users praise its rich, buttery flavor and creamy texture that performs well in baking and spreading.

Flavor Profile: Described as very close to dairy butter, often praised for its buttery taste.
Performance: Excellent for cooking, baking, and spreading, with reliable results in recipes.
Price: Generally considered a cost-effective option, making it widely accessible.

Earth Balance Buttery Spreads and Sticks

Earth Balance has been a leader in the vegan butter space for years, known for its reliable products. Their buttery sticks are a go-to for many vegan bakers, performing well in recipes like pie crusts, biscuits, and cookies.

Flavor Profile: Recent formula changes have led some users to note a slightly tangy flavor, though the buttery taste remains.
Performance: A solid, dependable option for most baking applications. However, some find the tub versions can have higher water content, affecting shelf life.
Accessibility: Widely available in most grocery stores across the United States.

Miyoko's Creamery European Style Cultured Vegan Butter

For those seeking a premium, artisan product, Miyoko's offers a European-style butter alternative. It is made from a base of organic coconut oil, sunflower oil, and cultured cashew milk, giving it a distinctive tangy flavor.

Flavor Profile: Rich and tangy, often described as cultured, and favored for its flavor complexity.
Performance: Excellent for spreading and specific baking applications. Some reviews note it can behave differently than dairy butter at room temperature, becoming softer.
Ingredients: Notable for using cultures and avoiding palm oil, though it does contain cashews, making it unsuitable for nut allergies.

Melt Organic Plant Butter

Melt Organic produces a cold-pressed plant butter using a blend of organic coconut, hi-oleic sunflower, and sustainable palm fruit oil. It is known for its mild flavor and creamy texture.

Flavor Profile: Generally neutral and milder than other brands, though some reviews have noted a slightly artificial or oily taste.
Performance: Good for spreading and cooking. When baking, its softer texture at room temperature can cause cookies to spread more, so chilling the dough is recommended.
Texture: Praised for its smooth and creamy mouthfeel, especially when spread on bread.

Other Notable Options

Violife Plant Butter: Made with 79% plant oil, it offers a mild, neutral flavor that works well in baking and is a top contender for taste according to some blind tests.
Flora Plant Butter: Provides a balanced, buttery flavor and is a good option for crispier baked goods.
Trader Joe's Dairy Free Buttery Spread: An affordable and accessible option for those who shop at Trader Joe's. Its sticks are recommended for baking.

Comparison of Dairy-Free Butter Brands


Brand	Key Ingredients	Best For	Flavor Profile	Texture	Price Point
Country Crock	Plant-based oils (olive, avocado)	Baking, Cooking, Spreading	Classic, buttery, and rich	Creamy, consistent	$ (Affordable)
Earth Balance	Plant-based oils (palm, soybean, canola)	General Baking & Cooking	Neutral to slightly tangy (depends on formula)	Dependable, performs well when chilled	$$ (Mid-range)
Miyoko's Kitchen	Organic Coconut Oil, Cultured Cashew Milk	Spreading, Artisan Recipes	Rich, tangy, cultured flavor	Creamy but softer at room temp	$$$ (Premium)
Melt Organic	Organic Oils (coconut, sunflower, palm)	Spreading, Low-heat Cooking	Mild, neutral, slightly oily to some	Smooth, soft, can be loose at room temp	$$ (Mid-range)
Violife	Plant oils (coconut, sunflower, canola)	Baking (best flavor), Spreading	Mild and neutral	Consistent for baking	$$ (Mid-range)

Considerations When Choosing a Dairy-Free Butter

When selecting a dairy-free butter, your intended use is the most important factor. For baking, products sold in sticks are often a better choice as they have a higher fat content and less water, which prevents baked goods from spreading too much. For spreading, tub spreads are usually softer straight from the fridge. Here are some tips:

Check the ingredients list carefully. Many brands, especially tubs, may have varying ingredient lists and oil bases. If you have a nut allergy, avoid brands like Miyoko's that contain cashew milk.
Consider the fat content. The oil-to-water ratio is crucial for baking results. Stick versions typically have a higher fat percentage, closer to dairy butter, which is ideal for pastries and cookies.
Taste test for your palate. Flavor profiles vary significantly. Miyoko's has a distinct cultured tang, while Country Crock aims for a classic buttery taste. Testing a few options for your personal preference is recommended.
Adjust recipes when necessary. Dairy-free butter can behave differently, especially when melting. Some brands suggest keeping the butter cold before baking to prevent separation.

Conclusion

Selecting the right dairy-free butter depends on your culinary goals, but there are excellent choices available for every need. Country Crock and Earth Balance offer reliable, widely available options suitable for most cooking and baking, with Country Crock being particularly praised for its taste. For a premium, cultured experience, Miyoko's Kitchen is a standout, while Melt Organic and Violife offer other compelling alternatives with different flavor and texture profiles. By considering the brand's ingredients, fat content, and intended use, you can find a delicious dairy-free butter that rivals its traditional counterpart.

Visit the King Arthur Baking Company blog for detailed baking trials comparing dairy and vegan butters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Earth Balance and Country Crock are two of the most widely available dairy-free butter brands, found in most major grocery store chains.

For baking cookies, stick versions of dairy-free butter, such as Earth Balance or Country Crock Plant Butter, are recommended. They have a higher fat content and less water than tubs, which helps create a better texture.

No, Miyoko's European Style Cultured Vegan Butter is not suitable for people with nut allergies, as it is made with a base of cultured cashew milk.

Yes, some dairy-free butters, particularly those with a higher water content, can behave differently. For example, some brands may become very soft or even separate at room temperature, and chilling dough is often recommended when baking with them.

For spreading, many people prefer the tub versions of brands like Melt Organic or Country Crock Plant Butter, as they are softer and easier to spread straight from the fridge.

Dairy-free butter is typically made from a blend of plant-based oils, such as coconut, palm, canola, or sunflower oil, along with water, salt, and emulsifiers like sunflower lecithin.

No, not all margarines are dairy-free. Some traditional margarine products may contain a small amount of milk products, so it is important to check the ingredient list to ensure it is suitable for a dairy-free diet.