How To Bake With Coconut Oil

Replace refined fats with coconut oil.

Coconut oil seems to be everywhere these days, from beauty magazines to recipe websites. And, considering how many benefits it offers, its growing popularity is no surprise. If you’ve decided to give it a try, check out these tips for how to bake with coconut oil.

Why Coconut Oil?

It delivers loads of benefits that make it a healthier choice for baking. It’s rich in healthy fats called medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs), which the liver converts into energy instead of storing as fat. What’s more, coconut oil doesn’t trigger insulin spikes, allowing blood sugar levels to stay more stable. This healthy oil also offers unusually high levels of lauric acid, which supports the body’s natural ability to fight harmful bacteria and viruses [1].

Coconut oil is such an all-around superstar that it’s used in natural, homemade beauty products, like DIY Shea-Coconut Oil Body Butter and DIY Coffee & Coconut Oil Cellulite Scrub.

Refined or Unrefined Coconut Oil?

Refined oil is often processed with chemical solvents, and some brands may be hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated.

Need coconut oil tips? Unrefined coconut oil is the best choice because it hasn’t been harshly processed. Look for unrefined extra-virgin oil, free of added chemicals.

How to Bake with Coconut Oil

Coconut oil can be subbed for vegetable oil, butter, margarine, etc. It’s easy to incorporate into recipes because you’ll use a 1:1 ratio for the ingredient you’re replacing. For example, if a recipe calls for ½ cup of butter, use ½ cup of coconut oil.

Since coconut oil can be solid or liquid, use the form that correlates with the ingredient you’re replacing. For instance, if the recipe calls for vegetable oil, use coconut oil in liquid form.

At room temperature coconut oil is solid, but as the temperature rises it turns into a liquid. If the oil is solid and you need to use melted coconut oil in baking, simply warm it over low heat in a saucepan. Be aware that liquid coconut oil can solidify when mixed into cold ingredients, so if you need the liquid form, try to add it to room temperature ingredients.

This oil is also non-stick, so one of the top coconut oil tips is to use it as an alternative to butter or shortening for greasing pans and glass dishes.

Recipes with Coconut Oil

Get started with these clean eating baking recipes:

1. Clean Eating Chocolate Coconut Muffins

2. Clean Eating Zucchini Bread

3. Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

4. Peanut Butter and Honey Oat Bars

5. Blueberry-Lemon Scones

Coconut oil isn’t just for us two-legged creatures–your pooch pals can benefit too. Learn how to bake with coconut oil for your fur baby with Doggie Fresh Breath Treats Superfood Recipe.

Discover more coconut oil tips in 101 Uses for Coconut Oil.

Plan menus that incorporate yummy, good-for-you ingredients. Check out our Skinny Ms. Recipe Collection: 101 Fan Favorites ebook.

Resource

[1] Mercola.com

 

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Amy Wagner

Amy is a writer specializing in health & wellness, business, and entrepreneurship. She's a long-time martial arts teacher who has earned a 4th degree black belt in tae kwon do. When Amy's not writing or kicking, she's wrangling sons, reading fiction, or crushing on BBC actors.

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