How to Substitute Oil for Butter in Oatmeal Cookies

Known for their sweet, earthy flavor, oatmeal cookies are a popular choice for a homemade dessert. Many oatmeal cookie recipes call for butter is it provides a sweet, creamy flavor and also gives the cookies a soft consistency. As a saturated fat, butter intake should be kept to a minimum as it increases bad cholesterol levels. Use oil in place of the butter for a slightly healthier cookie. Most oils are unsaturated, which means they lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol.

A small pile of oatmeal cookies. (Image: adlifemarketing/iStock/Getty Images)

Step 1

Multiply the butter measurement by .75 to determine the appropriate amount of oil. For instance, if the recipe calls for 1 cup of butter, multiply 1 by .75 to get .75, or 3/4. In this case, the recipe should get 3/4 cup of oil.

Step 2

Add the oil to the oatmeal cookie batter in the same order that the butter would normally be mixed in. Stir the mixture until thoroughly combined.

Step 3

Scoop out a tablespoon of the batter and lay it on a cookie sheet to ensure the batter can retain its shape. Since the oil - a liquid fat - replaces a solid fat, the cookie batter may end up runny. Add sugar to the batter, 1 tablespoon at a time, if the batter is too thin.

Step 4

Bake the oatmeal cookies according to the directions of the recipe.