How Much Cream Cheese to Substitute for Butter
Works for baking, sauteing, and slow cook. Cream Cheese brings a noticeably different flavor than Butter.
How much cream cheese equals one cup of butter?
Use 1 cup cream cheese per 1 cup butter.
Health notes
Compared with Butter, Cream Cheese has: less calories (295 vs 717 per 100g in Butter), less fat (28.6g vs 81.1g per 100g in Butter), less saturated fat (18g vs 50.5g per 100g in Butter), more protein (7.1g vs 0.9g per 100g in Butter), and more carbs (3.5g vs 0.1g per 100g in Butter).
Using cream cheese as a butter substitute in baking
Use 1 cup softened cream cheese per cup butter in cakes, bars, or muffins. Denser crumb, tangier bite.
Other cooking methods
- Sauteing
Use 3/4 cup melted gently over low heat; watch for graininess. Better in sauces than for browning.
- Slow Cook
Use 3/4 cup stirred in near the end for creaminess in sauces or soups. Adds tang, not richness.
- Steaming
Use 1:1 stirred into fillings or sauces after steaming for a creamy tangy finish.
- Raw Cold
Use 1:1 in frostings, dips, and spreads. Thicker and tangier than butter straight up.
Methods to avoid (3)
- Frying
Not recommended: low fat content and no smoke point mean it breaks down and scorches.
- Grilling
Not recommended: won't melt evenly or coat food like butter on the grill.
- Drinks
Not recommended: too thick and tangy for drink bases.
FAQ
- How much cream cheese equals one cup of butter?
Use 1 cup cream cheese per 1 cup butter.
- Can I substitute cream cheese for Butter in baking?
Yes. Use 1 cup softened cream cheese per cup butter in cakes, bars, or muffins. Denser crumb, tangier bite. Not recommended: low fat content and no smoke point mean it breaks down and scorches.
- How much cream cheese to use as a butter substitute?
Tangier and less rich than butter; add a touch more sugar or vanilla to balance.
- How does the flavor change when substituting Cream Cheese for Butter?
Cream cheese brings a noticeably different flavor than butter.
- How does texture change when substituting Cream Cheese for Butter?
Cream cheese denser, tangier, less airy crumb with reduced spread and browning in bakes.
- What else should I know about substituting Cream Cheese for Butter?
For cheesecakes, frostings, dips, and dense cakes. Expect a tangier, denser result with less rise and browning. Skip frying and grilling since it breaks down under high heat. Add a little extra fat or oil if the recipe needs richness. Works well stirred into sauces or fillings at the end of cooking.
- What still works when substituting Cream Cheese for Butter?
Cream cheese still works as a fat, texture, and flavor carrier.
- What won't work when substituting Cream Cheese for Butter?
Cream cheese won't work as a emulsifier and leavener.
- How well does Cream Cheese match Butter?
Cream cheese is okay on structure, stretch on heat, and stretch on flavor.
- How does nutrition compare per 100g when substituting Cream Cheese for Butter?
Cream cheese has about x2 fewer calories and x3 fewer fat and sat. fat, and about x8 more protein.
- How do the flavor notes shift when substituting Cream Cheese for Butter?
The flavor shifts toward more acidic notes.