PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Using up spread / alternative to butter in pastry

We use a lot of butter in our house and with the prices rising I've been looking for lower cost alternatives. I bought some supermarket own brand value type spread, and we aren't keen on it, although do like the spreadable butter type spreads in sandwiches.  Would the cheapo oily spread work in short crust pastry? I usually use butter and a little bit of lard for shortcrust pastry but it's now costing a lot to make a basic pie due to the cost of the butter, so I thought that using the spread might be a way to get rid of it! Has anyone tried it and had success? I don't want to make a horrible pie for tonight's dinner  :)
«1

Comments

  • Katiehound
    Katiehound Posts: 8,115 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I have always made pastry with half lard and half hard margarine.
    Even this is hard to find (remember Echo?)
    Stork is still available- at quite a price or you might be able to find own brand. These come as blocks and labelled something like 'baking margarine.'
    Looks like their own is now 95 pence per block in Morrisons, Tesco, sainsburys. whilst Stork is £1.50

    I would suggest you buy a block & experiment

    With the soft marg I think you would be better using it in a cake or biscuit recipe as it will cream easily
    Being polite and pleasant doesn't cost anything!
    -Stash bust:in 2022:337
    Stash bust :2023. 120duvets, 24bags,43dogcoats, 2scrunchies, 10mitts, 6 bootees, 8spec cases, 2 A6notebooks, 59cards, 6 lav bags,36 angels,9 bones,1 blanket, 1 lined bag,3 owls, 88 pyramids = total 420total spend £5.Total for 'Dogs for Good' £546.82

    2024:Sewn:59Doggy ds,52pyramids,18 bags,6spec cases,6lav.bags.
    Knits:6covers,4hats,10mitts,2 bootees.
    Crotchet:61angels, 229cards=453 £158.55profit!!!
    2025 3dduvets
  • JGB1955
    JGB1955 Posts: 3,832 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I use Stork or supermarket own brands  - currently using Greenvale 'Perfect for Cakes' from Aldi.  Baking margarine works fine too.
    #2 Saving for Christmas 2024 - £1 a day challenge. £325 of £366
  • Thank you, I think in future I will try the hard alternatives. The stuff I already bought is very soft and oily so might not work well in pastry, I'll use it up in a cake instead. 
  • Katiehound
    Katiehound Posts: 8,115 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    or the soft marg would work in a crumble topping...
    Being polite and pleasant doesn't cost anything!
    -Stash bust:in 2022:337
    Stash bust :2023. 120duvets, 24bags,43dogcoats, 2scrunchies, 10mitts, 6 bootees, 8spec cases, 2 A6notebooks, 59cards, 6 lav bags,36 angels,9 bones,1 blanket, 1 lined bag,3 owls, 88 pyramids = total 420total spend £5.Total for 'Dogs for Good' £546.82

    2024:Sewn:59Doggy ds,52pyramids,18 bags,6spec cases,6lav.bags.
    Knits:6covers,4hats,10mitts,2 bootees.
    Crotchet:61angels, 229cards=453 £158.55profit!!!
    2025 3dduvets
  • gran3
    gran3 Posts: 244 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper
    I tried recently using veg oil, was really nice.

  • gran3 said:
    I tried recently using veg oil, was really nice.

    Thank you that's interesting to know, I would have imagined it would be too greasy for pastry. I might give this soft spread a go then, it's oil based. 
  • KxMx
    KxMx Posts: 11,067 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I usually use Lidl own brand Vita D'or "Perfect for cakes" spreadable margarine.
    It's absolutely fine for pastry.  I use it for all my baking in fact.
  • bouicca21
    bouicca21 Posts: 6,684 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I don’t make pastry very often but for savoury pies/quiches I use lard.
  • Use cold pressed organic rapeseed oil or similar and avoid the saturated fat problem. Also marg and the like contain additives the body does not need and could be toxic long term.
  • trailingspouse
    trailingspouse Posts: 4,042 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    I use Lidl's own-brand butter - can't honestly say I notice any issues with it, but it's a long time since I decided Lurpak was a ridiculous price!! I prefer to use real butter - yes it contains saturated fat, but we need a certain amount in the diet, and I think that's better than all the additives in the 'alternative' butters. If too much saturated fat is an issue for you, I would suggest less pastry rather than using something full of additives to make it.
    No longer a spouse, or trailing, but MSE won't allow me to change my username...
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.5K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.9K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.3K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.5K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.2K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.7K Life & Family
  • 256.6K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.