Looking for a dairy-free substitute for baking? Instead of butter or margarine, I have used Spectrum Organic Shortening made from palm oil. It works well, although it has such a neutral flavor that it doesn’t
give baked goods the same buttery taste as those made with butter or margarine. Problem solved: Spectrum’s new Organic Butter Flavor Shortening!
I have only seen this product in one store so far, Mother’s Market in Orange County, California (I LOVE this market — incredible selection of gluten-free and other allergen-free foods). It isn’t even shown on the website yet, but I called the company and they gave me the ingredients: Organic palm oil, natural butter flavor (non-dairy), annatto and turmeric for color.
I love that more companies are accommodating dairy allergies with products like these.
Amber says
Sounds interesting, but that label might scare me off. Is it NATURAL butter flavor or is it non-dairy? I don’t understand how it can be both. I guess I prefer my butter flavoring artificial.
Alta says
I’m with amber…exactly what is natural butter flavoring?
Stephanie says
This is pretty cool news 🙂
I’d be curious what the flavoring is as well, although, as I understand it, by FDA labeling standards “natural flavoring” just means it’s somehow derived from something natural. I don’t believe “natural butter flavor” means it’s derived from butter necessarily, and it could be anything as long as it starts with some substance the FDA considers “natural”.
alison says
Okay people, I have the answer! I just called Spectrum and they said that the natural butter flavor is derived from sunflower oil and nothing else. Interesting that they wouldn’t put that on the label given the general climate of food allergies (even if they don’t have to by law).
Michele says
Thanks for posting your information, Alison! I was hesitant to use the butter flavored shortening due to a corn allergy. Now I can use it to make cookies!
Leah says
Can this be used in place of butter, say for buttering bread for Grilled Cheese Sandwiches?
Alison says
Leah,
I don’t see why not.
Carol Hartigan says
Could you tell me which of the Mother’s Markets in Orange County has this butter flavored shortening? I can’t find it in Laguna Hills. Thanks!
Janine says
Hi! I’m curious . . . I’ve checked the web site for Spectrum, and it seems ok, but I know some of their products are made on shared lines. Are we sure the shortening is allergen-free? I just worry because of the nut oils. My daughter has life-threatening allergies to all tree nuts and peanuts and eggs. Just wanted to see what other people’s comfort level is. Thanks so much for your site! I’m also glad to see that there is no corn in the butter flavor. My daughter has what seems like a million food allergies, and corn is one of them. I’m glad that the natural flavor is sunflower oil!
Alison says
Hi Janine,
My daughter who is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts consumes the Spectrum shortening with no problem.
Diane says
Thanks for the info on the butter flavoring. My grandson has life threatening corn and dairy allergies, among a few nut and peas. Hard to find things to cook with. Now i can make tastier cookies and cakes he can eat!
Sarah says
I called the company and they said the natural flavoring was sunflower oil but that’s all the info she had. She said that since corn is not considered a major allergen that the info wouldnt be given to her and since the rest of the natural flavoring recipe is proprietary, that that’s all she could tell me. So she said that yes there could still be corn in the natural flavoring of this product – she just doesn’t have enough info to know for sure.
Curious if anyone with a corn allergy has tried this?
Diane says
Hey, I just checked with Spectrum about their Butter Flavored Shortening not having any corn in it. IT DOES!!! SO… PLEASE Be aware of this for those with life-threatening corn allergies.
phyl says
annatto for color? some of us cannot consume.