What to add to spice cake mix?

June 21, 2024 2:06 PM

I can't have numerous ingredients. What to add in place of oil?

My lovely niece-in-law brought me some gluten-free spice cake mix.
It calls for a 1/4 cup of oil. Since the gallbladder removal, I try and avoid fats like the plague.
My aunt uses yogurt instead of oil, but I'm dairy-senstive. What would be a good thing
to moisten it with?

Note: I rarely cook or bake. If oil is OK, what kind is best?

posted by intrepid_simpleton to Food & Drink (14 answers total)

I've never tried it myself, but I've heard people say that applesauce can be used in place of oil.
posted by wheatlets at 2:11 PM on June 21 [5 favorites]

Seconding wheatlets that while I've never done this myself, apparently, applesauce is a decent substitute for oil in baked goods. The first page I found says to replace half of the oil with the same volume of apple sauce.
posted by demi-octopus at 2:12 PM on June 21

Mashed banana
posted by third word on a random page at 2:15 PM on June 21 [1 favorite]

I have used both applesauce and mashed banana (both separate and together) and can vouch for both. Banana is denser, applesauce drier, but both are extremely passable.
posted by phunniemee at 2:22 PM on June 21

Gourds (mashed pumpkin or squash) are also nice but that's not really seasonal. (Maybe zucchini if you're desperate??? I wouldn't.)
posted by phunniemee at 2:23 PM on June 21

Applesauce, banana, canned pumpkin, puréed cooked prunes (baby food), or dairy-free yogurt. Canned pumpkin can give things a really vegetal taste without some bold flavors to balance it, but you’d probably be fine with spice cake.

If I bake with oil I use avocado oil. That may not be a worthwhile investment if you rarely bake, though—it will probably go rancid before you can finish a bottle.
posted by corey flood at 2:40 PM on June 21

Response by poster: Oh yes, applesauce, that was what I forgot.
But I'm also doing FODMAP for my diverticulosis, so I'll have to check that one and see if it's affecting me like the apple cider did. I am officially the poster child for everything!

Thanks all for the memory jog and the oil recommendation.
posted by intrepid_simpleton at 2:56 PM on June 21

1 part flaxseed meal mixed with 3 parts water and allowed to sit for 5 minutes makes a gloopy substance that's usually used as a vegan egg replacer. This could fit the bill (and avoid the simple sugars), though be aware that the flaxseed itself contains some oil.
posted by heatherlogan at 3:28 PM on June 21

Can of pumpkin! Look for 2 ingredient muffins, you can bake it as a cake too.
posted by dabadoo at 3:39 PM on June 21 [7 favorites]

Prune puree (homemade or baby food) can work! It’s good in brownies for sure.
Nut milk or oat milk should be ok too
Some people use a can of pop, maybe ginger ale?
You might like to add a very well beaten egg (or extra egg to whatever’s required) for a bit more richness and fluffiness with less fat than oil.

Note that 1/4 cup of oil in a whole cake isn’t that much per serving, consider how many slices you expect to have and see if that amount of fat fits into your diet! It’s already gluten-free so if you start doing a ton of other substitutions it might be drifting further and further from the taste & texture of a traditional cake.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 5:06 PM on June 21 [3 favorites]

You can replace both eggs and oil in any basic box cake mix (i.e. that doesn't require adding anything that isn't eggs and oil) with a can of 7-UP or ginger ale (or any light-flavored soda without dye.) Just cake mix + can of soda, that's it.
posted by blnkfrnk at 5:59 PM on June 21 [2 favorites]

I’ve baked with applesauce instead of oil, and it will work, but you’ll notice the difference in texture. If you can tolerate some oil, maybe try replacing half.
posted by FencingGal at 5:59 PM on June 21

Aquafaba—the liquid from a can of chickpeas or beans—could work.
posted by Violet Hour at 10:58 PM on June 21

Pumpkin puree. Muffins made with only spice cake mix and pumpkin puree are great!
posted by Badmichelle at 2:09 AM on June 22