1. Pureed Prunes

I'm starting this list off with a bang – literally, depending on how much prune puree you use! There are a lot of seemingly strange alternatives to butter, but this one caught my eye first. Pureed prunes aren't just for making you regular, you know. This spread is low in fat and calories, and you can use it in a lot of recipes. If you're making something that calls for cinnamon or chocolate, the flavor profiles are surprisingly tasty. You can use baby food, of course, but it's healthier to make your own.

2. Plain Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt is so delicious and healthy! Plus you can use it in so many different ways. If you're making cookies or other baked goods, start out by replacing half the butter in the recipe with Greek yogurt. Eventually you can use more and more yogurt, to see if you still like the taste and consistency.

3. Olive Oil

When you're sauteing or otherwise adding flavor to anything from vegetables to chicken to stew, you don't have to use butter. A drizzle of olive oil works so much better, and it's so much tastier! Think about it, they're even making butters infused with olive oil and sea salt, so why not cut out the middle man? Other oils, such as canola oil, will work with many other recipes. It has more calories than butter, but not so much sodium, saturated fat, or cholesterol.

4. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is wonderfully tasty and it's so good for you! It's filled with healthy fats, plus it's a versatile thing to own, since it also makes a great beauty product. You don't have to use much at all, and it will infuse your meats, vegetables, and other dishes with tons of flavor.

5. Applesauce

Applesauce has been a wonderful alternative to butter for years. People use it in sweeter breads, cakes, cookies, and other pastries. It creates a moist, delightful consistency, and your recipes will come out dense and packed with flavor. Yum!

6. Nut Butters

If you're looking for something you can spread, however, try nut butter instead. I'll always be a peanut butter girl and no apologies, but almond butter is also absolutely divine, and you may enjoy cashew butter or another kind of nut butter. Try a few, experiment, and soon you'll have something else to smear on your muffins or bagels!

7. Avocado

Avocado is such a huge superfood, and it's wonderful to use in recipes that call for butter. You have to mash it first, but with a lovely, ripe avocado, that's easy! Try it in cookies, experiment with cakes, and if you really like the flavor, you can even spread it. Your foods will end up creamy, dreamy, chewy, and so soft.

Whether you're looking for butter substitutes you can use in baking or something spreadable for your morning toast, you've got more than a few great options – and these aren't even all of them! Keep in mind, too, that it's pretty easy to make your own butter if you want to give that a try; Heather and I have been doing it for years, when we've got a mind. What are some of your favorite alternatives to butter?