Updated August 2023! It’s wonderful to see a widely distributed brand come out with dairy-free options, and Country Crock released several of them! They launched plant-based buttery sticks and plant-based buttery spread tubs, which are each currently available in two varieties. In this post, I’m covering the Country Crock Plant Butter Tubs in detail, but you can read about and rate the sticks on this other post.
Country Crock Plant Butter Tubs in Two Dairy-Free Varieties
At first, I assumed that Country Crock’s Plant Butter Sticks were the best option for baking. But they state that Country Crock Plant Butter Tubs are “excellent for cooking, baking, and spreading” too. However, these product lines do have different formulas. The tubs contain soy oil, while the sticks do not, and the tubs are made with faba bean protein instead of pea protein, like the sticks. So I suspect your preference will come down to taste or dietary need, rather than the packaging.
The two tubs, or “buttery spreads” as I like to call them, are almost identical. But one has a splash of avocado oil, and the other olive oil.
with Avocado Oil
Ingredients: blend of plant-based oils (soybean, palm kernel, avocado, and palm fruit oil), water, salt, faba bean protein, soy lecithin, lactic acid, natural flavor, calcium disodium edta (to protect freshness), vitamin e acetate, vitamin a palmitate, beta carotene (color). contains: soy.*
Nutrition (per 1 tablespoon serving): 100 calories, 11g fat, 0g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g sugars, 0g protein.*
with Olive Oil
Ingredients: blend of plant-based oils (soybean, palm fruit, palm kernel, olive and extra virgin olive oil), water, salt, faba bean protein, soy lecithin, citric acid, natural flavor, calcium disodium edta (to protect freshness), vitamin e acetate, vitamin a palmitate, beta carotene (color). Contains: soy.*
Nutrition (per 1 tablespoon serving): 100 calories, 11g fat, 0g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g sugars, 0g protein.*
Discontinued Varieties
The Country Crock Plant Butter Tubs made with Almond Oil has been discontinued.
More Facts on Country Crock Plant Butter Tubs
- Price: $3.99 per 10-ounce tub
- Availability: Country Crock Plant Butter Tubs are sold at major grocers and natural food stores in the U.S.
- Certifications: Country Crock Plant Butter Tubs are Certified Kosher Pareve and Certified Plant Based.
- Dietary Notes: By ingredients, Country Crock Plant Butter Tubs are dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, peanut-free, vegan, and vegetarian.*
- For More Product Information: Visit the Country Crock website at www.countrycrock.com.
*Always read the ingredient and nutrition statement prior to consumption. Ingredients, processes, and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company or product. Contact the company to discuss their manufacturing processes if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. No food product can be guaranteed “safe” for every individual’s needs. You should never rely on ingredient and allergen statements alone if dealing with a severe food allergy.
More like butter than butter!
At 66 years old I’ve been eating butter since I was a baby according to my mom. I don’t eat margarine and I hate the rate. I can remember eating butter when noone else in the house did. But this plant butter has allowed me to leave the butter behind for obvious reasons. I’m a fan for life. Even my husband loves it!
Can make some things soupy
I recently started going dairy-free. I tried the almond oil tub on a baked potato and cooked carrots. It did fine on the potato, but the carrots were soupy. I will use this again, but I will be more selective.
Good but cookies really SPREAD!
Was excited to find dairy and soy free sticks at the regular supermarket (instead of the far pricey natural food store). I’ve used other nondairy butter/margarine in tubs for baking but it’s a pain. I’ve been using the Country Crock sticks for a couple months now and while I don’t have any taste or smell concerns I’m finding the cookies spread A LOT. Doughs and batters are just thinner when using these sticks, even when I firm up the dough in the fridge. I’m going to try a batch with half shortening. Anyone found other solutions?
Response from Go Dairy Free
Since it is an oil-water mixture, there can be spreading if the buttery sticks are not properly emulsified and “bound” to prevent separation. What you can do is simply reduce the amount you use, and add a little liquid to the dough (milk beverage, applesauce, dairy-free yogurt, etc) until it reaches a proper cookie dough consistency. Cutting in half shortening is an option, too.
Choose your oil choose your recope
I absolutely love it! I use the almond oil for baking and the oil oil for cooking! The sticks are amazing!
Pros and cons
We bought the almond oil variety, because it was actually the only buttery spread available at our local store due to shortage.
Pros: Price and Size ($3 for 10 ounces – we prefer this smaller size); Very soft, spreadable consistency; Does add flavor to recipes
Cons: More salty than buttery (it’s VERY salty); The almond oil does give it a flavor that I’m not completely sold on
We have not tried cooking with it. I’ve used it as a spread and to try out a dairy-free mac and cheese – functionally, it worked.
Unpleasant taste
I purchased the sticks of plant-based butter and it makes everything I cook have a tangy taste. I don’t like it it makes everything taste spoiled.
Better than butter
I have been looking for a butter alternatve for years and decided to try Country Crock plant based sticks almond oil and love it! I was so surprised! It taste better than butter.
Yummy butter taste.
I was sceptical. I have tried other vegan butter products and have been disappointed. This however is amazing. I will continue to buy this product. Great taste you won’t be disappointed.
My mother loves the Olive Oil plant butter.
We have been buying Country Crock for years, mom seen your new plant butter & wanted to try it. She loves it.
No thanks.
This stuff ruined my pan. The taste is okay i guess?, the scent is weird. But overall it just doesn’t cook right and it burns bad. It turned brown, got really sticky and burned onto my pan on low heat. Not pleased at all.