Clean Treat Substitutes - What To Use When You’re In A Jam
Your clean treat order has just arrived and you’re keen as a bean to get the ball rolling (literally). Unfortunately, upon checking your cupboards once, twice, three times over, you realise you don’t have the ingredients required for the mix. Fear not, our list of alternatives is here to save the day.
Now before you read any further, we do need to mention that we have not yet trialled every substitute listed, but we are confident that these alternatives will perform similar functions. It is important to keep in mind you may experience a slight difference in the overall taste and texture of your clean treats when using alternative ingredients, but for the most part it will be similar.
Rice Malt Syrup
Rice malt syrup aka brown rice syrup is a low fructose sugar alternative derived from brown rice, boasting a mild sweetness often likened to butterscotch. If you don’t have a jar of this in your pantry, you can always use:
- Agave Syrup
- Honey
- Maple Syrup
- Date Paste
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a difficult component to replace due to its ability to solidify when refrigerated. In saying that, we recommend using cacao butter if you don’t have coconut oil on hand.
Peanut Butter
In the unlikely and extremely traumatic instance of a peanut butter shortage, you can totally replace this pantry staple with:
- Cashew Butter
- Tahini
- Almond Butter
- Coconut Butter
- Sunflower Butter
Almond Butter
The healthiest of all the nut butters, almond butter is a spread we simply can’t get enough of. If you don’t have it on hand, you can use:
- Cashew Butter
- Peanut Butter
- Tahini
- Coconut Butter
- Sunflower Butter
Almond Milk
As is the case with nut butters, almond is one of the healthiest options among plant-based milks which is why so many of our clean treat mixes call for it. If you find yourself running low on supply, simply replace it with:
- Coconut Milk
- Oat Milk
- Soy Milk
- Rice Milk
- Dairy Milk
Tahini
Tahini is a paste made from toasted ground hulled sesame, commonly used in salad dressings and hummus. It offers a very potent flavour, with a texture similar to many nut butters. If your jar of tahini has pulled a Houdini, you can use:
- Smooth Peanut Butter
- Cashew Butter
- Coconut Butter
- Almond Butter
- Sunflower Butter
Coconut Butter
A common mistake people often make is assuming coconut oil and coconut butter are the same. Unlike the oil, coconut butter contains the meat of the coconut which allows it to retain its nutrients and fiber. It has a very potent coconut taste and creates a creamy texture. It can be found in most health food stores and larger supermarket chains. If you cant get your hands on it, you can also opt for:
- Solidified coconut oil
- Refrigerating coconut milk or cream overnight and using the hardened top layer