Review: Earth Balance European Style Buttery Spread

Earth Balance has several varieties of their vegan buttery spread. I've been using the original for years as my go-to vegan butter substitute. I recently tried the European Style and compared it to the original. I'm not sure what specifically makes it European, but overall I did like this better than the original.

The European Style was very similar to the original Earth Balance but a little thicker, creamier, and slightly more yellow. As you can see, they look almost the same.

I also liked the taste more, but it was a subtle difference. It was closer to a buttery taste. I'd like to compare them for baking too. 

The ingredient list is the same as original Earth Balance, except for a different coloring ingredient. 

Earth Balance European Style Buttery Spread ingredients: Vegetable oil blend (canola, palm, and olive oils), water, salt, pea protein isolate, sunflower lecithin, natural flavor, lactic acid, beta carotene (color). 

Review: Earth Balance European Style Buttery Spread

First impressions: Very similar to original Earth Balance

Taste: Rich and buttery

Texture: Thick and creamy

Can you tell it's vegan? No
Better than other vegan options? Yes, but maybe not enough to pay more for it. It's about the same price but the container is half the size of the other Earth Balance flavors. 

Worth buying again? I would buy it again if it was on sale or I was making something special. 

Overall: 5/5

Review: Earth Balance Vegan Cheddar Flavor Squares

I'm already a fan of Earth Balance Buttery Spread as a vegan butter replacement, so I thought I'd try their Vegan Cheddar Flavor Squares. It looks like they also make Vegan White Cheddar Flavor Puffs. I'll have to try those next!

The cheddar flavor squares are surprisingly cheesy tasting! I was blown away and couldn't stop eating them. 

While I could tell that these plant-based crackers were not Cheez-Its, I could not tell that they were vegan. If it were a blind taste test, I would probably guess that they're off-brand Cheez-Its, but would not guess that they're vegan. The cheese taste is just too real. 

Cheese is one of the most notoriously difficult foods to replicate in a vegan version. I guess it makes sense that the first vegan cheese I like would be in a cracker, because a cracker texture is easier to imitate than cheese by itself. 

The cheddar flavor of these vegan cheesy crackers comes from a seasoning blend that includes yeast extract, which adds a savory, salty taste (not the same as nutritional yeast).

Earth Balance Vegan Cheddar Flavor Squares ingredients: Unbleached pastry flour, enriched wheat flour (flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), water, canola oil, corn starch, seasoning (maltodextrin, yeast extract, gum acacia, natural flavor), palm oil, sunflower lecithin, salt, baking soda, monocalcium phosphate, ammonium bicarbonate, sugar, paprika oleoresin color, yeast extract, annatto extract (water, annatto), lactic acid, dehydrated toasted onion, garlic powder. 


Review: Earth Balance Vegan Cheddar Flavor Squares
First impressions: Wow, these really tastes like cheese!
Taste: They actually taste more like cheese than real Cheez-Its. Not as salty. 
Texture: Reminds me of Cheese Nips or off-brand Cheez-Its. Not quite as crunchy as Cheez-Its, but pretty close. 
Can you tell it's vegan? No
Worth buying again? Yes, I will definitely buy these again. 
Good enough to replace the non-vegan version? Yes, but more expensive. 
Overall: 5/5

Review: Earth Balance Original Buttery Spread

When I first started swapping out animal products with vegan alternatives, butter was one of the easiest for me. 

I tried Earth Balance Buttery Spread a few years ago and haven't gone back since. It's made from vegetable oil, but to me it tastes like real butter. They say their "proprietary blend of oils" is the reason for its buttery taste and texture. 

It works for spreading on toast and also holds up to cooking and baking.  I've used it in everything from cookies to making a roux and have not noticed a difference. It's also available in sticks that make it easier to use for baking. 

A small number of people have told me they think it has an aftertaste that they don't like. Personally I don't pick up on that though. 

Earth Balance makes a few different varieties: original, soy free, whipped, olive oil, omega 3, coconut, and a new European style. I haven't seen that one in stores yet but it will be interesting to try. 

The original spread is made with vegetable oil, and a few of the varieties are organic. Most of them are pretty easy to find. All of the grocery stores near me have at least the original spread and some have more varieties.  

Review: Earth Balance Original Buttery Spread
Taste: I don't notice a difference between this and real butter. Maybe someone who likes to eat sticks of butter would notice. 
Texture: When cold, it's a little softer than real butter and a little firmer than margarines like I Can't Believe It's Not Butter. It melts like real butter. 
Can you tell it's vegan? No.
Better than other vegan versions? Yes, but I haven't tried very many. Some people have told me they prefer Miyoko's. I haven't tried that one yet. 
Worth buying again? Yes, I always have it in my fridge. 
Overall: 5 out of 5