What Is Greek Yogurt?

• Greek yogurt is simply yogurt that has been strained. During the straining, some of the liquid whey is removed and the remaining product has a thicker, creamier consistency than unstrained yogurt. You can make Greek-style yogurt at home by lining a colander with paper coffee filters, paper towels or muslin and filling it with plain yogurt. Set the colander over a bowl. Refrigerate for 2 to 8 hours and then store in clean, covered containers in the refrigerator.

Using Greek Yogurt Instead of Butter

• Greek yogurt has a tangier, entirely different taste than butter. When you use it instead of butter in baked goods, the taste will be different. What will be similar is the texture, and that is where Greek yogurt excels as a butter replacement. It works well in breads, muffins, soft cookies and coffee cakes. It does not work well in crisp cookie recipes, however, where a certain amount of fat is required to achieve the right texture.

Can You Use Non-Fat Greek Yogurt to Replace Butter?

• Greek yogurt comes in several varieties, each containing a different percentage of fat. In commercial brands of Greek yogurt, the most common fat percentages are whole milk (usually 3%), 2% and 0%. Any of these can be used to replace some or all of the butter in soft baked goods as described above. Keep in mind that regardless of the fat percentage, Greek yogurt will add a slightly tangy flavor to whatever you make with it, which butter does not do.

When Greek Yogurt Cannot Replace Butter

• Greek yogurt is not a good choice as a butter substitute when its slightly sour flavor could be objectionable. It cannot be used instead of butter to grease baking pans to prevent the baked good from sticking to the pan. Greek yogurt is also not a good alternative if the recipe really requires a buttery flavor.