These TikTok-famous blueberry cookies use a secret ingredient to 'brighten' the dough

Have you ever baked something that went into the oven looking vibrant and came out looking unintentionally beige? This simple baking trick opens up a world of visual possibilities for your next homemade treats.

In a viral TikTok, Justine Doiron (@justine_snacks) shares the simple recipe for one of her favorite go-to desserts: blueberry cookies. 

The dessert bears a unique, light purple hue that's pretty unusual in the world of baking, and Doiron reveals her secret to achieving such a vivid color: plant-based butter, the lighter color of which helps highlight the natural dyes of the blueberries

"We're intentionally using plant-based butter, and that's because it's a lighter color than normal yellow butter," says Doiron. "You want a really purple, bright result."

@justine_snacks 7 ingredient magic 🫐🫐🫐🥹 #cookies #blueberries #cookiedough #tiktokpartner #blueberrycookies #bakingszn #tiktoktaughtme ♬ Never Had a Chance - Katherine Li

Plant-based butter can be made from a variety of non-dairy sources, including coconuts, olives, palms, and avocados. 

It differs slightly from margarine, because although both plant-based butter and margarine primarily consist of non-dairy oils, the latter often also includes traces of dairy.

Plant-based butter has a number of health benefits that traditional butter lacks. For example, plant-based butters tend to be high in monounsaturated fats, which are generally healthier than saturated fats. People that swap out saturated fats for monounsaturated ones have been found to have lower rates of heart disease. 

Another key advantage: plant-based butter also has no cholesterol. 

Additionally, studies have found that plant-based butters are produced in more environmentally friendly ways than dairy-based butter. Plant-based butters require less land and emit fewer harmful carbon pollution than traditional butter.

So whether you're interested in exploring plant-based alternatives or experimenting with the colors of your food, plant-based butter is a great place to start.

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