Yes, you can generally use salted butter as a substitute for unsalted butter in baking. However, there are a few things to consider.
Salted butter already contains salt, while unsalted butter does not. If you use salted butter in a recipe that calls for unsalted butter, you'll be adding additional salt to the recipe. This can affect the overall flavor of the baked goods, especially if the recipe doesn't account for the extra salt. In some recipes, such as delicate pastries or cakes where precise measurements are important, using salted butter may alter the final result.
If you decide to use salted butter instead of unsalted butter, you can adjust the amount of salt called for in the recipe. Typically, you would reduce the salt added to the recipe by about ¼ teaspoon per ½ cup (1 stick) of salted butter used. This adjustment helps to maintain the desired balance of flavors.
It's worth noting that some bakers prefer to use unsalted butter in their recipes because it allows them to have more control over the salt content in their baked goods. Using unsalted butter allows you to adjust the salt level to your taste and ensures consistency across different brands of butter, which may have varying levels of salt.
Ultimately, the choice between using salted or unsalted butter in baking depends on personal preference and the specific recipe you're working with.