can i substitute butter for shortening
Sarah Scott
Updated on June 10, 2026
Because butter melts quicker than shortening, it often results in flatter and thinner baked goods. How does it impact taste? There’s no doubt about it: Butter adds a creamier, richer flavor to baked goods than shortening.
What is the best substitute for shortening?
The Best Substitute for Shortening for Frying or Cooking
Vegetable oil, cocount oil, peanut oil, avocado oil and grapeseed oil all have high smoke points and can be used for frying – although vegetable oil will truly be your best bet because it’s inexpensive and flavorless.
Can I substitute butter for Crisco?
In general, you can substitute Crisco shortening for butter or margarine in equal amounts (1 cup Crisco shortening = 1 cup butter or margarine). Not only does Crisco shortening have 50% less saturated fat than butter and 0g trans fat per serving, it gives you higher, lighter-textured baked goods.
What is a substitute for 1/2 cup of shortening?
If your recipe calls for 1/2 cup of shortening, you could substitute 1/2 cup and 1 tablespoon of margarine instead. It’s pretty simple, just remember to add a little extra margarine to give you the most similar results. If you’re baking, using margarine as a substitute is our closest recommendation.
How much butter is equal to 1 cup of shortening?
If you’re substituting butter in a recipe that calls for shortening, here’s the ratio: Ratio: 1 cup + 2 tablespoons of butter for 1 cup shortening.
Is it better to use shortening or butter in cookies?
Which One Should I Use in Cookies? Basically, cookies made with butter spread more and are flatter and crisper if baked long enough. However, they are more flavorful than cookies made with shortening. Cookies made with shortening bake up taller and are more tender, but aren’t as flavorful.
Can I use oil instead of shortening?
If a recipe calls for melted shortening, vegetable oil is a good swap. Just don’t use vegetable oil as a shortening substitute in recipes like pie dough, biscuits, or scones—you won’t get pockets of fat, so the dough won’t puff up properly.
What can I substitute for 3/4 cup of shortening?
Butter (and margarine) are equivalent in measurement to vegetable shortening. For instance, 3/4 cup shortening = 3/4 cup butter (which is 1 1/2 sticks of butter).
Can I use olive oil instead of shortening?
If you are making something savory, then you should use either olive oil or vegetable oil. For both of these substitutions, you should use the same amount of oil as you would shortening in the recipe. So, you should replace ½ a cup of shortening with ½ a cup of oil.
Is butter healthier than shortening?
Nutrition. Some say butter is not the healthiest choice when cooking, but compared to shortening, it packs way more nutrition value. Harvard Public Health even states that fats are crucial to our health, and butter is more of a natural and heart-healthy ingredient overall.
What is the difference between shortening and butter in baking?
The general difference that affects baking, is that shortening is 100 percent fat, whereas butter is only 80 percent. This is because butter contains up to 16% moisture and around 2% milk solids.
What can I replace shortening with in cookies?
To successfully replace shortening in a cookie recipe, you can swap in 100% butter, but you might want to accordingly lower the liquid in another part of the recipe (due to the butter’s water content). You could also do a mix of butter and coconut oil.