Shortening Substitute: What Should You Use?
If you’re like us, you always keep shortening in your pantry. Plus, your grandma or mom probably taught you how important shortening is in many recipes, especially baked treats. But what if you ran out of vegetable shortening at home? What shortening substitute should you use? Find out the best shortening replacements by reading this post.
What Is Shortening?
Shortening is the secret ingredient that makes your favorite crust extra flaky and that delicious ham and cheese roll ultra tender.
It has been a pantry staple for decades for many reasons. For one, it gives baked goods a tender and flaky texture.
Since it doesn’t contain water, shortening doesn’t produce steam during baking. This leads to a more consistent and tender result, which is particularly useful when making biscuits, pastries, and pie crusts.
In addition, shortening has a higher melting point than butter or margarine. As a result, it is more stable and easier to work with, especially in higher temperatures. This also makes shortening ideal for making complex pastries or in recipes that call for a stable fat, like frostings that have to hold their shape.
Shortening also has a longer shelf life than other fats. Additionally, it is less prone to rancidity because of its high saturation. Its extended freshness is also why many commercial bakers prefer to use it.
What Is Shortening Used For?
Shortening is used in baking and different cooking methods.
Many bakers prefer vegetable shortening over liquid fat like oil when making treats like biscuits, crusts, and cookies. It’s because it can produce a tender, flaky product.
In particular, wheat flour’s strands stretch during mixing and baking. This gives baked products chewy, stretchy textures.
But when you cut vegetable shortening flour before baking, it coats the gluten strands. This prevents them from elongating and forming a tough matrix. As a result, you get tender, crumbly, and flaky products. Interestingly, shortening got its name because it shortens gluten strands. Genius, right?
Although lard and butter can lead to the same result, shortening is more affordable and shelf-stable. Shortening isn’t just for baking— you can use it instead of oil or other fats for frying, too.
Best Shortening Substitutes
- Butter
- Vegetable Oil
- Margarine
- Coconut Oil
- Vegan Butter
- Bacon Fat
- Olive Oil
- Clarified Butter
- Lard
- Applesauce
While some recipes work best with shortening, you might find yourself without one. Here are the ten best shortening replacements usually found in the kitchen:
1. Butter
If you don’t have shortening, you likely have butter in your fridge. But don’t make the common mistake of using the two interchangeably without adjusting the proportions.
You see, butter usually contains 80% fat. The rest is almost water, with a small percentage of salt or milk solids sometimes. Both salted and unsalted butter also melt at lower temperatures than shortening.
While this doesn’t greatly affect the products, it can have minor effects. For instance, your cookies might spread slightly or your pie crust might be less flaky.
2. Vegetable Oil
Shortening is basically processed vegetable oil, so you can use regular vegetable oil as a substitute. However, take note that shortening is solid, and oil is liquid.
Hence, the oil slightly changes your batter’s consistency. However, the final product won’t be too different, just a little denser.
3. Margarine
This is another good vegetable shortening replacement because it’s also made from vegetable oil. Plus, margarine is solid.
The only difference? Margarine isn’t 100% fat. Only 80% of it is fat. The remaining ingredients are water, preservatives, or food color.
While this doesn’t greatly affect the products, using margarine instead of shortening has minor effects. For example, your cake might be less airy or your pie crust might be less flaky.
4. Coconut Oil
This ingredient works because you can use it in its liquid or solid form. Plus, it has the same color as shortening when solid and contains 100% fat. However, you should know the difference between unrefined and refined coconut oil. Unrefined coconut oil has a distinct coconut taste, so it works better than refined coconut oil when making coconut-based treats.
5. Vegan Butter
Another vegetable shortening substitute is vegan butter. Manufacturers produce it from plant-based oils like almonds, avocados, soybeans, olives, and more. Plant butter often tastes like butter, but some brands taste a little less buttery.
6. Bacon Fat
Hear us out before skipping to the next one. While it sounds unconventional, bacon fat is a clever way to use extra bacon grease. This ingredient also has the fattiness you’re looking for in a shortening substitute.
Additionally, bacon fat works well in baked goods that call for sweet and salty notes, like bacon maple donuts. It’s also perfect for items that aren’t naturally sweet, such as cornbread, pot pie, and biscuits.
7. Olive Oil
This one works best for recipes that call for melted shortening. However, olive oil is richer than other types of fat, especially if you use high-quality ones. Depending on what you have, the olive oil might feature floral, fruity, or peppery notes.
8. Clarified Butter
Simmering the water and milk particles out of butter gives you clarified butter.
Cooks use clarified butter more often for cooking than baking because it can withstand high temperatures. It also produces more stable dressings and sauces. Hence, it’s an excellent shortening replacement because you don’t have to change the recipe’s proportions by much.
9. Lard
Contrary to popular belief, bacon fat and lard are different, even if they come from the same animal. You see, the fat you get from cooking bacon has a unique bacony flavor. On the other hand, lard is bland and doesn’t affect the saltiness or sweetness of baked treats.
10. Applesauce
Applesauce is a convenient shortening replacement because it’s thicker than liquids. It’s also naturally sweet and doesn’t negatively impact the taste of the baked goods. However, you must take note that you must only use a half cup of applesauce for every cup of shortening needed. We also recommend using applesauce only if you’re making sweet products.
Best Shortening Substitute When Making Certain Items
Here are the best shortening replacements for making the most common items requiring shortening:
Bread
If a bread recipe requires shortening, you can swap it with an equal quantity of oil, butter, or lard. Only use bacon fat for more flavor.
Biscuits
If you’re following a biscuit recipe that calls for shortening, you can replace it with butter or margarine at a one-to-one ratio.
Cookies
If you don’t have any shortening but want to make cookies so bad, use butter instead. You can use the same amount, but your cookies might not turn out quite as flaky. On the upside, your cookies will have a rich, buttery flavor.
Frosting
You can use the same amount of butter as vegetable shortening when making frosting. Additionally, you can use coconut oil in its solid form. Doing so can give the frosting a similar texture and consistency.
Recipes Using Shortening or Shortening Substitutes
Check out these delicious recipes that involve shortening:
1. Buttercream Frosting
If you’re looking for a delicious and easy-to-make buttercream frosting, look no further than this recipe.
This recipe uses vegetable shortening and is perfect for those who want a buttercream with a light and fluffy texture and a stable consistency.
Give this buttercream frosting recipe a try the next time you’re in the mood for something sweet!
2. Bavarian Donut
The Bavarian donut is a classic, timeless dessert that’s not going away soon. Not even in the far future, we bet. Tons of people enjoy them as a dessert or all-day snack.
There might be many donut flavors out there, but Bavarian is among the best. Pretty much every donut shop, including the big corporations, sells it.
Plus, who doesn’t want that soft and pillowy exterior filled with that delicious vanilla cream filling?
3. Korean Cream Cheese Garlic Bread
This Korean cream cheese garlic bread recipe is an easy way to make everyone’s favorite side dish.
We all know that garlic bread is delicious, but sometimes it can be hard to get the perfect flavor. The cream cheese in this recipe adds a rich taste, while the butter gives it a little extra richness.
We promise you won’t regret trying out this tasty dish. Your family will love you more for making such amazing bread.
4. Ube Cheese Pandesal
Who doesn’t love pandesal? It’s a traditional Filipino bread that is soft and yummy. Plus, it’s perfect for dipping in coffee or hot chocolate. And with this ube cheese pandesal recipe, you can have the same deliciousness without having to leave home. It has an amazing ube taste and color that will leave you wanting more.
5. Chicken Empanada
Also known as pocket pie or mini pie, the empanada is a popular Filipino dish. It’s sold on the streets, mall stands, and even restaurants.
Contrary to popular belief, the Filipino chicken empanada recipe is actually easy to follow. The tasty chicken filling is first placed in a crust. Then, the crust is closed, folded, and cooked. Sounds easy, right?
Given its taste and simplicity, the chicken empanada is not going anywhere. It’s definitely here to stay. So go ahead and try this chicken empanada recipe that’ll help you make an all-time favorite.
6. Pancakes
This pancake recipe will make you feel like you’re on cloud nine. Its heavenly vanilla flavor and soft, fluffy texture will make you love this classic even more.
They’re delightful, and you can simply make them with essential baking ingredients, including flour, shortening (or any substitute), and eggs.
Plus, who doesn’t want to see that delicious, fluffy pile on which you can put delicious toppings and sauces?
7. Chocolate Chip Cookies
Shortening gives cookies a rich flavor and a soft, moist texture. In short, shortening makes cookies taste and feel delightful.
This chocolate chip cookie recipe is our favorite for many reasons. For one, this recipe produces cookies with that beautiful golden-brown color. Plus, every bite tastes better than the one before it. Don’t believe us? Give this recipe a try to find out for yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use butter, vegetable oil, margarine, coconut oil, vegan butter, bacon fat, olive oil, clarified butter, lard, or applesauce instead of shortening.
Yes, you can use oil instead of shortening. But take note not to use oil as a shortening replacement in recipes like pie crusts, scones, or biscuits, or scones. Doing this won’t get you pockets of fat. As a result, the dough won’t puff up properly.
Make homemade shortening by melting oil (preferably coconut oil). In addition, make sure it’s barely melted and as close to room temperature as possible. Then, add liquid oil, depending on your preferred consistency. Then, mix it until smooth.
Conclusion
If you find yourself short on shortening (no pun intended), your dishes don’t have to suffer. Just remember that some shortening replacements can affect the flavor, flakiness, rise, or crumb of your dishes.
So, print or bookmark this guide to know which ones work best for your beloved recipes. Happy cooking!
About HICAPS
Over the years, HICAPS has helped bakers and businesses make delicious products by offering ingredients like ChiffonAide Cake Oil, Magic Whizk Whipping Cream, Red Velvet Flavor Emulco, and Instabake Brownie Mix.
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