Out of Crisco, one case
Crisco substitute for baking
5 options, ranked, with the exact amount
Use Butter
Same amount as the Crisco
The best Crisco substitutes for baking are butter (1:1 ratio) for flavor and tenderness, lard (1:1 ratio) for flakiness, or coconut oil (1:1 ratio) for vegan options. Each provides similar fat content with different characteristics.
- The tweak —
- Use room temperature butter for creaming methods. For pie crusts and pastries, use cold butter and work quickly.
- Best for —
- cookies
One casethe full Crisco card
Every option, one card
Ranked| # | Substitute | Instead of Crisco |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buttercookies | Same amount |
| 2 | Lardpie crusts | Same amount |
| 3 | Coconut oilvegan baking | Same amount |
| 4 | Vegetable shorteningcookies | Same amount |
| 5 | Margarinecookies | Same amount |
Butter
rich, buttery
Butter is the most popular substitute for Crisco in baking. It adds rich, buttery flavor and creates tender, moist baked goods. Use room temperature butter for creaming methods.
- Best for
- cookies, cakes, muffins, biscuits, pie crusts, brownies
- Texture
- tender, moist
- Prep
- Use room temperature butter for creaming methods. For pie crusts and pastries, use cold butter and work quickly.
Adds rich, buttery flavor and creates tender, moist baked goods.
Lard
neutral taste · flaky, tender
Lard is excellent for baking and creates the flakiest pastries. It has a neutral flavor and works well in both sweet and savory baked goods.
- Best for
- pie crusts, biscuits, pastries, cookies, cakes
- Prep
- Use cold lard for pie crusts and pastries. For creaming methods, use room temperature lard.
Creates the flakiest pastries and has a neutral flavor.
Coconut oil
slight coconut flavor
Coconut oil is good for vegan baking and works well in most recipes. It's solid at room temperature and creates tender baked goods.
- Best for
- vegan baking, cookies, cakes, muffins, pie crusts
- Texture
- tender, moist
- Prep
- Use room temperature coconut oil. If it's too hard, warm it slightly to soften.
Solid at room temperature, works well in vegan baking.
Vegetable shortening
neutral taste · similar to Crisco
Generic vegetable shortening works almost identically to Crisco. It has the same texture and melting properties, making it the most direct substitute.
- Best for
- cookies, cakes, pie crusts, frosting, biscuits
- Prep
- Use exactly like Crisco - no adjustments needed.
Very similar to Crisco in texture and melting properties.
Margarine
neutral to slightly buttery
Stick margarine works well as a Crisco substitute in baking. It has similar fat content and melting properties to Crisco.
- Best for
- cookies, cakes, muffins, biscuits
- Texture
- tender, moist
- Prep
- Use room temperature stick margarine. Avoid tub varieties which have too much water.
Choose stick margarine for baking, not tub varieties.
How it behaves in this recipe
Baking with Crisco substitutes requires understanding how different fats behave in various recipes. Butter adds flavor and tenderness, lard creates flakiness, coconut oil works for vegan options, and vegetable shortening provides the most similar results to Crisco.
Tips for substituting Crisco
10 tips- For creaming method recipes, use room temperature butter or margarine
- For pie crusts and pastries, use cold fat and work quickly to maintain flakiness
- Coconut oil works best in recipes where a slight coconut flavor is acceptable
- Lard creates the flakiest pastries but may not be suitable for vegetarians
- Vegetable shortening is the most direct substitute with identical properties
- When substituting butter, you may need to reduce liquid slightly due to butter's water content
- For vegan baking, coconut oil or vegan shortening work best
- Test your substitute in a small batch before making large quantities
- Consider the flavor profile of your recipe when choosing a substitute
- Some recipes may need slight adjustments in baking time or temperature
Notes on Crisco
- For creaming method recipes, use room temperature butter or margarine
- For flaky pastries, use cold lard or cold butter
- For vegan baking, use coconut oil or vegan shortening
- For neutral flavor, use vegetable shortening or lard
- For rich flavor, use butter
- For shelf-stable options, use vegetable shortening or coconut oil
Questions
5 questionsCan I substitute butter for Crisco in all baking recipes?
Yes, butter can be substituted for Crisco in most baking recipes using a 1:1 ratio. However, butter contains water while Crisco doesn't, so you may need to reduce other liquids slightly. Butter also adds flavor and creates more tender, less flaky results.
What's the best Crisco substitute for flaky pie crusts?
Lard is the best substitute for flaky pie crusts, followed by cold butter. Lard creates the flakiest texture, while butter adds flavor. Use cold fat and work quickly to maintain the flaky layers.
Can I use coconut oil instead of Crisco in cookies?
Yes, coconut oil works well in cookies as a Crisco substitute. Use a 1:1 ratio and room temperature coconut oil. The cookies will have a slight coconut flavor and be slightly more tender.
Is there a vegan substitute for Crisco in baking?
Yes, coconut oil and vegan shortening are excellent vegan substitutes for Crisco. Coconut oil works in most recipes, while vegan shortening has properties almost identical to Crisco.
How do I substitute Crisco for butter in a cake recipe?
Use a 1:1 ratio of butter to Crisco. Since butter contains water, you may need to reduce other liquids by 1-2 tablespoons. The cake will be more tender and have a richer flavor.