Out of Crisco, one case
Crisco substitute, case by case
5 options, ranked, with the exact amount
Use Butter
Same amount as the Crisco
The best Crisco substitute depends on your recipe: butter (1:1 ratio) for rich flavor and tenderness, lard (1:1 ratio) for maximum flakiness, coconut oil (1:1 ratio) for vegan options, or vegetable shortening (1:1 ratio) for identical results.
- 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 best overall substitute for Crisco in most recipes. It adds rich, buttery flavor and creates tender, moist baked goods. It's the most popular choice for home bakers.
- 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.
Best overall substitute with rich flavor and tender texture.
Lard
neutral taste · very flaky, tender
Lard is the best substitute for flaky pastries. It creates the flakiest results and has a neutral flavor. It's the traditional choice for flaky pastries and works excellently in most applications.
- Best for
- pie crusts, biscuits, pastries, cookies, cakes
- Prep
- Use cold lard for pie crusts and pastries. For creaming methods, use room temperature lard.
Best for flaky pastries with neutral flavor.
Coconut oil
slight coconut flavor
Coconut oil is the best vegan substitute for Crisco. It's solid at room temperature and works well in most recipes. It has a slight coconut flavor that works well in many recipes.
- 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.
Best vegan substitute with slight coconut flavor.
Vegetable shortening
neutral taste · identical to Crisco
Generic vegetable shortening is the most similar substitute to Crisco. It has identical properties and works almost exactly the same in most recipes.
- Best for
- cookies, cakes, pie crusts, frosting, biscuits
- Prep
- Use exactly like Crisco - no adjustments needed.
Most similar to Crisco in texture and behavior.
Margarine
slight buttery flavor
Margarine is a good alternative to Crisco with slight buttery flavor. 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.
Good alternative with slight buttery flavor.
How it behaves in this recipe
The best Crisco substitute depends on your specific needs and recipe. Butter is the most popular overall choice, lard is best for flakiness, coconut oil is good for vegan options, and vegetable shortening provides the most similar results.
Tips for substituting Crisco
10 tips- For most recipes, butter is the best overall substitute
- For flaky pastries, lard is the best choice
- For vegan baking, coconut oil works best
- For identical results, use vegetable shortening
- For creaming methods, use room temperature fat
- For pie crusts and pastries, use cold fat and work quickly
- 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
- Store substitutes properly to maintain their quality
Notes on Crisco
- For most recipes, use butter
- For flaky pastries, use lard
- For vegan options, use coconut oil
- For identical results, use vegetable shortening
- For slight flavor, use margarine
- For the best of both worlds, use combinations
Questions
5 questionsWhat's the best overall substitute for Crisco?
Butter is the best overall substitute for Crisco in most recipes. It adds rich, buttery flavor and creates tender, moist baked goods. It's the most popular choice for home bakers and works well in most applications.
What's the best Crisco substitute for pie crust?
Lard is the best substitute for pie crust as it creates the flakiest results. Cold butter is also excellent and adds rich flavor. For the best of both worlds, use a combination of half butter and half lard.
What's the best vegan substitute for Crisco?
Coconut oil is the best vegan substitute for Crisco. It's solid at room temperature and works well in most recipes. It has a slight coconut flavor that works well in many recipes, and it's good for vegan baking.
What's the most similar substitute to Crisco?
Generic vegetable shortening is the most similar substitute to Crisco. It has identical properties and works almost exactly the same in most recipes. It's the most direct substitute with no adjustments needed.
Can I use different substitutes in the same recipe?
Yes, you can use different substitutes in the same recipe, but each will create different results. Butter adds flavor, lard creates flakiness, and coconut oil works for vegan options. Choose based on your desired outcome.