Out of Crisco, one case
Crisco substitute for cookies
5 options, ranked, with the exact amount
Use Butter
Same amount as the Crisco
The best Crisco substitutes for cookies are butter (1:1 ratio) for rich flavor and tenderness, coconut oil (1:1 ratio) for vegan options, or lard (1:1 ratio) for crispiness. Each creates different cookie textures and flavors.
- The tweak —
- Use room temperature butter for creaming. For drop cookies, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Best for —
- chocolate chip cookies
One casethe full Crisco card
Every option, one card
Ranked| # | Substitute | Instead of Crisco |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Butterchocolate chip cookies | Same amount |
| 2 | Coconut oilvegan cookies | Same amount |
| 3 | Lardsugar cookies | Same amount |
| 4 | Vegetable shorteningall cookie types | Same amount |
| 5 | Margarinechocolate chip cookies | Same amount |
Butter
rich, buttery
Butter is the most popular substitute for Crisco in cookies. It adds rich, buttery flavor and creates tender, moist cookies. Use room temperature butter for creaming methods.
- Best for
- chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, oatmeal cookies, brownies, bar cookies
- Texture
- tender, moist
- Prep
- Use room temperature butter for creaming. For drop cookies, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Creates rich, flavorful cookies with tender texture.
Coconut oil
slight coconut flavor
Coconut oil works excellently in cookies and creates tender, moist results. It's good for vegan baking and has a slight coconut flavor that works well in many recipes.
- Best for
- vegan cookies, chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, oatmeal cookies
- Texture
- tender, moist
- Prep
- Use room temperature coconut oil. If it's too hard, warm slightly to soften, then cool to room temperature.
Solid at room temperature, works well for vegan cookies.
Lard
neutral taste · crisp, tender
Lard creates crisp, tender cookies with a neutral flavor. It's excellent for cookies that need to hold their shape and have a crisp texture.
- Best for
- sugar cookies, shortbread, biscotti, crispy cookies
- Prep
- Use room temperature lard for creaming methods. For crisp cookies, use slightly cooler lard.
Creates crisp, tender cookies with neutral flavor.
Vegetable shortening
neutral taste · tender, moist
Generic vegetable shortening behaves almost identically to Crisco in cookies. It creates tender, moist cookies with neutral flavor.
- Best for
- all cookie types, chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, bar cookies
- Prep
- Use exactly like Crisco - room temperature for creaming methods.
Most similar to Crisco in texture and behavior.
Margarine
neutral to slightly buttery
Stick margarine works well as a Crisco substitute in cookies. It has similar fat content and creates tender, moist cookies.
- Best for
- chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, oatmeal cookies
- 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
Cookie texture depends heavily on the fat used. Butter creates tender, chewy cookies with rich flavor. Lard creates crisp cookies. Coconut oil works well for vegan options. The key is choosing the right fat for your desired texture.
Tips for substituting Crisco
10 tips- For chewy cookies, use butter and slightly underbake
- For crisp cookies, use lard or vegetable shortening and bake longer
- For soft cookies, use butter and don't overbake
- Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy for best texture
- Chill cookie dough for 30 minutes to prevent spreading
- Use room temperature ingredients for even mixing
- Don't overmix the dough - this makes cookies tough
- For drop cookies, use a cookie scoop for consistent size
- Bake one sheet at a time for even cooking
- Let cookies cool on the pan for 2-3 minutes before removing
Notes on Crisco
- For chewy cookies, use butter and slightly underbake
- For crisp cookies, use lard or vegetable shortening
- For soft cookies, use butter and don't overbake
- For vegan cookies, use coconut oil or vegan shortening
- For neutral flavor, use vegetable shortening or lard
- For rich flavor, use butter
Questions
5 questionsCan I substitute butter for Crisco in cookies?
Yes, butter can be substituted for Crisco in cookies using a 1:1 ratio. Butter adds rich flavor and creates tender, moist cookies. The cookies may spread slightly more due to butter's water content.
What's the best Crisco substitute for chewy cookies?
Butter is the best substitute for chewy cookies. Use room temperature butter and slightly underbake the cookies. The water content in butter helps create chewy texture.
Can I use coconut oil instead of Crisco in chocolate chip cookies?
Yes, coconut oil works well in chocolate chip cookies. Use a 1:1 ratio and room temperature coconut oil. The cookies will have a slight coconut flavor and be tender and moist.
How do I make crispy cookies without Crisco?
Use lard or vegetable shortening for crispy cookies. These fats have less water content than butter, which helps create crisp texture. Bake the cookies a bit longer for extra crispiness.
Why do my cookies spread too much when I use butter instead of Crisco?
Butter contains water while Crisco doesn't, which can cause cookies to spread more. To prevent this, chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking, or reduce the butter slightly and add a bit more flour.