Out of Crisco, one case
Crisco substitute for frosting
5 options, ranked, with the exact amount
Use Butter
Same amount as the Crisco
The best Crisco substitutes for frosting are butter (1:1 ratio) for rich flavor, vegetable shortening (1:1 ratio) for stability, or coconut oil (1:1 ratio) for vegan options. Each creates different frosting characteristics.
- The tweak —
- Use room temperature butter and beat until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar gradually and beat until smooth.
- Best for —
- buttercream frosting
One casethe full Crisco card
Every option, one card
Ranked| # | Substitute | Instead of Crisco |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Butterbuttercream frosting | Same amount |
| 2 | Vegetable shorteningdecorative frosting | Same amount |
| 3 | Coconut oilvegan frosting | Same amount |
| 4 | Plant-based margarinevegan frosting | Same amount |
| 5 | Butter-shortening combinationdecorative frosting | Same amountHalf butter, half shortening |
Butter
rich, buttery
Butter is the most popular substitute for Crisco in frosting. It adds rich, buttery flavor and creates smooth, creamy frosting. Use room temperature butter for best results.
- Best for
- buttercream frosting, cream cheese frosting, chocolate frosting, vanilla frosting
- Texture
- smooth, creamy
- Prep
- Use room temperature butter and beat until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar gradually and beat until smooth.
Adds rich, buttery flavor and creates smooth frosting.
Vegetable shortening
neutral taste · smooth, stable
Vegetable shortening works almost identically to Crisco in frosting. It creates stable, smooth frosting with neutral flavor, good for decorative work.
- Best for
- decorative frosting, piped frosting, stable frosting, whipped frosting
- Prep
- Use room temperature shortening and beat until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar gradually and beat until smooth.
Most similar to Crisco in texture and stability.
Coconut oil
slight coconut flavor
Coconut oil works well for vegan frosting and creates smooth, stable results. It's solid at room temperature and has a slight coconut flavor.
- Best for
- vegan frosting, chocolate frosting, vanilla frosting, whipped frosting
- Texture
- smooth, stable
- Prep
- Use room temperature coconut oil. If it's too hard, warm slightly to soften, then cool to room temperature before beating.
Solid at room temperature, works well for vegan frosting.
Plant-based margarine
neutral to slightly buttery
Plant-based margarine works well as a vegan Crisco substitute in frosting. Choose stick margarine for best results, as tub varieties have too much water.
- Best for
- vegan frosting, buttercream frosting, cream cheese frosting, chocolate frosting
- Texture
- smooth, creamy
- Prep
- Use room temperature stick margarine and beat until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar gradually and beat until smooth.
Choose stick margarine for frosting, not tub varieties.
Butter-shortening combination
rich, buttery
A combination of half butter and half shortening gives you the best of both worlds - the rich flavor of butter with the stability of shortening for decorative work.
- Best for
- decorative frosting, piped frosting, stable frosting, buttercream frosting
- Texture
- smooth, stable
- Prep
- Use half room temperature butter and half room temperature shortening. Beat together until light and fluffy.
Combines the flavor of butter with the stability of shortening.
How it behaves in this recipe
Frosting requires specific fat properties to achieve the right texture and stability. Butter adds flavor but may be softer, while shortening provides stability. The key is choosing the right fat for your desired frosting characteristics.
Tips for substituting Crisco
10 tips- Use room temperature fat for best results
- Beat the fat until light and fluffy before adding sugar
- Add powdered sugar gradually to prevent lumps
- Beat frosting until smooth and creamy
- For stable frosting, use shortening or a butter-shortening combination
- For rich flavor, use butter or a butter-shortening combination
- For vegan options, use coconut oil or plant-based margarine
- If frosting is too thick, add a small amount of liquid
- If frosting is too thin, add more powdered sugar
- Store frosting in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before using
Notes on Crisco
- For rich flavor, use butter
- For stability, use vegetable shortening
- For the best of both worlds, use half butter and half shortening
- For vegan options, use coconut oil or plant-based margarine
- For neutral flavor, use vegetable shortening
- For decorative work, use shortening or butter-shortening combination
Questions
5 questionsWhat's the best substitute for Crisco in frosting?
Butter is the most popular substitute for Crisco in frosting, followed by vegetable shortening. Butter adds rich flavor and creates smooth, creamy frosting. Shortening creates more stable frosting for decorative work.
Can I use butter instead of Crisco in frosting?
Yes, butter works excellently as a Crisco substitute in frosting. Use a 1:1 ratio and room temperature butter. Beat until light and fluffy before adding powdered sugar. The frosting will have rich, buttery flavor.
How do I make stable frosting without Crisco?
Use vegetable shortening or a combination of half butter and half shortening for stable frosting. Beat the fat until light and fluffy, then add powdered sugar gradually. This creates stable frosting good for decorative work.
Can I use coconut oil instead of Crisco in frosting?
Yes, coconut oil works well as a Crisco substitute in frosting. Use a 1:1 ratio and room temperature coconut oil. The frosting will have a slight coconut flavor and be smooth and stable.
Why is my frosting too soft when I use butter instead of Crisco?
Butter has a lower melting point than Crisco, which can make frosting softer. To fix this, use a combination of half butter and half shortening, or add more powdered sugar to thicken the frosting.