Out of Crisco, one case
Crisco substitute for vegetable shortening
5 options, ranked, with the exact amount
Use Butter
Same amount as the Crisco
The best Crisco substitutes for vegetable shortening 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 vegetable shortening. 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.
Most 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
Crisco is a specific brand of vegetable shortening, but generic vegetable shortenings work almost identically. The key is understanding that any vegetable shortening can be substituted with other fats, each with their own characteristics and best uses.
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 rich flavor, use butter
- For flakiness, use lard
- For vegan options, use coconut oil or vegan shortening
- For neutral flavor, use vegetable shortening or lard
- For shelf-stable option, use vegetable shortening
- For creaming methods, use room temperature butter or margarine
Questions
5 questionsWhat's the best substitute for Crisco vegetable shortening?
Butter is the most popular substitute for Crisco vegetable shortening, followed by lard and coconut oil. Butter adds rich flavor and creates tender, moist baked goods. Lard creates the flakiest pastries, while coconut oil works well for vegan options.
Can I use butter instead of Crisco in all recipes?
Yes, butter can be substituted for Crisco in most 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 difference between Crisco and other vegetable shortening?
Crisco is a specific brand of vegetable shortening, while other vegetable shortenings are generic versions. They have very similar properties and can be used interchangeably in most recipes. The main difference is brand recognition and slight variations in texture.
Can I use lard instead of Crisco in pie crust?
Yes, lard can be used instead of Crisco in pie crust using a 1:1 ratio. Lard actually creates flakier pie crusts than Crisco and has a neutral flavor. Use cold lard and work quickly to maintain flakiness.
Is there a vegan substitute for Crisco vegetable shortening?
Yes, coconut oil and vegan shortening are excellent vegan substitutes for Crisco. Coconut oil works in most recipes and has a slight coconut flavor, while vegan shortening has properties almost identical to Crisco.