🫒 Fats

What Can I Substitute for Crisco? Complete Guide to All Alternatives

Discover everything you can substitute for Crisco including butter, lard, coconut oil, vegetable oil, and more. Complete guide with ratios and techniques for every situation.

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Quick Answer

You can substitute many things for Crisco: butter (1:1 ratio) for flavor, lard (1:1 ratio) for flakiness, coconut oil (1:1 ratio) for vegan options, vegetable oil (1:1 ratio) for lighter texture, or margarine (1:1 ratio) for similar results. Each has different characteristics.

Best Substitutes

Butter

1:1

Butter is the most popular substitute for Crisco. It adds rich, buttery flavor and creates tender, moist baked goods. It's the go-to choice for most home bakers.

Best for:

cookiescakesmuffinsbiscuitspie crustsbrowniesfrosting

Most popular substitute with rich, buttery flavor

Lard

1:1

Lard is excellent for creating flaky pastries. It has a neutral flavor and creates the flakiest results. It's traditional for pie crusts and biscuits.

Best for:

pie crustsbiscuitspastriescookiescakesfrying

Creates the flakiest pastries with neutral flavor

Coconut Oil

1:1

Coconut oil is perfect for vegan baking and works well in most recipes. It's solid at room temperature and creates tender baked goods with a slight coconut flavor.

Best for:

vegan bakingcookiescakesmuffinspie crustsbrownies

Perfect for vegan baking with slight coconut flavor

Vegetable Oil

1:1

Vegetable oil creates lighter, more tender baked goods than Crisco. It's liquid at room temperature and has neutral flavor, making it versatile for many recipes.

Best for:

cakesmuffinsquick breadsbrownieswaffles

Creates lighter, more tender baked goods

Margarine

1:1

Margarine works well as a Crisco substitute with similar fat content and melting properties. It has a slight buttery flavor and creates tender baked goods.

Best for:

cookiescakesmuffinsbiscuitsfrosting

Similar to Crisco with slight buttery flavor

Vegetable Shortening

1:1

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:

cookiescakespie crustsfrostingbiscuits

Most similar to Crisco in texture and behavior

Applesauce

1:2 (1/2 cup applesauce for 1 cup Crisco)

Applesauce is a low-fat, low-calorie substitute for Crisco. It adds moisture and natural sweetness, but baked goods will be denser and more cake-like.

Best for:

cakesmuffinsquick breadsbrownies

Low-fat option that adds moisture and sweetness

Cooking Tips

  • 💡For most recipes, butter is the best overall substitute
  • 💡For flaky pastries, lard creates the best results
  • 💡For vegan baking, coconut oil works perfectly
  • 💡For lighter texture, vegetable oil is ideal
  • 💡For similar results, use vegetable shortening
  • 💡For low-fat options, try applesauce
  • 💡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

Frequently Asked Questions

Summary

Discover everything you can substitute for Crisco including butter, lard, coconut oil, vegetable oil, and more. Complete guide with ratios and techniques for every situation.