Out of Shortening, one case
Vegan shortening substitutes
5 options, ranked, with the exact amount
Use Coconut oil
Same amount as the shortening
The best vegan substitutes for shortening are coconut oil (1:1 ratio) for tender texture, palm shortening (1:1 ratio) for neutral flavor, or vegetable shortening (1:1 ratio) for traditional results. Each provides similar fat content without animal products.
- The tweak —
- Use solid coconut oil at room temperature. If melted, refrigerate until solid before using. Works exactly like shortening in recipes.
- Best for —
- cookies
One casethe full shortening card
Why it works
ShorteningVegan substitutes for shortening provide the necessary fat content for baking without animal products. Coconut oil and palm shortening are solid at room temperature, while vegetable shortening is the traditional vegan option. Each provides similar texture and function to traditional shortening.
Every option, one card
Ranked| # | Substitute | Instead of shortening |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coconut oilcookies | Same amount |
| 2 | Palm shorteningall baking | Same amount |
| 3 | Vegetable shorteningall baking | Same amount |
| 4 | Margarinecookies | Same amount |
| 5 | Avocadobrownies | Same amount |
Coconut oil
subtle coconut
Coconut oil is the most popular vegan substitute for shortening. It's solid at room temperature and creates tender, flaky baked goods with a subtle coconut flavor that works well in many recipes.
- Best for
- cookies, cakes, muffins, biscuits, pie crusts, vegan baking
- Texture
- tender, similar to shortening
- Prep
- Use solid coconut oil at room temperature. If melted, refrigerate until solid before using. Works exactly like shortening in recipes.
Solid at room temperature, creates tender baked goods with subtle coconut flavor.
Palm shortening
neutral taste · similar to shortening
Palm shortening has similar texture and properties to traditional shortening. It's solid at room temperature and provides neutral flavor, making it an excellent direct replacement for shortening in vegan baking.
- Best for
- all baking, when you want neutral flavor, traditional recipes, pie crusts
- Prep
- Use solid palm shortening at room temperature. Works exactly like shortening in recipes.
Similar texture and properties to shortening, neutral flavor.
Vegetable shortening
neutral taste · similar to shortening
Vegetable shortening is the traditional vegan option for shortening. It's made from vegetable oils and provides neutral flavor and texture, making it good for vegan baking.
- Best for
- all baking, when you want traditional results, pie crusts, pastries
- Prep
- Use solid vegetable shortening at room temperature. Works exactly like shortening in recipes.
Traditional shortening made from vegetable oils, neutral flavor.
Margarine
neutral taste · similar to shortening
Margarine is a plant-based fat that has similar texture to shortening. Choose stick margarine over tub varieties for best results in baking.
- Best for
- cookies, cakes, muffins, general baking, when you want similar texture
- Prep
- Use room temperature margarine. Cream with sugar until light and fluffy for best results.
Plant-based fat with similar texture to shortening.
Avocado
neutral to slightly nutty
Avocado is a healthy vegan substitute for shortening. It provides healthy monounsaturated fats and creates moist, tender baked goods. Good for chocolate desserts where the color won't be noticeable.
- Best for
- brownies, chocolate desserts, muffins, quick breads, when you want healthy fats
- Texture
- moist, tender
- Prep
- Mash ripe avocado until smooth. Use 1:1 ratio with shortening. Works best in chocolate or dark-colored baked goods.
Healthy vegan option that creates moist, tender baked goods.
How it behaves in this recipe
- Baking
- Coconut oil or palm shortening work best for most vegan baking, providing good texture and flavor.
- Cooking
- Coconut oil or palm shortening work well for vegan cooking. Choose based on flavor preference.
- Pastries
- Palm shortening creates the flakiest vegan pastries, followed by coconut oil.
- Cookies
- Coconut oil creates tender vegan cookies with subtle coconut flavor. Palm shortening creates crispier cookies.
- Cakes
- Coconut oil or palm shortening work well for vegan cakes. Choose based on flavor preference.
Tips for substituting shortening
8 tips- Choose your substitute based on the recipe's needs and your flavor preferences
- For neutral flavor, use palm shortening or vegetable shortening
- For subtle coconut flavor, use coconut oil
- For healthy fats, use avocado (best in chocolate desserts)
- Always use room temperature fats for creaming methods
- Cold fats work better for flaky pastries and pie crusts
- Test your substitution in a small batch first
- Store vegan substitutes properly to maintain freshness
Notes on shortening
- Coconut oil for tender texture with subtle coconut flavor
- Palm shortening for neutral flavor and traditional texture
- Vegetable shortening for traditional vegan results
- Margarine for similar texture to shortening
- Avocado for healthy fats and moist texture
Questions
6 questionsWhat's the best vegan substitute for shortening?
The best vegan substitutes are coconut oil for tender texture, palm shortening for neutral flavor, or vegetable shortening for traditional results. All work well using a 1:1 ratio.
Can I use coconut oil instead of shortening?
Yes, coconut oil works well as a vegan shortening substitute. It's solid at room temperature and creates tender, flaky baked goods with a subtle coconut flavor.
What's the difference between palm shortening and coconut oil?
Palm shortening has neutral flavor and similar texture to shortening, while coconut oil has a subtle coconut flavor. Both are solid at room temperature and work well in vegan baking.
Can I use vegetable shortening for vegan baking?
Yes, vegetable shortening is the traditional vegan option for shortening. It's made from vegetable oils and provides neutral flavor and texture.
Is margarine a good vegan substitute for shortening?
Yes, margarine can be used as a vegan shortening substitute. Choose stick margarine over tub varieties for best results in baking.
How do I make vegan pie crust without shortening?
Use coconut oil or palm shortening for vegan pie crusts. Both are solid at room temperature and create tender, flaky results without animal products.