Why shortening in cookies

But shortening might have its place in your frosting recipe too. We replicated hot, summery conditions when so many of us cake bakers are called upon by putting frosted cupcakes in a low oven for 10 minutes. The results were drastic: the all-butter buttercream melted and spread down the sides of the cupcake, while the buttercream made with shortening held its shape. So if heat isn't a problem, you might want to stick with a Classic Buttercream recipe.

They can both be used to make delicious, tender baked goods that are full of flavor and richness. There might be certain cases when it just makes more sense to use butter, like in a classic cake perhaps. There are other times when a can of Crisco is now the thing I reach for: when making pie crust, frosting, and even sandwich cookie filling. The virtue of butter vs. Interested in more baking science? Kye Ameden grew up in Fairlee, Vermont and has always had a love of food, farms, and family.

After graduating from St. Shortening and lard have BHT, to which I am allergic. Is there an adjustment I can make to recipes when using butter that would create results similar to shortening? Hi Chris. There is not a standard that can be applied to every recipe to get the same result when baking with shortening.

Even though comparing the ingredients for these two fats are clearly different, shortening and butter are often used interchangeably in recipes with acceptable results. We would use the same amount of butter in most recipes calling for shortening. Happy Baking! How about using ghee instead of butter. And then the butter flavor would remain without having to use the shortening.

Butter and shortening have very different melting points and behave differently when baked aside from their different fat contents. Baking with ghee can be a fun experiment, though! So if you want to use both shortening and butter in a cake recipe for example, would it be equal amounts? Suzanne, I don't see why you couldn't do that. The texture and flavor will be a little different. Can liquid vegetable oil be substituted for butter or shortening in yeast bread recipes? I would like to minimize the saturated fat in the bread.

Jeff, if a bread recipe calls for a couple of tablespoons of solid or liquid butter, you'll most likely be fine. But if the recipe calls for more than that, I would be cautious. Your success will be very recipe dependent. Good luck! What a great article that answered so many questions I've had in mind for too many years.

Margarine and shortening deliver essentially zero flavor to your cookie recipe. Butter, on the other hand, delivers a delectable taste that cannot be matched by any other ingredient. Although you can use butter-flavored shortening, it does not quire replicate the taste of true butter.

When making your decision based on flavor, simply choose the option that most pleases your tastes. In one tablespoon, both butter and stick margarine deliver approximately calories, tub margarine roughly 60 calories and shortening calories. All three options are quite high in fat, ranging from 10 to 15 calories per tablespoon.

Butter is highest in saturated fat and cholesterol, which can clog the body's arteries. On the other hand, margarine has both saturated fat and transsaturated fat. Trans fats raise LDL cholesterol levels and lower HDL cholesterol levels, making them even more dangerous than saturated fat. Although shortening does contain saturated fat, it does not have any cholesterol.

In regards to the nutritional aspect of the comparison process, all three options have advantages and disadvantages when baking cookies. Although it might be nutritionally beneficial to choose the option with the lowest fat content, the cookies' taste and texture will be impacted. Whether you use butter, margarine or shortening, it is essential that you use the appropriate form recommended in the recipe.

Get the print magazine, 25 years of back issues online, over 7, recipes, and more. Start your FREE trial. Fine Cooking. Sign Up Login. Article Shortening vs. Butter in Cookies By Brian Geiger. Save to Recipe Box. Add Private Note. Saved Add to List Add to List. Add Recipe Note. Most Popular. Classic Tomato Soup Recipe. Potato Gnocchi Recipe. Osso Buco Recipe. Classic Bread Stuffing Recipe. Andie asks via Twitter: Andiereid Andie Reid. Private Notes Edit Delete. Comments Leave a Comment. I really appreciate your efforts.