topic Re: Substitute for shortening in Recipes

Substitute for shortening

jkmcem — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 13:35:00 GMT

I found 2 recipes that are over 50 years old. Each one has shortening in the ingredients. What can I use as a substitute?

Re: Substitute for shortening

D Kay — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 13:42:35 GMT

Butter or margarine?

Re: Substitute for shortening

Group 5 minus 1 — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 13:43:42 GMT

Why do you want to subsitute?

Re: Substitute for shortening

Marp — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 13:45:19 GMT

@jkmcem, what kind of recipes are they?

There are many acceptable substitutes for shortening but which to use successfully depends on what is being cooked.

Ghee, butter, coconut oil, lard are just a few of the most recommended substitutes.

When deciding which to use keep in mind that a one to one measurement is not always acceptable. There is usually little difference in the measurement but the difference could make or break your recipe.

Re: Substitute for shortening

jkmcem — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 13:56:55 GMT

I am not familiar with shortening. One is a fruit cake recipe. The other one is a date nut cake recipe

Re: Substitute for shortening

wagirl — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 13:57:29 GMT

I have a couple old, old recipes from my mom, that uses shortening--and when I tried to substitue--they didn't turn out at all--went back to shortening and it was day and night goodness--better keep to the recipe, IMP.

Re: Substitute for shortening

Desertdi — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 14:49:13 GMT

@jkmcem wrote:
I am not familiar with shortening. One is a fruit cake recipe. The other one is a date nut cake recipe

@jkmcem

Re: Substitute for shortening

RedTop — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 14:50:40 GMT

@jkmcem

Shortening is Crisco. Substituting anything else for the solid shortening will change the texture of both cakes dramatically, as well as the taste.

If these cakes are old favorites, my suggestion is to make them exactly by the recipe to get the taste you remember, or find another fruit cake and date nut cake recipe that call for the ingredients you want to use.

Do not mess with 50 year old recipes!

Re: Substitute for shortening

River Song — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 15:06:26 GMT

You must remember that butter/margarine have water in them and won't work as a substitute for Crisco in some recipes. It changes the fat-to-liquid ratio in the recipe.

Re: Substitute for shortening

ECBG — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 15:09:42 GMT

Also, if your chosen substitute is more liquid than shortening, your recipe is more likely to fail.

Re: Substitute for shortening

Kachina624 — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 15:22:05 GMT

@jkmcem. If you're making fruitcake, you'll be spending a lot of money on ingredients. Go to the grocery store and buy a small can of Crisco shortening and do it right. It's all I ever used for cookies most of my life.

Re: Substitute for shortening

Nightowlz — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 18:17:09 GMT

You could try Nutiva or Spectrum shortening. You can read about the ingredients of both online.

These have 0 trans fat plus are non-hydrogenated.

Re: Substitute for shortening

LindaSal — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 17:21:53 GMT

Many times I use unsweetened apple sauce. Same amount as is called for with shortening. Hardly changes the texture or flavor at all, IMO. It's much more healthy than using Crisco.

Re: Substitute for shortening

Group 5 minus 1 — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 17:26:48 GMT

I have heard that about applesauce,but I don't think it is a good idea.

Why do you want to subsitute?

Re: Substitute for shortening

RespectLife — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 18:01:50 GMT

The only thing I use shortening in is my pie crust...and that is only a couple TBLS.

The balance is butter.

I gave up shortening as a baking ingredient eons ago. It tastes funky to me.

Didn't and don't miss it.

I always sub butter, Never margarine....

and have found absolutely no difference in the texture or outcome.

Re: Substitute for shortening

luvmyteddy4 — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 18:12:20 GMT

I like old recipes so I just bought me a small can of Crisco. It's always good for lining the bottom of a pan and then use flour.

Re: Substitute for shortening

candys mine — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 11:38:16 GMT

Crisco shortening, Lard, Solid Coconut oil. Butter and Margarine won't produce the same results.

Re: Substitute for shortening

Knit-Chick — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 14:04:50 GMT

I don't have a suggestion, but wanted to add that I have my grandma's date bar recipe that calls for shortening. I used butter once and it just wasn't the same, different texture. So I went back to using shortening.

Re: Substitute for shortening

jkmcem — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 14:04:58 GMT

Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions. I think I will get a small can of crisco and follow the recipe.