Can I use coconut oil instead of shortening?

Category: food and drink desserts and baking
4.1/5 (1,067 Views . 9 Votes)
SUBSTITUTING COCONUT OIL FOR SHORTENING OR VEGETABLE OIL
To substitute for shortening, I use a combination 1/2 butter and 1/2 coconut oil. (Actually the amount of coconut oil can be reduced by about 25%, so in a recipe calling for 1 cup of shortening I would use 1/2 cup butter and 3/8 cup of coconut oil.



Likewise, can you use coconut oil instead of shortening in baking?

You can substitute coconut oil for any fat, such as butter, vegetable oil, olive oil, or shortening at a 1:1 ratio. If the recipe calls for 1 tablespoon shortening, use 1 tablespoon coconut oil instead.

One may also ask, can you substitute oil for shortening? You can substitute vegetable oil, cup for cup, for shortening. Using oil versus shortening will change the texture of baked goods. The shortening, being a solid fat, will add more air to the batter when beaten in, giving the end product more of a cakey structure rather than the more dense structure oil will give.

Also Know, what can I use instead of shortening?

Swapping in Butter Butter or margarine can be used instead, adding a couple of extra tablespoons per cup of shortening called for in a recipe. So for every 1 cup of shortening called for in a recipe, use 1 cup butter or margarine plus 2 tablespoons.

Is coconut oil healthier than shortening?

Coconut and unrefined palm oil are naturally high in saturated fat, which makes them solid at room temperature. This solid, spreadable texture means they are easy replacements for shortening. Additionally, coconut oil may have some health benefits. But these options are not without drawbacks.

39 Related Question Answers Found

What can I substitute for 1/2 cup of shortening?

Vegetable shortening (such as Crisco) contains no water, while butter does, so it takes slightly more butter to accomplish the job: for every one cup of shortening, you will need to use 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of butter. From My recipe calls for shortening.

How can I replace coconut oil in a recipe?

Best substitute for coconut oil
  1. Butter (best for baking). The very best substitute for coconut oil in baking is the same amount of butter!
  2. Olive oil (non-baked). Olive oil is a plant-based oil like coconut oil, and works well as a 1-for-1 replacement.
  3. Neutral oil, like grapeseed oil or sunflower oil.

Can you Spread coconut oil on toast?

Spread coconut oil on toast instead of butter, melt it on veggies or use it for sautéing. But don't deep-fry with it; coconut oil breaks down at high temperatures. Beware: Coconut oil is saturated and can raise cholesterol and triglycerides, so alternate it with other oils.

Can I replace coconut oil with butter?

Substituting Coconut Oil for Butter. You can substitute coconut oil in just about any recipe that calls for butter. In some cases, especially in baking, the results won't be exactly the same. Keep in mind that whatever you're making is going to taste like coconut rather than butter.

What is a healthy alternative to coconut oil?


The best coconut oil substitutes for baking or cooking include olive oil, shea butter, vegetable oil, almond oil, avocado oil, neem oil, hemp seed oil, grapeseed oil, and sunflower oil.

Which oil is best for baking?

Canola oil is one of the most common cooking oils and combines ease of use, wide availability and health benefits with a relatively low expense. Most vegetable oils will work just fine in cake, but some alter the flavor of baked goods and some are expensive.

What can I substitute for Crisco?

When baking, you may want to use Crisco as a substitute for butter. When frying, you may want to use Crisco as a substitute for vegetable oil.

Shortening Substitutes.
Shortening Amount Substitute
Shortening substitute 1 Cup Solid 1 Cup -Minus 2 Tablespoons of Lard
*OR* 1 Cup Butter
*OR* 1 Cup Margarine

What is the purpose of shortening in baking?

Shortening is any type of fat that is solid at room temperature. It's used to prevent the formation of a gluten matrix in baked goods, allowing for the creation of non-elastic pastries like cakes. Lard, hydrogenated solidified oils, and even butter can be used as shortening.

What can I substitute for shortening in banana bread?

You can substitute the shortening with apple sauce. I use this recipe, replacing the shortening with applesauce.

Which is healthier butter or shortening?


Although shortening is higher in total fat, butter contains more saturated fat since it comes from animals and shortening is usually made from plant oils. Saturated fat is one of the so-called "bad fats" since it can cause your cholesterol levels to increase, raising your heart disease risk.

What is the difference between using butter and shortening in cookies?

Because butter has a low melting point, it causes cookies to spread. Shortening, however, has a higher melting point and enables cookies to be taller. Vegetable shortening was traditionally made by changing oil to a solid by way of partial hydrogenation (which resulted in trans fats).

What can you use in place of Crisco shortening?

Substitutes for shortening include butter, coconut oil and other items used in accordance with our table. When substituting, beware that shortening is usually referenced in the solid form, as in cans of Crisco. But Crisco can be used in recipes both in the solid form and in the melted or liquid form.

What is the difference between margarine and shortening?

Margarine is apparently a kind of hydrogenated oil; Shortening is hydrogenated to make it solid (in room temperature) in lieu of having a liquid consistency. While margarine is saturated fat, shortening is non-saturated in nature.

Can I use olive oil instead of shortening?

Answer: You can't convert all recipes from solid shortening (butter/margarine) to liquid shortening (olive oil/vegetable oil). Olive oil can kick up the flavor in brownies and other strong foods. The flavor in olive oil is blunted with cooking.

Is lard the same as shortening?


Shortening, butter and lard are pretty much interchangeable, but lard does have a distinctive taste that shortening doesn't have. Also lard is pig fat so it's high in cholesterol. Most shortening is made from vegetable fat - e.g., Crisco - and is generally flavorless.

Can you use butter instead of shortening?

There is no magic shortening to butter conversion, generally, you can use butter or margarine in place of shortening as a one-to-one swap. Making this substitution may slightly alter the texture of your baked goods. When substituting butter for shortening, use the same amount called for in your recipe.