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7 Best Substitutes for Shortening in Vegan Baking

7 Best Substitutes for Shortening

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This guide helps you choose the right shortening substitute based on baking or cooking needs. It covers ratios, flavor notes, and texture effects for common pantry fats and alternatives.
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Prep Time 7 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Baking, Cooking
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Unsalted Butter Adds buttery flavor; 1:1 ratio
  • 0.875 cup Coconut Oil Tropical aroma; use ⅞ cup per cup of shortening
  • 1 cup Margarine Softer texture; 1:1 ratio
  • 1 cup Lard Pork flavor; 1:1 ratio
  • 0.75 cup Vegetable Oil Liquid at room temp; use ¾ cup per cup of shortening
  • 1 cup Applesauce No fat content; 1:1 ratio
  • 0.75 cup Greek Yogurt Tangy flavor; use ¾ cup per cup of shortening

Method
 

  1. Choose your substitute based on whether you are baking or cooking and what texture or flavor you want to achieve.
  2. Prepare solid fats like butter, margarine, and lard cold and cut them into flour just like shortening for flaky textures.
  3. Measure coconut oil solid and use ⅞ cup per cup of shortening; melt only if recipe calls for liquid fat.
  4. Use vegetable oil or Greek yogurt at ¾ cup per cup of shortening when moisture is needed; add directly to wet ingredients.
  5. Use applesauce at a 1:1 ratio to replace shortening but reduce sugar slightly and check for denser crumb and longer baking time.
  6. Adjust flour or liquids depending on substitute to maintain dough consistency and bake at same temperature unless otherwise noted.
  7. Taste and check texture before final baking to ensure no flavor or texture issues with chosen substitute.

Notes

Measure coconut oil solid before use to prevent texture issues with melted fat in your dough or batter.

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