Using Butter Instead of Vegetable Shortening
Ratio
1 cup shortening = 1 cup + 2 tbsp butter
Excellent — nearly identical results
Recipe Adjustment Notes
Butter's water adds flavour but reduces flakiness. Chill the dough well.
The Science Behind This Swap
Butter's water adds flavour but reduces flakiness. Chill the dough well.
Measurement Variance Note
For 1 cup references, this ingredient can vary by about 6% across brands and measuring methods (193g-217g per cup). For the most reliable substitution result, measure by weight and test a half batch first.
What Works & What Doesn't
Works Well In
- Muffins & quick breads
- Cookies
- Pancakes & waffles
Use With Caution
- Laminated doughs
- Macarons
- Precision pastry