Shortening Substitutes

Out of shortening? These are the swaps that actually work, with conversion ratios for any recipe size and notes on how each one changes the result.

Need to convert shortening between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the shortening converter.

What to use instead of shortening

  • Butter

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup shortening = 1 cup butter (1:1 by volume)

    Butter adds dairy flavour and about 15% water that shortening lacks, so the crumb turns more tender but less flaky. It is heavier per cup (227 g vs 205 g), so weigh when swapping; for the closest pastry result, chill the butter well and handle the dough as little as possible.

    See butter substitutes →

  • Margarine

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup shortening = 1 cup margarine (1:1 by volume)

    Block margarine is the easiest like-for-like spread swap, carrying 15 to 20% water versus shortening's none, so pastry comes out a little less flaky and closer to a butter bake. Close in weight at 235 g vs 205 g per cup; use block, not low-fat tub, margarine for baking.

    See margarine substitutes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for shortening?
There are 2 workable substitutes for shortening, depending on what you have on hand and which property of shortening matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually 1 cup shortening = 1 cup butter (1:1 by volume). Each option below lists the conversion ratio for any recipe size, plus notes on how the swap changes the texture, flavour, rise, or browning.
Will substituting shortening change how my recipe turns out?
Yes, every swap trades one property for another: fat content, moisture, acidity, or protein. The notes on each substitute describe what changes in texture, flavour, rise, or browning, so you can choose the swap that matters least for your recipe. Open the shortening converter
How do I measure shortening accurately?
Weighing in grams is more reliable than scooping cups, especially when a substitute has a different density from what the recipe expects. The shortening converter on this site converts between cups, grams, ounces, tablespoons, and teaspoons, so you can scale a recipe up or down without losing the ratio. Open the shortening converter

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