Shortening -Baking with Less Calories
By Pamela99
Lard
Crisco
Olvio
Shortening
Shortening may be butter, margarine or lard, but its generic meaning is any semisolid fat used in cooking especially used in baked goods. It can come from an animal or a vegetable. The reason it is is called shortening is because it promotes a short or crumbling texture. Shortening has a higher smoke point and it is 100% fat, compared to butter or margarine which has an 80% content.
The calorie and saturated fat count:
- Shortening: 1 cup = 1812 calories, saturated fat is 53.5 g.
- Butter: 1 cup = 1628 calories, saturated fat is 116.6 g.
- Lard: 1 cup = 1849 calories, saturated fat is 80.4 g
- Crisco butter flavor 1 cup = 1760 calories, saturated fat 192
Looking at these high amounts make me think of stroke and heart attack, as this amount of saturated fat will certainly increase your cholesterol and triglycerides.
So, what is the answer when we want our cake, cookies or just something to spread on our toast? There are different substitutes on the market and some tricks for the kitchen. Olvio is a new product that is made from olive oil and although you refrigerate it, it is still soft for spreading at all times. It has the appearance of and texture of margarine. It has whey and buttermilk in the recipe so it is okay for vegetarians but not for vegans.
WikiHow Cake
Yogurt as Shortening Substitute
Yogurt is another product that can be used as a substitute in baking. Following are some easy guidelines for using yogurt:
- When a recipe calls for butter, replace half the butter with half as much yogurt. For instance, instead of 1 cup butter, use 1/2 cup butter and 1/4 cup yogurt.
- When a recipe calls for shortening or oil, replace half the oil with 3/4 the amount of yogurt. For example, instead of 1 cup of oil, use 1/2 cup oil and 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons yogurt.
- Substitute yogurt cup for cup for sour cream in recipes.
- Yogurt can even replace some of the water or milk in a recipe. Begin by substituting 1/4 of the liquid with yogurt. The result will be creamier and more flavorful.
There are other items you can use to cut back on butter and shortening. Applesauce or prune puree for half of the called-for butter, shortening or oil. To avoid dense, soggy or flat baked goods, don't substitute oil for butter or shortening. Substitute mayonnaise for part of the shortening in your baking recipes. It adds moistness and makes for a tender texture. Be careful though. Try using half mayo and half shortening at first.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Healthy Cupcakes
 | Amazon Price: $12.10 List Price: $24.00 |
Using Canola Oil
My mother makes wonderful chocolate chip cookies. She substitutes canola oil but uses a little less than the cup the recipe calls for. Her cookies rise, are moist and delicious. So you don’t mix oil with applesauce, but you can use it by itself and expect a good result. Another thing you can do to cut fat is use parchment paper on your baking sheets then you do not have to grease your pans
Coconut Oil for Baking
Coconut oil can be used in baked goods, such as cookies, cakes, muffins, pastries, pie crusts, waffles, and pancakes, candy bars, chocolate coatings, candy coatings, protein bars, meal replacement products, and many other products. Coconut oil has a unique taste, texture, and an incredibly long shelf life. Not only is coconut oil lower in calories than most other fats and oils, less coconut oil is required when baking or cooking! You can replace butter, shortening or lard with three-quarters the amount of coconut oil to obtain the same results. The melting point of our Organic Palm Shortening is 97 degrees F., making it very shelf stable. It is not hydrogenised, and contains NO trans fats!
Summary
So, there are ways to bake with a few less calories and saturated fat. In World War II they often couldn’t get all the ingredients they wanted, so they learned to improvise and my mother has a cookbook from that error that has a chocolate cake using mayonnaise as a substitute. Now, many people are becoming more health conscious, so they are trying to find healthy alternative but still be able to eat sweets occasionally.
The copyright to this article is owned by Pamela Oglesby. Permission to republish this article in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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Comments
Sounds great. I never baked with yohurt but will try.
Great hub, Pamela! I really liked the way you presented useful information with great pictures.
Great Hub!
Pamela, I've often wondered why many bakers choose lard over vegetable shortening and now I have a better understanding of the two. Thanks for the info on shortening baking with less calories. :)
Yummmmm, Pam. Those chocolate chip cookies look good enough to eat right off the picture.
I didn't know lard was still available on the market. Guess that tells you a lot about my knowledge of cooking.
This is excellent information about cutting down fat when baking. Thanks.
I love the shortening substitute with yogurt - that is what I've been experimenting with. Great hub...I have to confess that I do use lard for my piecrusts but I'm trying to figure out my new all-time favorite. That is the only time I ever use it and it's only because for some reason, I can't make a piecrust any other way! Back to the drawing board....
R Talloni, I am glad to hear you had good success with the coconut oil. Thank you for your comment.
Hello, Good luck. Thanks for your comment.
Michael Jay, Thank you so much for your comments.
Products for all, Thanks for your comment.
Katiem, I am glad you enjoyed the hub. Thanks for your comments.
drbj, Thank you so much for your comments.
I had no idea how many calories these cooking shortenings were. Thanks for giving us substitutes.
I learned so much from this hub. I love all the substitutes you suggested. I also use yogurt to substitute for coconut milk when making curry. Enjoyable read and great work, Pam. Of course, this piece deserves to be rated up.
Sandy, I am glad you found out some new information about those awful calories. Thanks for your comment.
Anginwu, Thank you so much for your comments.
Never thought about all the calories that came along with the yummy cakes and bakery products. Thanks for this helpful info, a great article for the contest.
Some very clever cooking ideas Pamela. I never thought of using yoghurt in place of shortening or coconut milk. Good hub
Pamela..This was a very helpful hub. Thank you for this!!!......especially since I LOVE to bake....you and habee (another hubber) are great with food ideas on here! I was wondering if you knew a great "scone" recipe with less fat?
Best, G
Greatlife, We don't want to think about the calories! Anyway, thank you so much for your comments.
Love to Read, Thanks for your comment.
GPAGE, Thank you so much for your comments. I just wrote a hub on grains today where I talk about scones but we aren't allowed to print recipes yet, however, I think I copied some on my notes and I will check.
drbj - much Mexican cooking relies on lard. In Dallas it's available.
Pamela - I once baked all the time, made my own bread, the whole nine yards. But I bake so little these days, I'm out of the loop to know about most of these new products. But using yogurt as a substitute for sour cream is such a great idea, except there are now so few instances in which I am using sour cream! LOL - I just go for the yogurt "straight". But I notice so many very useful healthy suggestions in this hub! I really enjoyed it!
Nellienna, I am so glad you enjoyed the hub. Thank your so much for your comments.
Healthy information to cut back on fat content. I have never cooked with lard, but I hear that it makes the most flavorful of fried chicken--but I'll keep to my corn or canola oil. Voted-up/rated!
Support Med, Lard is also know for outstanding pie crust. Thanks for your comments.
Great hub. I enjoyed learning about all these shortening substitutes. It was very interesting learning that you can use yogurt as a substitute. Thanks for all the great information.
Nancy, I'm glad you enjoyed the hub. Thanks so much for your comments.
I had no idea you could use yogurt as a substitute for half the shortening. Great information and research. Voted up, useful and bookmarked.
Sue, I'm glad you learned something useful from the hub. Thanks so much for your comment.
This encouraged me to give a try with coconut oil. Somehow I've not considered it before, although I know it's healthier. I've used sour cream to substitute some of the butter in the recipe. Yoghurt is also a good idea.
Silja Paulus, Yes, I agree that yogurt is also a good substitute. Thanks so much for your comments.
RTalloni 23 months ago
Good info! I have had great success with coconut oil but want to try the yoghurt again. Thanks for the reminder.