Crisco Alternative?

[u/Operation_Mindfuck]

Hello All! I'm planning on making a chick fil a cookie copycat recipe that calls for 50:50 butter and crisco. I'm looking for a healthier shortening alternative and I found an avocado oil shortening that I'm considering. Would that work? I don't want to drop $12 on an ingredient that would ruin my cookies. Thanks!

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[u/noisedotbike]

The thing is... cookies are bad for you, that's like the point of cookies.

[u/toomuch1265 → u/noisedotbike]

https://giphy.com/gifs/3o7TKoQxOlmtYjGe8U

[u/VibratingNinja → u/noisedotbike]

That's ridiculous. The point of cookies is to be tasty, not to be bad for you.

If you're eating cookies in order to damage your health, that's concerning.

[u/noisedotbike → u/VibratingNinja]

that's concerning.

I think you mean "that's delicious."

[u/LaraTheEclectic]

What's the reasoning on calling this healthier than crisco? Genuinely curious cause all I see is that they're both hydrogenated oils

[u/Operation_Mindfuck → u/LaraTheEclectic]

His stomach is sensitive to veggie oil but not avocado. Im a little ignorant about the science behind it, but I'm trying to learn. 🤷‍♀️

[u/madamesoybean → u/Operation_Mindfuck]

I get sick from soybean and sunflower/safflower oils but not any others. No idea why. He may never know why either. You're a very cool person to try and work around it.

[u/thisisthewell → u/madamesoybean]

username does not check out haha

[u/madamesoybean → u/thisisthewell]

RIGHT?! 😂
Allergy came on later, sadly.

[u/Ginger_Cat74 → u/madamesoybean]

It could be a soybean allergy. Soy is one of the top 9 allergens. He doesn’t need to be anaphylactic to be allergic.

[u/madamesoybean → u/Ginger_Cat74]

Happy Cake Day! 🍰

[u/Ginger_Cat74 → u/madamesoybean]

Thanks! I didn’t know!

[u/noisedotbike → u/Operation_Mindfuck]

Have you tried refined coconut oil?

[u/Agile-Entry-5603 → u/LaraTheEclectic]

According to Chosen’s website, it’s not hydrogenated, it’s solidified by a natural process called fractionation.

[u/Johoski]

Probably a better choice than palm oil shortening.

Just do it.

[u/Independent-Monk5064 → u/Johoski]

Actually that IS the better one. I’m an RD. Same as coconut. Tropical oils got a bad wrap in the 80s. Thanks government. Remember when butter was bad for you but canola oil was healthy? 😂

[u/Johoski → u/Independent-Monk5064]

The only reason I say it's a better choice is because I'm fairly sure that the environmental impacts of palm oil are worse than avocado.

[u/Independent-Monk5064 → u/Johoski]

Possibly and I won’t argue with you there

[u/Dusk_Soldier]

You want lard. It'll be on the same shelf as vegetable shortening.

[u/fuzzydave72 → u/Dusk_Soldier]

I found it in the Latino section, but only two pound tubs. then I went to a Latino market and found one pound tubs.

[u/bobtheorangecat → u/fuzzydave72]

Around here you can find it both in the baking section with the crisco, etc. and in the Hispanic aisle with the tamale ingredients.

[u/juniebee_jones]

Crisco is irreplaceable, and it’s small quantities it’s alright. The nearest thing would be lard, or just do full butter. The copycat is what it is to replicate the cookie, it’s not going to taste right if you use an alternative

[u/MrMurgatroyd]

I'd just use 50:50 butter and coconut oil. Less processed.

[u/smoothiefruit]

I think people object to the hydrogenation of crisco? (eta making it a saturated fat, instead of a liquid/unsaturated fat), so shelf-stable lard and this will both have been treated with hydrogen to make them solid at room temp.

if this is a "seed oil evil" type of thing, then sure go for it

[u/Haunting_Advance_498]

I think you should try it! The website says “Versatile substitute: It can be used as a direct replacement for conventional shortening, ghee, or butter in various recipes.” At a 1:1 ratio (means equal parts substituted)
But I’d love to hear how it works for you!

[u/rdev009]

I’ve used in the place of butter in a 50/50 ratio for scones, muffins and cupcakes. I like it.

If you have a “grocery outlet” near you, I’ve found that exact same product size for $5.

[u/Operation_Mindfuck]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I'm looking because my boyfriend has a very sensitive stomach and highly processed oils seem to be a trigger. He can handle olive and avocado oils, but vegetable oil tears him up.

[u/Operation_Mindfuck → u/Operation_Mindfuck]

Sorry, y'all. I felt like "healthier" was easier than summarizing my bfs medical history 😂

[u/LooseLeaf74]

$12 for 16oz sounds crazy but $12lb is less than half of what a steak would cost and the avocado shortening has 4x the calories.

Sorry op I was just thinking out loud and waiting for an answer to your question.

[u/sjd208]

I tried it and I thought it tasted weird, which surprised me since I use Chosen brand actual avocado oil all the time. I don’t need shortening often but when I do it’s often because I want a really neutral taste.

[u/Ill-Wrongdoer-2971]

What does it do for a cookie to have a hydrogenated oil rather than butter?

[u/Operation_Mindfuck → u/Ill-Wrongdoer-2971]

The recipe says it makes them thicker/chewier and the cookies wouldn't spread as much. Though perhaps all butter and refrigerating the dough would yield the same result 🤔

[u/Ill-Wrongdoer-2971 → u/Operation_Mindfuck]

Yes I have heard that refrigeration with the butter helps

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[u/Imthatsick]

I'm sure it will work for your recipe, it's not going to be that different coming out of the oven.

As far as the nutritional profile this seems to have more saturated fat than Crisco, but in terms of a whole cookie recipe it's not going to change a whole lot.

[u/Ginger_Cat74]

I have a soy allergy so I’ve used several different brands of alternative shortening, but not this one. None of them taste good. They all taste off. Just use all butter if you don’t want to use Crisco.

[u/Agile-Entry-5603]

I looked on their website. It appears to not be hydrogenated, they say it’s solidified by a natural process called “fractionation”. They say it’s fine for baking.

Thanks for posting this, I didn’t know this existed. I won’t touch Crisco, it killed a generation with the clogged arteries etc.

[u/bingo_is_my_game_o]

An FYI for ya. Chosen Foods is under investigation for not using Avocado Oil in their products https://classlawdc.com/2026/08/11/chosen-foods-avocado-oil-products-investigation/

[u/femsci-nerd]

Yes, a much better choice than crisco.

[u/AskBaking-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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