Why is it that everytime I use shortening in my snickerdoodles they just taste like shortening? I don't get it

Question

I must be doing something wrong but I followed the directions, when I leave it out and use more butter they taste great

Answer 1

If you are using an older cookbook, from the 50's-70s they used shortening in a lot of cases where butter would have been a better option. Use butter instead, it's better for you than shortening. shortening does make a flakier pie crust as it "shortens" the gluten strings, even better than butter. But for most uses, butter is better. Shortening can be rancid fat with hydrogen bubbled through it.

Answer 2

Well because shortening is basically plastic (like margarine - look it up you'll be surprised) It has a distinct flavor that is hard to override. The flavor in an item of food is brought out by it's strongest ingredient, this being the shortening and in the case of butter the butter is more mellow and allows the sugar and spice (and everything nice) to meld and create a more flavorful cookie. Best bet is to avoid the shortening and margarine and stick with good old butter.

Answer 3

The only recipe I've ever see for Snickerdoodles calls for shortening, not butter. So I'm not sure what your problem is. I make them quite often, but I only use Crisco. I don't know if that matters. I would think that using butter would change the taste of the cookie completely, but if it works for you, then I'd definitely stick with what you're doing. What good is a cookie if you're not going to eat it?

Answer 4

Try using butter flavored shortening. You might be using a shortening used more for frying than in baked goods.

Answer 5

I don't use shortening in Snickerdoodles. Butter or margarine is fine.

Answer 6

If you like the taste better with all butter, just change the recipe. Recipes are meant as a guideline or a beginning point. When you find something you thing works better, do it.

Answer 7

You already know the answer. Use butter instead of shortening.

Answer 8

Try lard. My granny was the queen of cookies and she used lard in several of her cookie recipes. Snickerdoodles and oatmeal, are my two fav's, and to me they just do not taste right if I use anything else. I do use just a little less than the recipe calls for.

Answer 9

try using butter flavored shortening.

Answer 10

You can get butter-flavored shortening.