Should I use butter or shortening in my chocolate chip cookies?

Question

I am baking chocolate chip cookies and I usually use shortening in them and they turn out great but I have seen some recipes that call for butter. Is there a difference in texture or taste when using butter? Which do you recommend?

Answer 1

You'll notice it in terms of texture and taste, but not it a bad way... just something slightly different.

I personally think that shortening or margarine make better chocolate chip cookies (softer) than butter (firmer). This is one of the few times that I don't use butter.

I think the shortening/margarine are mostly fat while butter has some water in it and the melting is different.

Not that I'm saying butter is bad in cookies.

For a lot of people, they probably won't notice the difference in taste. Just a little textural difference.

Given a chocolate chip cookie... I will NEVER turn one down whether it's made from butter or shortening.

Answer 2

When making cookies, I always use butter, even if the recipe calls for shortening. I make the Tollhouse choc chip cookie recipe often and just substitute butter for shortening. I always was of the impression that the butter in the recipe resulted in a chewy cookie while shortening made the cookie puffier. In any case, you might just be cooking the cookies too long. Try cutting the cooking time by a minute or two.

Answer 3

Shortening, everyone I know calls me the cookie lady because my whole family is from the south and my greatgrandmother born 1904 always used shortening and we do too. It has 25% less saturated fat than butter, look on the label, my cookies are always crips on the outside and softer in the middle. Never spread too thin like butter and are fresher longer. If you want any recipes, you can always e-mail me at [e-mail]. Good luck with your cookies.

Answer 4

Shortening contains trans fatty acids. The body does not digest trans fats well. Simply put, trans fats are REALLY bad for you. And if the city of New York is considering banning the use of trans fats in restaurants, you'd be wise to follow and make your cookies with butter.

Answer 5

Butter usually has more flavour in it, and it may be better for you, too, since shortening has all those chemicals in it. But do whatever you think, really. If you believe shortening is healthier, go with it. Who really knows? It may be. But for flavour, use butter.

Answer 6

I use butter or half butter and half shortening. They taste great!

Butter is healthier than shortening because shortening is "hydrogenated" This raises bad cholesterol more.

Answer 7

You can use anyone they are the same the shorting is just like a different butter

Answer 8

Butter always tastes better and give a nicer texture, also... butter is way better for you heal-wise then shortening.

Answer 9

I prefer using butter because they taste better.

Answer 10

USE BUTTER!!!! you will find a much richer tasting cookie. I use butter when cooking as much as I can.