Learn when to use margarine versus butter in cookies when baking your favorite recipes.
Butter, shortening,and margarineare all types of fats that are solid at room temperature.
What Is Butter?
Credit: Scott Little
Butter is made when cream is churned so vigorously that the butterfat solids separate from the buttermilk liquids.
The resulting light yellow spreadable substance must be at least 80% fat to be sold commercially.
The rest is up to 16% water, and often just milk proteins.
Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
Brands of butter vary based on the fat content; higher-fat butters tend to deliver richer flavor.
(Irish Kerrygold butter, for example, is 82% butterfat.)
What Is Margarine?
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Since margarine is made with oil instead of butter, it includes polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats.
What Is Shortening?
Both now fall under the umbrella term of “shortening.”
Unlike butter or margarine, however, it’s completely flavorless.
We bet you’re wondering, “since both are made with vegetable oil, is margarine shortening?”
They’re similar, but not the same.
The difference between margarine and shortening is that shortening contains 100% fat and zero water.
The fat in shortening is made of polyunsaturated, saturated fat, and monounsaturated fat.
(This is a negligible enough amount to be listed as 0 grams on the nutrition facts panel.)
Texture, flavor, color, and shelf life vary based on which fat source you use.
If you’re aiming to keep saturated fat intake down for a healthier cholesterol level, stick with margarine.
Otherwise, we suggest using the fat source called for in your recipe and enjoying baked goods in moderation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes.
This will result in thinner cookies.
verify that you stop creaming once the butter grows light and fluffy to create the best tasting cookies.
This will result in a moist, rich flavor.
“USDA Specifications for Vegetable Oil Margarine.”
“Final Determination Regarding Partially Hydrogenated Oils (Removing Trans Fat).“U.S.
Food and Drug Administration, 2018
