Kimcatlou

I have a favorite recipe for Molasses Sugar Cookies that includes shortening. Is shortening still available for purchase
in grocery stores? Also, would it work to use butter in place of shortening?

Quilter 53

I think shortening is Crisco. At least that's what I use. But all cookies taste better to me if I use butter or oleo/margarine instead.

Tartan

Butter burns faster then shortening and liquifies more. I have switched to Becel margarine for my cookies (cholesterol issues) but it liquifies more so I add a bit more flour. If you use butter, add a little more flour and watch them carefully but they will be tasty. I still buy Crisco all vegetable shortening for my pie crusts.

osewme

Crisco makes Butter Flavored Vegetable Shortening Baking Sticks. I use it for any cookie recipe that calls for shortening. If the recipe doesn't specifically call for shortening then I use butter. Do I get a batch of those Molasses cookies for finding this info for you?

http://www.crisco.com/products/bakin...rtening-17-851

Here's what I found about substituting butter for shortening:

http://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/bake/how-to-substitute-butter-for-shortening-when-baking/

SuzzyQ

I'd use shortening (Crisco) as the molasses will overpower the butter anyway

tranum

Real butter only.

Misty's Mom

Kerry Gold Butter yum!

Jane Quilter

butter wil make a crispier cookie, shortening will make a soft cookie. Its a texture thing. like in ginger snaps do you want them to snap or to bend,,,,,its a personal preference.

JENNR8R

I use half shortening and half butter in my cookies. It's the best of both worlds.

rainbowzebra

For molasses cookies it is Crisco only for me. I have the best recipe handed down from my grandmother, but came off a bottle or Brer Rabbit molasses ( good luck finding that). I bake the cookie for about 8 minutes, take out of oven, very quickly put a small dab of jelly on each cookie then back In the oven for about 3 more minutes. My family likes grape jelly best but raspberry and strawberry are great too. This is a soft cookies that is rolled in sugar before baking. Believe me it is to die for even if you don't like molasses cookies.