FAQs
In baking, melted margarine could work in recipes that call for melted butter, but in recipes that call for softened butter, swapping in tub margarine may change the texture; for example, cakes will be less tender, and cookies will generally spread out more and be less crisp.
Is it better to use butter or margarine for chocolate chip cookies? ›
But when you're baking, butter triumphs over margarine every time. For cakes, cookies, and pastries, butter (unsalted, that is) provides richer flavor. (It begins as cream, after all, and margarine is made from vegetable oil.) Butter's high fat content is also what gives baked goods their texture.
What happens when cookies don't have enough butter? ›
Adding too little butter can cause the cookies to be tough and crumbly. You should use unsalted butter to control the salt content, but if you only have salted on hand, reduce the amount of added salt accordingly. Sugar sweetens the cookies and makes them an enticing golden brown.
How much margarine can I substitute for butter? ›
In most recipes, you can use a 1:1 ratio to swap butter and margarine or plant-based butter (if the recipe calls for 1 cup butter, use 1 cup margarine or plant-based butter).
Why is margarine not a good substitute for butter? ›
Here are the differences between margarine and butter: Ingredients: butter is made from dairy milk or cream, while margarine is made from plant and/or animal fats. Flavor: butter has a richer flavor than margarine. Texture: butter has a richer mouthfeel than margarine, whereas margarine can be greasier.
Can I use country crock instead of butter for cookies? ›
Yes! Country Crock® is great for cooking and baking. Certain Country Crock® products can be swapped 1:1 for butter in cooking and baking recipes: Country Crock® Baking Sticks and Country Crock® Plant Butter sticks and tubs.
What happens if you put too much butter in chocolate chip cookies? ›
Too much butter makes cookies turn out just as you'd expect: very buttery. This batch of cookies was cakey in the middle, but also airy throughout, with crispy edges.
Why do my chocolate chip cookies come out cakey? ›
Using too much flour will make your cookies too cakey, so try reducing the flour amount by two tablespoons. Avoid using cake flour instead; try a mix of all-purpose flour and bread flour for a more dense and chewy texture. Using too much baking powder. According to the science geeks at Serious Eats—we love you!
Why are my chocolate chip cookies hard? ›
This isn't a revolutionary tip and is probably quite obvious, but if you leave your cookies in the oven for even a few minutes longer than necessary, the mix will dry too quickly and lead to more rigid, dry cookies.
What makes cookies flat and crispy? ›
Melted butter – To achieve thin and crisp cookies, I've discovered that melted butter is really crucial. Melted butter helps the cookies to spread out and become flatter with crisp edges.
Of course, you can always flatten your butter cookies to make them crispier if you like them that way. Margarine cookies, on the other hand, will be thinner and more spread out compared to butter cookies baked with the same ingredient ratios.
Are chocolate chip cookies better with melted or softened butter? ›
Melted butter is best suited for drop doughs such as chocolate chip, peanut butter, and sugar cookies, as well as most cookie bars. You can usually adapt recipes that don't originally call for melted butter to use this technique if you're looking for an even fudgier texture.
How does margarine change cookies? ›
Generally, all are interchangeable. However, each produces slightly different results. Butter improves a cookie's flavor and margarine improves its texture. Solid shortening creates soft, spongy cookies that stay soft for a long time but have little taste.
Is it safe to use margarine instead of butter? ›
Margarine can be used as a substitute for butter, and it is particularly useful in baking, since it gives baked goods a softer texture than butter, which some people prefer.
How much margarine is a stick of butter? ›
For most recipes, margarine can be substituted for butter in equal amounts. 1 stick of butter = 1/2 cup margarine. However, margarine usually comes in sticks like butter unless it's whipped. Whipped spreads have air whipped in to make them fluffy and easy to spread.
What is the best substitute for 1 cup of butter? ›
If you find your fridge empty in the butter department or can't tolerate dairy, you can swap it completely with these butter replacements. For 1 cup unsalted butter, substitute 1 cup shortening, ⅞ cup (that's 14 Tbsp. or ¾ cup plus 2 Tbsp.) vegetable oil, or ⅞ cup lard.