My aunt told me I was wasting butter on pie crust

She watched me cube cold butter into flour at her house in Phoenix last Thanksgiving and said I should just use shortening like she has for 40 years. I told her butter gives better flavor and flakiness, and she got quiet. She tried a slice later and admitted it was good, but she still wouldn't change her recipe. Anyone else have a family member who swears by shortening over butter?

2 comments

2 Comments

hugo8255d ago

Your aunt has a point for pie crust specifically - shortening gives a tender, flaky texture that butter can't quite match because it doesn't have water content. Butter for flavor on the bottom crust with shortening on top can give you the best of both worlds though.

uma6855d agoMost Upvoted

Oh yeah, totally. I started doing half and half recently too and it's a game changer.