A question about a recipe: Faulknerian Family Spice Cake, with Caramel Icing

I have a question about the ingredient "shortening (yes, shortening)" on the recipe "Faulknerian Family Spice Cake, with Caramel Icing" from ENunn. Can I use vegetable oil instead of shortening?

walevitt
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3 Comments

boulangere October 8, 2011
Agree with the above wisdom. You need the density of shortening here.
 
EmilyNunn October 8, 2011
No, just go ahead and bite the bullet and use shortening. You can get organic shortening in bars, at Whole Foods, if that the issue--if you can't stand the thought of Crisco. Me, I think it rocks. But you have to use the shortening here.
 
drbabs October 8, 2011
I'm guessing not. They have 2 completely different chemical properties and impart different textures to baked goods. And enunn specifically says shortening. Emphasizes it even. If you were going to sub anything for the shortening I'd use more butter. Even then, the cake will be different.
 
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