I am making cupcakes using Sylvia Weinstock's classic yellow cake recipe. I am low on butter and would rather not have to run to the store to get some...can I substitute butter flavored shortening and still get good results?

yes you can but it won't have the exact same flavor as butter (imo)

Not necessarily. You have to adjust the amount. For every ounce of butter, put in .80 ounce of shortening and add .20 ounces of liquid.

Butter is not all fat, it is about 80% fat and, 20% other stuff, mostly liquid. So multiply the amount of butter by .80 and that will tell you how much shortening to add in. Then multiply the butter by .20 to find out how much liquid to add back in. That will keep the recipe in balance.

You can try a direct substitution, but if you don't get the same results you will know why. Plus butter flavored shortening does not taste at all like butter. Although Alton Brown and Shirley Corriher swear by it, so go figure. It is all in the personal taste buds.

Thanks guys! I ended up having to run to the store anywayt for milk (my husband is addicted....lol) so I just picked up some butter too.