After reading this thread I decided to try some Alpine Hi-Ration shortning to make by daughter's wedding cake this summer. I found it on the Sugarcraft website, but the shipping said $26.00! Can that be right? Is there anywhere else to order it from?

I use the Walmart Great Value brand, and almost always have. So, just use the store brand and it will be fine. The world will not end! hehehe

Shoup-I just bought some Wal-Mart brand to try. It has to be easier than trying to work w/this new Crisco!

I use the Walmart brand with no problems.

I've tried the walmart brand and although I like the taste, my icing would not stick to my cake! It also had that "grainy" look to it.

I had mine get grainy before but it was simply because I didn't cream the shortening and liquids well enough before adding the powdered sugar. I hope that will help you.

Bottom line is that all of them will eventually have to go to no trans fat--then what?

I know nothing about the high ratio shortening. Does it have trans fat?

I also bought the Walmart brand but have not tried it yet.

Diane

Try a 1/2 Crisco 1/2 butter recipe. That's what I use and so far so good even with the no trans-fat Crisco. With a 2 lb bag of pwd sugar I only use about 2 Tbsp and 1 tsp of liquid plus 3 tsp of flavoring. That's what I used on the last wedding cake in my gallery and on the cupcakes I delivered this morning.

Debbie

I don't want to sound stupid but can someone tell me what is high ratio shortening and where do you purchase it?

I think I may be able to shed some light on the Trans Fat Free Crisco and all the problems that everyone has been having. This happened purely by accident.....

I made a cake for tonight for my friend's dad - he is having his hip replaced tomorrow and they requested a butt cake! Anyway.....I procrastinated and didn't make the frosting this weekend. I usually make one 3-cup batch of buttercream (all crisco) at a time in my 4.5 quart KA. I haven't experienced any of the problems with the new Crisco that everyone else has.

To save some time I decided to try making two batches of buttercream in my KA (I've never tried this before). So, I put in double the crisco, water, flavorings, and salt and set it on low to cream the shortening. While it creamed, I weighed out and sifted the powdered sugar. Once the crisco was creamy looking in the KA, I started adding the sugar, a little at a time (probably added 2lbs of PS in 6 or 7 intervals). After each addition I let it beat on 1 or 2 until creamy looking again. This is how I usually add my PS. The only thing I did differently was make two batches together.

I noticed after I was done making the BC that it was much thinner than it should have been for the amount of liquid I added. I also noticed that there appeared to be more air bubbles (sorta) than usual. The BC also seemed "fluffier" than usual too.

From the BC recipes I recall everyone posting, most people make a batch of BC that is more than 3 cups. It seems that most are for 6 cup batches. I think this is why everyone is having such a hard time with the new Crisco.

I would like to suggest that everyone who is having problems, go ahead and make a batch of BC, but cut your recipe in half - only make a 3 cup (or so) batch of BC. I think this may help.

Sorry this ended up so long, but I thought I had an epiphany last night when I realized all of this!

Let me know if this helps!

~Chelle

Nope, that doesn't affect mine either. I make 7 cups at a time, still NO issues with it what so ever. I don't get what the problems are, my icing is still the same as it was with the "old" crisco. No problems here.

Thanks Quadcrew for your experience with it. This is the first time I've experienced what I think is the problems everyone is having. I wasn't too concerned with it though, it was a cake for a friend, and I found I had an easier time smoothing the frosting!

I guess we'll never figure it out - just thought I could help someone!

~Chelle

I didn't think of that Couture Cakes! Good point - it would take forever to make the frosting! I usually do birthday cakes and such....have only done one wedding cake and it was for a competition.

~Chelle

Here is the recipe I use with no problems.

Snow white buttercream

2/3 cup water
4 Tablespoons Meringue Powder
12 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1-1/4 cups shortening
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon No Color Almond Extract
1 teaspoon Clear Vanilla Extract

Directions
Combine water and meringue powder; whip at high speed until peaks form. Add 4 cups of sugar, one cup at a time, beating after each addition at low speed. Alternately add shortening and remainder of sugar. Add salt and flavorings; beat at low speed until smooth.
Recipe may be doubled or cut in half; however, if cut in half, yield is only 3-1/2 cups.

Thanks for the recipe Quadcrew. Have you tried it using 1/2 butter in place of the Crisco? I like the taste of some butter in BC.

Nope, I don't vary the recipe, if I have someone who wants butter flavored frosting, I will substitute butter extract for the almond. People LOVE this recipe. It is very stable, and smooths out perfectly. (all the buttercream pics in my photos are made with this frosting - you can see I get it as smooth as fondant)

Do you use your wisk attachment to mix the water and MP? Do you change to the paddle attachment for the remaining steps? Or just use the same attachment for the whole batch?

I just use the paddle one for the whole recipe. I whip the meringue powder on high, then lower it to no more than 2 for the rest of the recipe.

Quadcrew, I think the thing about your recipe that makes it work is the fact that you use meringue powder plus you are using less than half of the amount of Crisco that most decorators use. I have never used as much as the Wilton Recipe calls for. I always thought it made the roof of your mouth slick with grease.

I haven't used the new Crisco yet. Have an order for next weekend so we will see. I also bought some store brands to try.

Diane

wow - sorry to hear that everyone is having such issues....luckily, i've always used generic all vegetable shortening....everyone always loves my BC and i've actually had some customers just order icing (no cake)

i heard that eventually, even the generics will go zero trans fat.....anyone else heard this?

Can anyone tell me...is high ratio shortening the same as shortening with trans fat in it?
Thanks!

If the government watchdogs that want to control every bite we put in our mouths have their way, the whole world will be free of trans fats. I have gone to the generic brands and given up on Crisco. That will be only a temporary answer to the problem, though.

Diane

I used the new Crisco by itself--no butter added and I will admit that it turned out ok. So it is the butter/Crisco combo that makes it turn out bad--it stilled looked greasy but it wasn't grainy looking, soft, or full of air bubbles. I am still worried about the heat and humidity...

I emailed them and they called me. They said have everyone contact them.
http://www.crisco.com/contactus.asp

Ok I am only about 8 pages in to this topic. WHEW....I have not had any trouble with the new crisco blue label with green ribbon that states 0 trans fats.

I have seen a few mention a can with a Green label. I noticed at our local Hy-Vee that they had a small green can but if I am not mistaken it was a new Olive Oil Crisco. I will double check when i go out to the post office this afternooon.

I hope you all find a solution to your troubles soon.

Does anyone who has had problems with the weepy frosting live near Crisco headquarters? If I did, I think I would make them a cake to show them how weepy it is and ask if they had paid good money for a very nicely decorated cake, would they want one delivered looking greasy like this one?
I bought the last 8 cans of the oringinal formula from my local store and will look at a couple others for more, then I will experiment with a different brand. I tried a store brand many many years ago and it tasted like grease to me where the original Crisco never did.
I hope they can reformulate it so it works for us.

I made a wedding cake Thursday with the Walmart brand of shortening and it did fine. Everyone complimented me on the cake and icing. I was really worried about it as I had no old Crisco to use. My girlfriend has one 6 lb. can of the old and she is giving it to me. Perhaps I should put it under lock and key and only use it for special occasions. As I have said before, they will soon have the trans fats out of all shortening and then where will we be?

Diane

HAH! it isn't just us ---

even Wilton had to adapt their recipes

(note the red message at bottom of page!)

http://www.wilton.com/recipes/recipesandprojects/icing/snow.cfm

http://www.wilton.com/recipes/recipesandprojects/icing/bcream.cfm

Ha! Does it look like they reduced the amount of liquid?