When I first started making cakes, I used Crisco because that is what my Mom had used in her icing for years. Then I found out about Sweetex and started using that and everyone seemed to love that. I had ran out and needed to get more and the cake supply store that I went to only carried Alpine and I was desperate so I thought I would give it a try. So glad I did! Everyone loves my icing now! I get so many compliments from people telling me that it is the best tasting icing that they ever had. Even my Mom asked me if the icing was Swiss Meringue Buttercream because it is so creamy. It was the icing recipe that she used for years but now made with Alpine instead of Crisco. Also if you want your icing to be really white, this is the shortening for you.