What's a good replacement for shortening in cupcakes?

Question

What's a good replacement for shortening in cupcakes?

Answer 1

vegetable oil or unsalted, softened butter - but the taste or texture will be slightly different

Answer 2

Last night's episode of "Good Eats" showed that vegetable oil is the secret.  The result is lighter than a basic cake and better than the traditional method of creaming butter and sugar.

Answer 3

butter or margarine

Answer 4

You can use butter, cream or sour cream to make them moist.

Answer 5

butter, margarine (if salted reduce salt in recipe by half) and I have used Mayonaise in a pinch.  :)

Answer 6

I prefer to use butter for a replacement.

Answer 7

why would you want to do that..