Lard or vegetable fat, or coconut fat?

[AmIUsingMadeUpWords]

Planning on making some biscuits from an old recipe book. They call for half butter, half "shortening".

I had a look in the shop, I could get lard, vegetable fat or coconut fat. I don't know what to choose . I know vegetable fat is supposed to be bad, but it feels particularly funny using lard in a sweet recipe. Will the lard taste faintly of bacon? Would coconut fat be better?

I'd probably go for the vegetable fat out of those as I'm more familiar with how it'll respond in baking, and I've often used it to replace shortening. If you really don't want to use it you could just go for all butter. Might make your biscuits a bit richer, can't imagine it'll do much of anything else.

Lard doesn't taste of bacon. As it's a 'treat' item i.e. a biscuit, so I assume one or two per person, I'd be tempted to use the lard. Generally this will give a much better end result.

I've never used any of them, so how they'll respond is a mystery to me anyway.

I might try the lard then, if you absolutely promise it won't taste baconny .

Stork isn't hydrogenated any more if that's what you're worried about

Normally when recipes say shortening I assume it means Stork anyway

Lard doesn't taste of bacon at all.

I have all three available for different things. Roast potatoes are far better cooked in lard, coconut oil will taste slightly coconutty (deliciously so though) but is either hard (if cold) or oil (if warmed) and so would be difficult to use. If a recipe calls for shortening then unless its a very old recipe I'd assume it means vegetable shortening.

Thanks Attic us, that's helpful.

I think I will go with the lard then, as it will be easier to use up the rest of it. A delicate coconut flavour would be nice for the biscuits, but then I wouldn't know what to do with the rest of the fat.

Coconut oil is the most expensive too (but can be used for masses of things). I take my make up off with it every night and also moisturise my legs with it.