Recipes with vegetable shortening

Raisin-studded sweet bread baked in coffee cans pairs with rich farmer cheese spread studded with cherries and nuts for a stunning Eastern European Easter centerpiece tradition.

Thin, crispy slice-and-bake cookies with shredded coconut and walnuts. A refrigerator cookie dough you roll, chill, and slice into wafer-thin rounds that bake up snappy in 10 minutes. Makes 48.

Authentic Texas cheese enchiladas with corn tortillas dipped in homemade chili gravy, stuffed with grated cheese and onions, then baked until bubbly. Tex-Mex comfort food done right.

A fancy turkey pot pie baked in Mini squash halves and topped with whole wheat herbed biscuits.

Big batch homemade hamburger buns: a soft yeasted dough made with scalded milk and shortening. Yields four dozen buns, perfect for a backyard cookout crowd.

A tender from-scratch yellow cake layered with chopped fresh strawberries and sweetened whipped cream, then frosted all over with more cream and garnished with whole berries. Classic, beautiful, and gone in minutes.

A marbled vanilla cake layered with chocolate sauce and chopped walnuts, baked in a ring pan and served warm with a dusting of powdered sugar. Feeds 4 to 6 in under an hour.

Chewy butterscotch brownies loaded with chopped dates and walnuts. One bowl, one pan, and 25 minutes in the oven for a batch of 16 irresistible squares.

Cake flour muffins with nutmeg, rolled in melted butter and cinnamon sugar while warm. They taste like old-fashioned cake doughnuts in muffin form.

Flaky pastry tart crust made with grapefruit soda instead of water. A 4-ingredient shortening crust that blind bakes golden in 20 minutes. The carbonation keeps the dough light and tender.

Hortosoupa, a classic Greek pureed vegetable soup with potatoes, carrots, celery, and tomatoes. Simple, velvety, and naturally vegan. Served with croutons and olive oil.

The tartness of the lemons is great with the sweet crust and meringue topping. Perfect in summer.

Fluffy white buttercream icing made with shortening, powdered sugar, and a hint of almond extract. Stays bright white and pipes like a dream for decorated cakes.

Gluten-free pizza with a rice and potato starch crust, topped with a slow-simmered roasted red pepper and tomato sauce. A revelation for celiac and wheat-free eaters.

Coconut custard pie baked in a water bath and slipped into a pre-baked shell, topped with a drizzled chocolate lattice. A silky, nutmeg-scented classic.

A scrumptious and decadent cake made with jello, marshmallows and strawberries can be served warm or cold.