Vegetable shortening is a white, solid fat made from vegetable oils, typically soybean, cottonseed, or palm oils. It is commonly used in baking to create flaky textures in pastries and scones. In the UK, it is sold under the brand names Trex, Flora White, or Cookeen, while in the US, the most well-known brand is Crisco. Vegetable shortening is often used in combination with butter to achieve the best combination of flakiness and flavor. It can be substituted with butter, lard, coconut oil, or dairy-free margarine, depending on dietary and flavor preferences
. Vegetable shortening is a hydrogenated form of vegetable oil, which means it has been turned from a liquid to a solid and has a neutral taste. Unlike butter, it won't impart any flavors to baked goods. It is commonly used in recipes that require "short doughs," which have a high proportion of fat to flour, such as pie crusts
