⭐ Vegetable Shortening (Best Vegan Option)
1:1 (1 cup shortening per 1 cup butter)Vegetable shortening is 100% fat and solid at room temperature, which helps produce a flaky crust by creating layers of fat that melt during baking. It also prevents gluten overdevelopment, resulting in a tender texture.
When substituting, keep shortening cold and handle dough minimally to maintain flakiness. Because shortening lacks butter’s flavor, the filling may taste less rich, so seasoning the filling slightly more or adding a butter extract can help.
The final crust will be flaky and tender but less flavorful, which may slightly reduce the overall savory depth of the pot pie.