A feather in your Easter bonnet — this luscious Easter bunny cake… Best cake you’ve baked in a month of Easter Sundays… and you… yes, you… can take all the glory!
Before Crisco and modern vegetable oils took over America’s frying pans and pie crusts, Dexo Shortening held a place in many mid-century kitchens. Produced by The Procter & Gamble Company, Dexo was a brand of hydrogenated vegetable shortening—a solid cooking fat that promised light, flaky pastries and perfect fried foods.
The Rise of Shortening
In the early 20th century, American cooks were moving away from traditional fats like lard and butter, either for health, convenience, or cost. Procter & Gamble introduced Crisco in 1911, the first all-vegetable shortening made using a new hydrogenation process. Its success opened the door for similar products—Dexo being one of them.
Dexo was marketed as a reliable, economical alternative to lard, especially for baking. It gained popularity in the 1930s through the 1950s, appearing in cookbooks, kitchen ads, and recipe contests. Like other shortenings, it promised longer shelf life and consistent results—especially important in an era when refrigeration wasn’t always a given.
Competing in a Crowded Kitchen
While Dexo never reached the iconic status of Crisco, it carved out a loyal following. Home bakers swore by it for making tender pie crusts, crispy fried chicken, and fluffy cakes. Its branding and packaging mirrored the wholesome, practical vibe of its time—simple, no-nonsense, and aimed squarely at the American homemaker.
Fading from View
By the 1960s and ’70s, Dexo began to fade as Crisco tightened its grip on the market and new health concerns emerged about hydrogenated oils and trans fats. Many once-familiar shortening brands quietly disappeared from shelves, including Dexo.
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha. Blocked by captcha. Blocked by captcha. Blocked by captcha.
Easter Bunny Cake
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Dexo shortening
- 2-1/4 cups sifted cake flour
- 3 teaspoons double-action baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 % cups sugar
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 eggs unbeaten
Instructions
- Measure shortening into bowl. Sift dry ingredients onto shortening. Add vanilla to milk. Add 2/3 of the milk.
- Blend and beat 1 minute (count at least 150 strokes per minute). Add remaining 1/3 milk. Add eggs. Beat 2 minutes.
- Bake in two greased and floured deep 8-inch layer pans in moderate oven, 375° F for 25 to 30 minutes.
- When cool, frost with butter frosting. Color coconut green, using vegetable coloring. Place on top of cake.
- Arrange Easter candy bunny on coconut. Decorate with colored jelly beans.