Furnace CustomItem Checks
This is one major improvement in this update. All cooking recipes are based on NMS (net.minecraft.server) Recipes, and therefore allow for more custom behaviour. Finally, Cooking Recipes will support custom NBT checks and are faster.

NMS Based Crafting System [BETA]
Similar to the cooking recipes above, this update introduces a new separate crafting system that loads the recipes directly into Minecraft, bypassing the Bukkit Recipe API.
Caveats to this new system are that the priority configuration of recipes is not yet used, and possibly other unknown issues.
To use this new feature, stop the server, set the recipes.nms_based_crafting to true, then start the server again!

HOCON Format
From this time on, recipes and items are saved in the HOCON (Human-Optimized Config Object Notation) format as .conf files.
It provides an easier to use configuration format and is for example the official configuration method for Sponge servers and plugins.

A good introduction to HOCON can be found in the Sponge docs.
https://docs.spongepowered.org/stable/en/server/getting-started/configuration/hocon.html
More detailed info about how to use the format can be found here:
https://github.com/lightbend/config#using-hocon-the-json-superset

All previous JSON files are still working, and will be supported in the future.

Configurable Recipe Type Titles
The recipe book title previously used the same title for the recipe view GUI no matter what recipe you were viewing.
Now it uses a different title depending on the recipe type you are viewing.

Additionally, those titles can be configured inside the config.yml:

• <translate:"language_key"> to use values from the language
• <papi:"placeholder"> to use PAPI placeholders (using the player that views the GUI)

Cauldron Recipe Changes & New Features
Major changes

• Items can no longer be dropped into the Cauldron, instead it'll open up a GUI on right-click
  
  • Displays the Fluid type & level (Water & Lava)
  • Displays Type of Campfire
  • Displays if the Campfire is a Signal Fire
• Every Cauldron in the world works for Cauldron Recipes
• One Cauldron can only process a single recipe at once
• Better performance thanks to a more efficient system that ticks the cauldrons
• Cauldrons are saved directly in the chunks' NBT data (instead of a weird separate file!)

Additions

• Distinguish between normal and soul campfire
• Detect if the campfire is a signal fire
• Support for Water and Lava Cauldrons
• Support for up to 4 Results
• Disable/Limit Cauldron interaction:
  Set permission customcrafting.workstation.cauldron.interact to false

Overhauled Recipe Creator

• You can specify four Results that are handled individually, including Result Extensions and Targets.
• Both Water and Lava option disabled: Recipe only works in an empty Cauldron.
• Both Campfire and Soul Campfire option disabled: Recipe works with lit, unlit, or no campfire.

Changelog

• No longer print the MiniMessage info message for all chat editors.
• Added new info messages to ItemCreator Display Name and Enchant Tab.
• Added Tab completion for ItemCreator Enchant Tab options.
• Added separate Paper Lore Chat Editor & Item Name Editor
  • This makes it possible to use <font:'key'> and other components inside lore and item names.
• Fixed - Furnace Ingredients don't remove correct amount from the source stack.
• Fixed - MergeOption slots property is not available when deserializing adapters
• #182 - Allow ItemsAdder Blocks For Elite Crafting Tables
• #183 - Fixed Config Not Reading Database & LocalStorage Settings
• #185 - Recipe Book Editor Overhaul & Better Chat List Editor
• #186 - Added Text Hover Help for Chat Prompts
• Reset rType column when updating recipes in the database.
• CustomRecipes are applied to the inventory, to prevent various issues. (WU 4.16.9)
• Fixed outdated version in config header
• #89 CustomItem checks for Furnace Recipes
• #175 Keep Shaped Crafting Recipes As Is
• #177 NMS Based Crafting System
• #178 Updated/Improved CustomCraftEvent
• #179 Update to latest CustomItem Data System
• #165 - Toggle Auto Recipe Discover On Player Login
• #166 - Recipe Book: Configurable Recipe Type Titles
• #167 - 2x2 Elite Crafting Table
• #168 - HOCON Format Migration
• Added permission for interacting with the cauldron workstation.
  • Permission: customcrafting.workstation.cauldron.interact
• Fixed missing previous page button to RecipeList
• Prevent negative pages in MenuCategoryOverview
• #158 – Cauldron Recipe Overhaul
• #161 – Better Recipe & CustomItem Delete Feedback