Pâte brisée (All Butter Pie Crust)

“That’s a piecrust promise. Easily made, easily broken.” -Mary Poppins

As Alberta Co-op Basics Week approaches its end, it’s time to tackle a perfect pie crust. So here, on day 6, I bring you a classic Pâte brisée, also known as a Butter Crust, Short Crust, or just plain ol’ Really Really Flaky Pie Crust. I like to make extra and keep s ball in my freezer for when the pie siren calls.

from Smitten Kitchen

Pâte brisée (All Butter Pie Crust)

Print Recipe

Makes one double- or two single-crust pies.

• CourseDessert

Pâte brisée (All Butter Pie Crust) Print Recipe Makes one double- or two single-crust pies. CourseDessert

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 C flour
• 1 T sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 sticks unsalted butter very cold

Servings:

Instructions

1. Fill a one cup liquid measuring cup with water, and drop in a few ice cubes; set it aside. In a large bowl — I like to use a very wide one, so I can get my hands in — whisk together 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 tablespoon of sugar and a teaspoon of salt. Dice two sticks (8 ounces or 1 cup) of very cold unsalted butter into 1/2-inch pieces. Get out your pastry blender.
2. Sprinkle the butter cubes over the flour and begin working them in with the pastry blender, using it to scoop and redistribute the mixture as needed so all parts are worked evenly. When all of the butter pieces are the size of tiny peas — this won’t take long — stop. Yes, even if it looks uneven; you’ll thank me later.
3. Start by drizzling 1/2 cup (120 ml) of the ice-cold water (but not the cubes, if there are any left!) over the butter and flour mixture. Using a rubber or silicon spatula, gather the dough together. You’ll probably need an additional 1/4 cup (60 ml) of cold water to bring it together, but add it a tablespoon as a time. Once you’re pulling large clumps with the spatula, take it out and get your hands in there (see how that big bowl comes in handy?). Gather the disparate damp clumps together into one mound, kneading them gently together.
4. Divide the dough in half, and place each half on a large piece of plastic wrap. I like to use the sides to pull in the dough and shape it into a disk. Let the dough chill in the fridge for one hour, but preferably at least two, before rolling it out.

Do Ahead:

1. Dough will keep in the fridge for about a week, and in the freezer longer. If not using it that day, wrap it in additional layers of plastic wrap to protect it from fridge/freezer smells. To defrost your dough, move it to the fridge for one day before using it.

Recipe Notes

• I keep a few sticks of butter in the freezer for recipes like this, and grate them into the flour mix.

 

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