Single Crust Pastry Dough Recipes

PASTRY FOR SINGLE-CRUST PIE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour and salt; cut in shortening until crumbly. Gradually add water, tossing with a fork until a ball forms. Roll out pastry to fit a 9-in. or 10-in. pie plate. , Transfer crust to pie plate. Trim crust to 1/2 in. beyond rim of pie plate; flute edge. Fill or bake crust according to recipe directions.

THE BEST PASTRY CRUST

Steps:

• Mix flour and salt together in a large bowl. Cut in butter using a pastry blender until the mixture resembles fine cornmeal. Pour in water slowly; knead dough into a firm ball.
• Pour in additional water as needed if dough is too dry or additional flour if too moist. Divide batter into equal halves. Roll out dough halves into rounds on a lightly floured work surface using a lightly floured rolling pin to desired thickness.
• Press one round into the bottom of a 9-inch pie pan. Use the other round as a top crust or for a separate bottom crust. Bake according to desired filling instructions.

SINGLE-CRUST FOOD PROCESSOR PIE DOUGH

Steps:

• Combine the flour, cornstarch, and salt in a large bowl. Scatter the fat on a large flour-dusted plate. Measure the vinegar into a 1-cup glass measuring cup. Add just enough cold water to equal a scant ⅓ cup. Refrigerate everything for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Transfer the dry ingredients to a food processor. Add all of the fat, then pulse the machine six or seven times, until the pieces of fat are roughly the size of small peas.
• Pour the vinegar-water mixture through the feed tube in a 7- or 8-second stream, pulsing the machine as you add it. Stop pulsing when the mixture is just starting to form larger clumps.
• Turn the dough out onto your work surface and pack it into a ball. Put the dough on a sheet of plastic wrap and flatten it into a 3/4-inch-thick disk. Wrap the disk and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before rolling.

CLASSIC CRISCO SINGLE CRUST

Steps:

• Spoon flour into measuring cup and level.
• Combine flour and salt in medium bowl.
• Cut in shortening using pastry blender or 2 knives until all flour is blended to form pea-size chunks.
• Sprinkle with water, 1 tablespoon at a time.
• Toss lightly with fork until dough forms a ball.
• Press dough between hands to form 5- to 6-inch"pancake".
• Flour rolling surface and rolling pin lightly Roll dough into circle.
• Trim circle 1 inch larger than upside-down pie plate.
• Carefully remove trimmed dough.
• Set aside to reroll and use for pastry cutout garnish, if desired.
• Fold dough into quarters.
• Unfold and press into pie plate.
• Fold edge under.
• Flute.
• For recipes using a baked pie crust, heat oven to 425°F.
• Prick bottom and side thoroughly with fork (50 times) to prevent shrinkage.
• Bake at 425°F for 10 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
• For recipes using an unbaked pie crust, follow directions given for that recipe.

PASTRY DOUGH

Steps:

• Blend together flour, butter, shortening, and salt in a bowl with your fingertips or a pastry blender (or pulse in a food processor) just until mixture resembles coarse meal with some small (roughly pea-size) butter lumps. Drizzle 3 tablespoons ice water (for a single-crust pie) or 5 tablespoons for a double-crust pie evenly over mixture and gently stir with a fork (or pulse) until incorporated.
• Squeeze a small handful of dough: If it doesn't hold together, add more ice water 1/2 tablespoon at a time, stirring (or pulsing) until incorporated. Do not overwork dough, or pastry will be tough. Turn out dough onto a work surface. For a single-crust pie, divide dough into 4 portions; for a double-crust pie, divide dough into 8 portions. With heel of your hand, smear each portion once or twice in a forward motion to help distribute fat. Gather all dough together with pastry scraper. For a single-crust pie, press into a ball, then flatten into a 5-inch disk. For a double-crust pie, divide dough into 2 pieces, with one slightly larger, then form each into a ball and flatten each into a 5-inch disk. If dough is sticky, dust lightly with additional flour. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and chill until firm, at least 1 hour.