Does butter or shortening make better pie crust?
The pros: Shortening has a higher melting point than lard or butter, so it’s easy to incorporate into pie dough and roll out. It’s also helpful when making any kind of decorative pie crust, because doughs made with shortening hold their shape the best during baking.
Can I substitute butter for shortening in pie crust?
butter. You shouldn’t have any issue when substituting butter for shortening here. Piecrust made with butter or margarine will not be as flaky as one made with shortening. If you’re a fan of flaky, you may not want to substitute butter for shortening in pie crust.
What happens if you put too much butter in a pie crust?
When put into the oven, the small chunks of butter inside the dough will create little steam pockets, and where the solid butter once was becomes an air pocket, thus creating a tender flaky crust. If the butter chunks are too big, you’ll have melted butter leaking from your pie crust as it bakes.
Why does my pastry break up when I roll it out?
If your shortcrust pastry is crumbling when you roll it out then it is most likely that the dough is too dry and you haven’t added quite enough liquid to it. It also helps to wrap the pastry in clingfilm (plastic wrap) and let it rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before rolling it out.
Why does my pie dough cracks when I roll it?
Chilled pie dough cracks when rolled out Dough was too cold or not kneaded enough, making the edges of the dough disk ragged and dry. Also, the dough may not have rested enough to allow the flour to hydrate evenly. If there are many cracks and the edges seem dry, gather the dough into a ball.
How do you make pie crust with shortening?
Directions In a small bowl, combine the flour and salt; cut in shortening until mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle with vinegar. For a single crust, roll out pastry on a lightly floured surface to fit a 9-in. or 10-in. pie plate. For a double crust, divide pastry in two portions so that one ball is slightly larger than the other.
What is the best pie crust recipe?
The Very Best Pie Crust Recipe. 3 cups flour 1/2 tsp. salt 2 Tbsp. sugar 1 1/4 cups shortening, cold 1 egg, cold 1 Tbsp. vinegar, cold 5 Tbsp. cold water sugar Mix flour, salt and 2 Tbsp. sugar in a bowl. Cut in shortening with a pastry blender or 2 knives. Add egg, vinegar and 3 tablespoons water. Mix lightly.
Why do you use shortening in pie crust?
Shortening, thanks to its relatively high melting point, helps crust maintain its structure, preventing your pretty crimp or other decorative touches from collapsing as the pie bakes. (If you prefer not to use vegetable shortening, try our All-Butter Pie Crust .)
What is a perfect pie crust?
The perfect pie crust is tender, light, flaky, and golden and lends itself to all of the Thanksgiving favorites.