To achieve a flaky and tender homemade pie dough, you'll want a recipe that incorporates the right balance of fats, liquids, and handling techniques. Here's a classic and reliable pie dough recipe that should result in a wonderfully flaky crust:
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water
Instructions:
Keep the butter and water cold: Cold ingredients are crucial for a flaky crust. Dice the butter into small cubes and place it in the refrigerator until you're ready to use it. Additionally, make sure your water is ice-cold.
Mix dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, and sugar.
Cut in the butter: Add the cold butter cubes to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry blender, two knives, or your fingers, cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. You should have some pea-sized butter pieces remaining.
Add ice water: Start by adding 1/4 cup of ice water to the mixture. Gently mix the dough with a fork or your hands. Gradually add more water as needed, one tablespoon at a time, until the dough comes together. Be careful not to overwork the dough, as this can make it tough.
Form the dough: Divide the dough into two equal-sized portions and shape each portion into a ball. Flatten each ball into a disc, wrap them in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or overnight) before using. Chilling the dough allows the gluten to relax and the fat to solidify again, resulting in a flakier crust.
Roll out the dough: Take one disc of dough out of the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften slightly. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to your desired size and thickness, rotating it as you go to ensure even thickness.
Transfer to pie dish: Gently transfer the rolled-out dough to your pie dish. Trim any excess dough hanging over the edges, leaving about a 1-inch overhang to crimp later.
Fill and bake: Add your desired pie filling to the prepared crust and follow your specific pie recipe for baking instructions.
Remember, the key to a flaky pie crust is to handle the dough with care, avoid overworking it, and keep everything as cold as possible throughout the process. Happy baking!