For the love of "Crust"
Hope you enjoy the video illustrating how to make some of my favorite pie crust recipes. A few tips and tricks to make them the perfect crust to be filled. #1 Combination Crust, #2 Brown Butter Crust, #3 All Butter Crust and #4 Shortbread Crust. I'm showing how to make without a food processor. If you have a food processor you may use it to combine.
COMBINATION BUTTER AND SHORTENING CRUST
Ingredients for one double-crust 9 inch or 10 inch pie:
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons sugar
3/4 cup (a stick and a half) unsalted butter, chilled and grated. If you do not have a grater don't worry. Just chop into small pieces.
1/2 cup of all-vegetable shortening (8 Tbsp)
6-8 Tablespoons ice water
Make the dough: Combine flour, salt, and sugar in a food processor; pulse to mix. Add the butter and pulse 4 times.
Add shortening in tablespoon sized chunks, and pulse 4 more times. The mixture should resemble coarse cornmeal, with butter bits no bigger than peas.
Sprinkle 6 tablespoons of ice water over flour mixture. If you pinch some of the crumbly dough and it holds together, it's ready.
If the dough doesn't hold together, keep adding water, a teaspoon at a time.
Form disks: Remove dough from machine and place in a mound on a clean surface.
Divide the dough into 2 balls and flatten each into 4 inch wide disks.
Do not over-knead the dough!
Dust the disks lightly with flour, wrap each in plastic, and refrigerate for at least an hour, or up to 2 days before rolling out.
Roll out the dough: After the dough has chilled in the refrigerator for an hour, you can take it out to roll. If it is too stiff, you may need to let it sit for 5-10 minutes at room temperature before rolling.
Sprinkle a little flour on a flat, clean work surface and on top of the disk of dough you intend to roll out.
Using a rolling pin, apply light pressure while rolling outwards from the center of the dough. Every once in a while you may need to gently lift under the dough (a pastry scraper works great for this) to make sure it is not sticking.
You have a big enough piece of dough when you place the pie tin or pie dish upside down on the dough and the dough extends by at least 2 inches all around.
Place into pie dish: When the dough has reached the right size, gently fold it in half. Lift up the dough and place it so that the folded edge is along the center line of the pie dish. Gently unfold. Do not stretch the dough.
Trim edges: If you are only making a single crust pie, use a pair of kitchen scissors to trim the dough to within 1/2 inch of the lip of the dish. Tuck the overhang underneath itself along the edge of the pie dish. Use your fingers in a pinching motion, or the tines of a fork to crimple the edge of the pie crust.
If you are making a double crust pie, roll out the second disk of dough. Gently place onto the top of the filling in the pie. Fold the edge of the top piece of dough over and under the edge of the bottom piece of dough, pressing together. Finish the double crust by pressing against the edges of the pie with your finger tips or with a fork.
Make vents in top: Use a sharp knife to cut vents into the top of the pie crust, so the steam has a place to escape while the pie is cooking. You may also use extra dough from the trim to decorate.
Optional Before scoring, you may want to paint the top of your crust with an egg wash (this will make a nice finish).
Brown Butter Crust
Ingredients for crust
2 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
3/4 cups of brown butter (watch video for instructions)