Easy Homemade Shortcrust Pastry

Homemade Shortcrust Pastry 

There’s just something about homemade pastry, buttery, crisp, and so much better than store-bought! This shortcrust pastry is simple to make and can be used for both sweet and savoury pies.

Serves: Makes enough for 1 large pie or tart case
Prep time: 15 minutes
Chill time: 30–60 minutes
Total time: 45–75 minutes
Special equipment: Rolling pin, tart case, baking beads or rice for blind baking

Let’s learn how to make it!

A good pie crust is all about texture, flaky layers and buttery flavour. The trick? Keeping everything cold and handling the dough as little as possible. Once you’ve mastered this, you’ll never buy pastry again!

Ingredients

• 175g plain flour

• 85g butter, fridge-cold and cut into very small cubes (the smaller the better)

• A good sprinkle of salt

• 2 tablespoons ice-cold water (up to 3 tablespoons if needed)

Method

1. Mix the base: Add your small cubes of fridge-cold butter to the flour, along with a good pinch of salt.

2. Work it quickly: Using your fingertips, rub the butter into the flour as quickly as possible until you have a sand-like texture, some small visible bits of butter are fine.

3. Add the water: Start with 2 tablespoons of ice-cold water. Mix gently until the dough just comes together. If it feels dry, add another tablespoon.

4. Bring it together: Work the dough into a ball with minimal kneading, this keeps the pastry light and flaky.

5. Chill: Wrap the dough in cling film and rest it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes (or overnight). You can also freeze it for later.

6. Roll and line: When ready, roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface and line your tart case. Press it gently into the edges.

7. Set and bake: Chill again for 30–60 minutes before blind baking. Fill with baking paper and baking beads (or rice), and bake as required for your recipe.

Chef’s Tip:

Keeping everything as cold as possible, butter, water, even your hands, is the secret to flaky layers. You can also swap half the butter for shortening for an even lighter texture.

Enjoy

Del x