11.12.15

Easy as Pie: Pie Dough Express

Sometimes when you are in a hurry and a little stressed, you think of ways to cut corners just to save a little time. This was my frame of mind when, without really thinking about it too much, I put a disk of soft freshly-made pie dough on a Silpat mat, covered it with a sheet of plastic wrap, rolled out the dough quickly, rolled the whole thing up on the rolling pin and stuck it in the refrigerator. I let it chill out for about two hours before continuing.

I am not a big fan of cutting corners if it is going to hurt the quality of a product, but this little short cut worked and I’ve used it many times since. You may like it too; I call it Pie Dough Express.

 

 

MAKING PIE DOUGH EXPRESS: STEP-BY-STEP

 

 

Pie Dough Express. Ready to refrigerate.

Pie Dough Express

Shirl Gard
This recipe uses a short-cut method of rolling out freshly-made soft pie dough on a Silpat mat, rolling it up on a rolling pin and refrigerating it. I like this technique because it is quick. You may like it too; I call it Pie Dough Express.

YIELD: ONE 9" PIE SHELL - ABOUT 400g (14 oz)

Ingredients
  


  • 200 grams pastry flour or bleached all-purpose flour 1 1/2 cups
  • 25 grams granulated sugar 2 tablespoons
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

  • 90 grams unsalted butter cut in 1/2" cubes and chilled (3/4 stick / 6 tablespoons)
  • 35 grams Crisco chilled and cut in 1/2" chunks (3 tablespoons)

  • 45 grams ice water 3 tablespoons
  • 20 grams egg yolk cold (1 large)
  • 5 grams apple cider vinegar 1 teaspoon

  • 420 grams = Total 14.75 oz

Instructions
 

  • FOOD PROCESSOR METHOD FOR MIXING: SCALE out flour, sugar, and salt. Transfer to food processor bowl.
  • SCATTER cold butter cubes over the flour mixture and add chunks of cold shortening. Pulse until mixture is crumbly; an uneven mixture of small lumps of flour-covered fat.
  • WHISK ice water, cold egg, and vinegar together and pour over flour mixture. DO NOT combine liquids until ready to add to food processor.
  • PULSE just until the dough comes together in a soft mass of dough.
  • TRANSFER dough to a lightly-floured Silpat mat and press together into a flat disk about 1" thick.
  • EXPRESS METHOD FOR ROLLING OUT DOUGH: PLACE the disk of soft dough on a lightly floured half-sheet Silpat mat, cover with a sheet of plastic wrap, and roll out about 1/8" thick to a diameter of 13".
  • ROLL UP the dough on a rolling pin, still on the Silpat mat, and refrigerate the whole thing for about two hours.
  • PEEL off the Silpat mat, leaving the plastic wrap intact on the other side.
  • FILL pie plate with dough, plastic wrap on top, easing into the corners.
  • FINISH according to your recipe.
  • IF CRIMPING the edges, gently fold under the overhang all the way around. Chill completely before crimping, then chill or freeze the crimped shell before baking. Working with cold dough helps maintain the shape while baking.

Notes

Recipe developed by Shirl Gard, using a combination of traditional pie dough ingredients with the addition of a little egg yolk and sugar borrowed from a sweet tart dough recipe. A touch of baking powder adds a little lift. I discovered the technique of rolling up the dough on a rolling pin to chill it quite by accident; I have used it many times since.

 

Pie Dough Express

Pie Dough Express

Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy!

Shirl