The Best Pastry Crust

Forget the shortening in this butter-based pastry crust recipe that is easily thrown together to create a perfect base for sweet and savory tarts and pies.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 15 mins
• Calories: 153 Calories

Ingredients

• 14 tablespoons butter
• 0.25 teaspoon salt
• 2.25 cups sifted all-purpose flour, or more as needed
• 0.25 cup chilled water, or more as needed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Mix flour and salt together in a large bowl. Cut in butter using a pastry blender until the mixture resembles fine cornmeal. Pour in water slowly; knead dough into a firm ball.

Step 2

Pour in additional water as needed if dough is too dry or additional flour if too moist. Divide batter into equal halves. Roll out dough halves into rounds on a lightly floured work surface using a lightly floured rolling pin to desired thickness.

Step 3

Press one round into the bottom of a 9-inch pie pan. Use the other round as a top crust or for a separate bottom crust. Bake according to desired filling instructions.