Skip to main content

Pastry Dough

This versatile shortcrust pastry is an essential foundation for any home baker’s repertoire. Perfectly crisp and delightfully flaky, this vegetarian-friendly dough relies on cold unsalted butter and a delicate touch to achieve its signature texture. Whether you are planning a seasonal vegetable galette or a classic fruit tart, this reliable base provides a professional finish to both savoury and sweet bakes.

Mastering the technique of 'frisage'—smearing the dough to distribute the fat—ensures a short, tender crumb without overworking the flour. This recipe is designed to be prepared in advance, allowing the gluten to relax and the fats to firm up in the fridge. It is a simple, healthy alternative to shop-bought versions, giving you full control over the quality of your ingredients.

Poursuivre la lecture ci-dessous

Ingredients for Pastry Dough

  • 160g plain flour

  • 1 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

  • 1/4 teaspoons salt

  • 3 to 80ml ice water

How to make Pastry Dough

Blend together flour, butter, and salt in a bowl with your fingertips or a pastry blender (or pulse in a food processor) just until mixture resembles coarse meal with some roughly pea-size butter lumps.

Drizzle 45ml ice water evenly over mixture and gently stir with a fork (or pulse in processor) until incorporated.

Squeeze a small handful: If it doesn't hold together, add more ice water, 1/2 tablespoons at a time, stirring (or pulsing) until incorporated, then test again. Do not overwork dough or pastry will be tough.

Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 4 portions. With heel of your hand, smear each portion once or twice in a forward motion to help distribute fat. Gather dough together, with a pastry scraper if you have one, and press into a 5-inch disk. Chill, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm, at least 1 hour.

Clause de non-responsabilité

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Historique de l'article

Les informations contenues dans cette page ont été évaluées par des cliniciens qualifiés.

  • 16 janvier 2026 | Publié à l'origine

    Auteur: :

    UK recipe editors

    Examiné par des pairs

    UK recipe editors
Vérification de l'éligibilité à la grippe

Demandez, partagez, connectez-vous.

Parcourez les discussions, posez des questions et partagez vos expériences sur des centaines de sujets liés à la santé.

vérificateur de symptômes

Vous ne vous sentez pas bien ?

Évaluez gratuitement vos symptômes en ligne

Inscrivez-vous à la newsletter destinée aux patients

Votre dose hebdomadaire de conseils santé clairs et fiables, rédigés pour vous aider à vous sentir informé, confiant et maître de la situation.

Veuillez saisir une adresse e-mail valide.

En vous abonnant, vous acceptez notre politique de confidentialité. Vous pouvez vous désabonner à tout moment. Nous ne vendons jamais vos données.