Foolproof Pie Dough For Two Crust 9 inch Pie

Ingredients:

7.5 ounces all purpose flour

2 Tablespoons sugar

1 Teaspoon fine sea salt

6 ounces cold unsalted butter, cut in 1/4 inch slices

1/2 cup cold Crisco, cut in 4 pieces

5 ounces all purpose flour

1/4 cup cold vodka

1/4 cup cold water

1 Tablespoon heavy cream

Turbinado sugar

Preparation:

Put 7.5 ounces flour, sugar and salt in food processor.  Pulse 2 to 4 one-second pulses to combine.

Add butter and shortening and pulse 15 times or just until dough starts to collect in uneven clumps.  Scrape bowl with spatula and redistribute dough evenly around processor.  Pulse 2 more times. 

Add additional 5 ounces flour and pulse until mixture is evenly distributed around bowl and mass of dough has been broken up, 4 to 6 quick pulses.  Empty mixture into medium bowl.

Mix vodka and water and sprinkle over flour mixture.  With spatula, use a folding motion to press down on dough until dough sticks together.  Divide dough into 2 balls, one a little larger than the other.  Flatten each into a 4 inch disk.  Wrap each in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 45 minutes or up to 2 days.

Back

Roll out smaller disk of dough on floured surface and line a 9 inch pie plate.  Trim crust even with pie plate edge.  Refrigerate.  Roll out larger disk between floured parchment paper to a 13 inch circle.  Refrigerate until pie filling is ready.

Fill bottom crust with filling and moisten the edges of bottom crust with water.  Fit top crust over filling.  Trim top dough 1/2 inch larger than bottom dough.  Fold top edge under bottom crust edge and press slightly.  Flute edges.  Cut hole in center of pastry with cookie cutter for steam.  Refrigerate pie for an hour before baking if time permits. 

Brush top crust all over with 1 tablespoon heavy cream and sprinkle turbinado sugar (course brown sugar) all over top.  Bake according to pie filling directions.

Suggestion:

The blueberry and raspberry filling is great with this crust.

History:

This recipe comes from Chef Tech Cooking School in Long Beach, California.