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Julia Child's Pâte Brisée Sucrée (Pie Crust!)

  • Author: Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Vol. 1
  • Prep Time: 15
  • Cook Time: 15
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 1 lower or upper crust 1x

Description

A rich, buttery pie crust that's par-baked to ensure crispiness.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 1/3 cups flour, NOT self-rising
  • 8 Tbsp chilled butter
  • 3 Tbsp chilled shortening
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 Tbsp sugar
  • 5-6 Tbsp ice water

Instructions

  1. Mix flour, salt, and sugar together in a bowl.
  2. With a pastry cutter, or two forks, cut chilled butter and shortening into flour mixture until it is in lumps the size of peas.
  3. Add the ice water gradually until the dough will form together in a ball.
  4. Turn the dough out onto a smooth surface and use the heel of your hand to push small (egg-sized) bits of dough across the surface 6-inches. This process if called fraisage.
  5. When all the dough has been pushed across, gather it together, form into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator until you use it.

Notes

  • The dough can be frozen, just put it in the refrigerator for a few hours before using.
  • The less water you use, the less likely your crust will shrink in the baking process - try not to overdo it!
  • The fraisage is essential for blending the fat and flour and resulting in a flakier crust. It's really fun to do also!