Sweet Pie Dough

By Cindy

Ingredients

• Makes 1 double-crust (9-inch) pie
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons cold* unsalted butter, diced
• 2/3 cup ice-cold water

Preparation

Step 1

1. In the work bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Pulse until blended. Add the butter, and continue pulsing until mixture is crumbly. Strain ice out of water just before using. With the food processor running, add the water in a slow, steady stream until mixture just comes together.

2. Remove dough from food processor, divide it in half, and shape each half into a disk. Wrap each disk tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, and up to overnight.

3. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into 2 (12-inch) circles ¼ inch thick. Place one circle into pie plate, line with parchment paper, and fill with pie weights. Bake at 350˚ for 30 minutes, or until lightly browned.

4. Fill pie with desired filling. Top with remaining dough circle, making desired edge and decoration. Bake according to recipe instructions. Use any remaining dough for another use, if desired.

*Butter needs to be ice cold so that it will be less likely to melt when handling. Butter is preferred to shortening or margarine for its flavor and melt-in-your-mouth quality.