Soft Pastry Recipe

Here’s a recipe for a versatile, soft pastry dough that can be used for a variety of sweet and savory dishes. This dough is perfect for making soft, tender pastries like turnovers, Danish pastries, and more.

Soft Pastry Dough

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cut into small pieces
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional, for sweet pastries)
• 1/4 cup ice water (more if needed)

Instructions:

1. Mix Dry Ingredients:
   • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt.
2. Cut in the Butter:
   • Add the cold butter pieces to the flour mixture. Use a pastry cutter, two forks, or your fingers to cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces of butter. Work quickly to keep the butter cold.
3. Add Wet Ingredients:
   • In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream, beaten egg, and vanilla extract (if using). Add this mixture to the flour and butter mixture.
4. Combine the Dough:
   • Gently mix the wet and dry ingredients until just combined. Gradually add the ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing just until the dough starts to come together. The dough should be soft and slightly sticky, but not wet.
5. Knead and Chill:
   • Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it gently a few times until it comes together into a ball. Flatten the dough into a disc, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or up to overnight) to allow the butter to firm up and the dough to rest.
6. Roll Out the Dough:
   • When ready to use, remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes to soften slightly. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to the desired thickness for your recipe (about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick).
7. Use as Desired:
   • Use this soft pastry dough for a variety of recipes, such as turnovers, Danish pastries, or tart shells. Fill with your favorite sweet or savory fillings and bake according to the specific recipe instructions.

Example: Apple Turnovers

Ingredients:

• 1 recipe Soft Pastry Dough (above)
• 2 large apples, peeled, cored, and diced
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the Oven:
   • Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Prepare the Filling:
   • In a medium bowl, combine the diced apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Toss to coat the apples evenly.
3. Roll and Cut the Dough:
   • On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry dough to about 1/8 inch thick. Cut the dough into 4-6 inch squares.
4. Fill the Turnovers:
   • Place a heaping tablespoon of the apple mixture in the center of each square. Fold the dough over to form a triangle or rectangle, and press the edges together to seal. Use a fork to crimp the edges.
5. Bake:
   • Transfer the turnovers to the prepared baking sheet. Brush the tops with the beaten egg and make a small slit on top of each turnover to allow steam to escape.
   • Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the turnovers are golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
6. Serve:
   • Allow the turnovers to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy them warm or at room temperature.

This soft pastry dough is incredibly versatile and can be adapted to a wide range of recipes, both sweet and savory. Enjoy experimenting with different fillings and shapes!