All–Butter Pie Dough

A classic, flaky pie dough made with cold butter, flour, and a touch of red wine vinegar for tenderness. This recipe yields enough for a double-crust pie or two single-crust pies.

2 servings
53 min

Ingredients

  • sticks unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • ½ cup cold water
  • cups all-purpose flour
  • teaspoons kosher salt
  • ½ tablespoon granulated sugar

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Cut the butter into 1/2-inch (13-mm) cubes. Freeze 5 Tbsp. (70 grams) for 20 minutes or overnight; chill the remaining 1 1/8 sticks in the refrigerator until ready to use.

    20 min

  2. 2.

    Stir the red wine vinegar into the cold water and set aside.

    1 min

  3. 3.

    Combine the flour, salt, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor and pulse 5 or 6 times to combine.

    2 min

  4. 4.

    Add the chilled butter and mix for 25 to 30 seconds, until the mixture resembles coarse meal.

    1 min

  5. 5.

    Add the frozen butter and pulse 15 to 20 times, until the butter is in pea-sized pieces.

    1 min

  6. 6.

    Add 6 tablespoons of the vinegar water and pulse 6 times. The dough should start to look crumbly. Test the dough by squeezing a small amount in the palm of your hand. If it easily holds together, it is done. If not, add 1/2 Tbsp. of the vinegar water and pulse 3 more times. Repeat this process as needed until the dough holds together.

    3 min

  7. 7.

    Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead together until smooth; dough should never come together in the food processor.

    5 min

  8. 8.

    Divide the dough into 2 equal parts and roll each into a ball. Flatten the balls slightly and wrap separately in plastic wrap. Let the dough rest in the refrigerator until ready to use, at least 20 minutes but preferably overnight.

    20 min