My aunt's one comment about my pie crust changed everything

I brought a blueberry pie to Thanksgiving last year and my aunt said, "The filling is great but the crust tastes like cardboard." Ouch. She told me I was overworking the dough and making it tough. I started using ice water and barely mixing the butter in until I see pea-sized chunks. Now I chill the dough for 30 minutes before rolling it out too. First try after her advice came out flaky and tender. Anyone else get a blunt family member who actually helped with honest feedback?

2 comments

2 Comments

sanchez.pat9d ago

My neighbor gave me the SAME exact advice about pie dough after I brought a dry apple pie to a block party. She said "you're essentially making a biscuit, not a brick." It stung but she was totally right. Now I swear by that ice water trick, it's like night and day.

kelly_craig9d ago

My first three pie crusts could have been used as hockey pucks, I swear. The third one I actually dropped on the floor and it didn't even crack, it just stayed in one solid lump. That ice water trick was the thing that finally clicked for me too, along with not overworking the dough like it owes me money. Now I just try to handle it as little as possible and it actually turns out flaky most of the time.