Shortcrust pastry basic recipe

The perfect dough for crispy cookies and cake bases
Shortcrust pastry basic recipe

Shortcrust pastry is the jack-of-all-trades among doughs and super easy to make. Whether as a sweet Christmas pastry, cake base or for small tartelettes – its uses are many. To make it successful, you should follow the 3-2-1 rule. This represents the respective proportions of the ingredients for a sweet shortbread – flour, fat and sugar.

Its savory version is perfect for delicious quiches, onion cakes and hearty tartes. For this, omit the sugar and use two parts flour to one part fat. You’ll also add an extra egg.

  • Prep Time40 min
  • Cook Time15 min
  • Total Time55 min
  • Yield1 baking tray (650 g)
  • Serving Size55 g
  • Energy245 cal
  • Cuisine
    • französisch
  • Course
    • Gebäck
  • Cooking Method
  • Suitable for Diet
    • vegetarian

For the cookie dough

For the cookie dough

  • 300 g flour
  • 200 g butter
  • 100 g powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 egg

Required utensils

  • Stirrer
  • Mixing bowl
  • Cling film
  • Roll of dough
1
Put the butter, salt and sugar in a mixing bowl and mix with a mixer, then add the egg.
2
Then add the flour and knead a smooth dough with the beater.
3
Wrap the shortcrust pastry in plastic wrap and let it rest in a cold place for 30 minutes.
4
Afterwards you can roll out the dough and use it as a cake base or cut out cookies.
5
Bake for 10 to 15 minutes at 180 °C convection oven (200 °C upper-lower heat) until crispy.
Tip / Note:

Shortcrust pastry is sensitive to kneading for too long and to too much and too warm butter. If your dough gets burnt, it’s almost certainly due to one of these reasons.

  • Nährwerte

  • 12 servings per container
  • Serving Size55 g
  • Amount per serving
  • Calories245
  • % Daily Value*Standard DV
  • Total Fat14 g78 g17.95%
  • Cholesterol55 mg300 mg18.33%
  • Total Carbohydrate26.3 g275 g9.56%
  • Dietary Fiber0.7 g28 g2.5%
  • Total Sugars8.3 g
  • Protein3.2 g50 g6.4%
  • Calcium5.9 mg1300 mg0.45%
  • Iron0.2 mg18 mg1.11%
  • Potassium51.9 mg4700 mg1.1%
  • Vitamin A0.118 mcg900 mcg0.01%
  • Vitamin E (Tocopherol)0.5 IU33 IU1.52%
  • Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)0.0316 mg1.2 mg2.63%
  • Vitamin B12 (Cobalamine)0.415 mcg2.4 mcg17.29%
  • Phosphorus29.4 mg1250 mg2.35%
  • Iodine2.784 mcg150 mcg1.86%
  • Magnesium4.5 mg420 mg1.07%
  • Zinc0.2 mg11 mg1.82%
  • Manganese0.1 mg2.3 mg4.35%
  • Chloride24.7 mg2300 mg1.07%
  • Salz0.42 g6 g7%

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Tips and tricks for your shortcrust pastry

Shortcrust dough is one of the easiest doughs to make. However, there are some things you should keep in mind when processing and preparing it.

  • Replace 50 g of flour with finely ground almonds. This gives your dough a particularly delicate flavor.
  • Do not top your shortbread directly with wet fruit, as it will draw water and become soggy.
  • Shortcrust pastry is suitable for blind baking.
  • Shortcrust pastry can be frozen without any problems. It is best to use it as a thin slab so that it defrosts more quickly later.
  • Refined with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and lemon zest you get a simple basic dough for Spekulatius.

What flour is used for shortcrust pastry?

It can be made with different types of flour, but wheat flour type 405 is the most commonly used. This flour is fine and has a low gluten content, which provides the desired crumbly consistency. Alternatively, spelt flour type 630 can be used; for a gluten-free version, rice flour, buckwheat flour or a gluten-free flour blend are suitable.

What are the types of shortcrust pastry?

There are several types of shortbread, which differ mainly in the composition of ingredients. The best known are the sweet (with sugar and sometimes egg), the savory (with less sugar and more salt) and the curd-oil dough (with curd and oil instead of butter).

What is the best way to bake the dough?

Shortcrust pastry should be baked at medium heat, about 180-200°C (convection oven 160-180°C). Baking time varies depending on the thickness and size of the dough pieces, but is usually between 15 and 30 minutes. Make sure the dough is evenly golden brown and neither too dark nor too light.

How to roll out shortcrust pastry?

Before rolling out, it should be well cooled. Dust work surface and rolling pin with flour to prevent dough from sticking. Roll out the dough evenly until it reaches the desired thickness. If it is too sticky, it can be rolled out between two layers of plastic wrap or baking paper.

Where can I buy shortcrust pastry?

You can get it in most supermarkets and grocery stores in the refrigerated section. Make sure the dough is fresh and has no cracks or discoloration.

Which dough hook for shortcrust pastry?

For its preparation is recommended to use a dough hook or flat beater. These tools help to mix the ingredients evenly without overworking the dough and compromising its crumbly texture.

Which sugar to use?

For sweet shortbread, fine sugar (e.g. granulated sugar) is usually used. However, you can also use powdered sugar or brown sugar for a slightly different taste and texture. For a savory dough, the sugar content is reduced or omitted altogether.

Shortcrust pastry – what to look for?

When preparing, make sure the butter is cold and cut into small pieces before mixing it with the dry ingredients. Knead the dough just until the ingredients are well combined for the best crumbly consistency. Let the dough rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before rolling it out to make it easier to roll out and bake.

When to pre-bake the dough?

If it is used as a base for a cake or a pie with a moist filling, it should always be pre-baked. This prevents the dough base from becoming soggy and mushy. To pre-bake, prick the pastry base several times with a fork and bake at 180-200°C (convection oven 160-180°C) for about 10-15 minutes until lightly browned.

Baking shortcrust pastry – what temperature?

It should be baked ei medium heat, about 180-200°C (convection oven 160-180°C). This temperature allows for even baking and ensures that the dough becomes crisp and crumbly without drying out or burning.

What can you do with shortcrust pastry?

The dough is versatile and suitable for both sweet and savory dishes. Among the most popular uses are pies, quiches, cookies, cookies and as a base for cheesecakes or fruit tarts. The dough can also be refined with different spices, nuts or chocolate chips* to create new flavors.

Why is shortcrust pastry put under sponge cake dough?

It is often used as a base for a cookie to provide additional flavor and texture contrast. The shortbread creates a crisp, firm base that pairs well with the soft, fluffy sponge. The combination of both types of dough creates an interesting and balanced mouthfeel.

Why refrigerate shortcrust pastry?

Chilling shortbread dough before rolling and baking helps improve consistency and makes it easier to work with. Chilling makes the butter in the dough firmer, which makes the dough less sticky and easier to roll out. In addition, chilling helps to maintain the crumbly texture of the finished pastry, as the cold butter melts during baking and creates steam, which provides a crisp texture.

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