Quick & Easy Sweet Pastry

Start by combining the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl.

Cut the butter into small pieces and add them to the dry mixture. Now, from my experience, here's an important tip: Make sure the butter is cold. It helps to make your pastry more flaky.

Mix the ingredients together until you get a sandy texture.

Gradually add ice water, start with a tablespoon at a time, mixing as you go. Often, people worry about quantity of water. However, in my experience, the goal is to achieve a dough that just comes together and isn’t too sticky.

Gather the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least an hour. I've discovered that this resting time allows the gluten to relax and results in that perfect flaky sweetness we are aiming for.

After the dough has chilled, roll it out on a lightly floured surface to fit your pie or tart pan. The thickness of the dough really depends on the recipe you're using it for, but as a general rule, a thickness of about 1/8-inch works well.

Once the pastry is in your pan, remember to prick the bottom with a fork to prevent it from puffing up during baking.

Bake in preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 25-30 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown.

The beauty of this Sweet Pastry recipe is its simplicity and versatility. Enjoy it with a fruit filling, custard, or even a dark chocolate ganache. It's an enjoyable indulgence that reliably delivers.