Is puff pastry the same as pie crust?

Category: food and drink desserts and baking
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When puff pastry is baked, the layers begin to separate and “puff”. The remaining tiny pieces of butter help to make a pie crust flaky when cooked, but the resulting pie crust is much thicker and sturdier than a puff pastry. Pie crusts provide a more solid bite and thus foundation to hold pie fillings.



Likewise, people ask, can I substitute pie crust for puff pastry?

Pie Crust. You'll never duplicate the height or flakiness of puff pastry with a piecrust, but you can give your homemade pie crust recipe a flakier finish by keeping the butter in larger pieces and using the "roll, fold, roll" technique used for making puff pastry.

Additionally, what is the difference between choux pastry and puff pastry? Puff pastry is a layered pastry that has three ingredients: flour, water and butter. Choux pastry is very different. You boil water (or milk, or both), butter, salt and sugar, add flour to it and cook it in a pot until it's firm.

Beside this, can I use puff pastry for pie base?

If you want to do a puff pastry one, don't do it in a pie dish - do it on a baking sheet instead and get the sheet nice and hot first. Oh and I've only done this with quite dry fillings. I'd use short crust pastry (blind baked) for the base and puff for the top.

What can you use instead of pie crust?

6 creative pie crust alternatives, because sometimes, life's too short for rolling out dough.

  1. Cookie Crumb Pie Crust. Making crusts from cookie crumbs is a classic baking hack.
  2. Phyllo Dough Pie Crust.
  3. Rice Pie Crusts.
  4. Saltine Pie Crust.
  5. Cookie Dough Pie Crust.
  6. Store-Bought Pie Crust.

28 Related Question Answers Found

Can I use frozen puff pastry for pie crust?

5 Ways to Turn a Box of Frozen Puff Pastry Into Breakfast
If you're blind-baking a pie or tart shell and want to keep the inside from rising as much as the edges, use a fork to prick the surface of the dough (like you would a regular pie crust).

What is the difference between pie crust and tart crust?

Now, for a little lesson on the differences between them. A pie is a sweet or savory dish with a crust and a filling. A tart is a sweet or savory dish with shallow sides and only a bottom crust. Tart crusts are usually made from pastry dough: traditionally flour, unsalted butter, cold water, and sometimes sugar.

Can I use phyllo dough in place of puff pastry?

Due to the big differences in thickness, their ingredients, and how they're made, you should not substitute phyllo dough for puff pastry or vice versa. They are very different pastries with differing textures, and recipes will turn out best if you use the correct one.

What is the difference between shortcrust pastry and puff pastry?

The difference between puff pastry and shortcrust pastry is that puff pastry contains more fat and requires an elaborate dough-folding technique that creates dozens of layers during baking. Shortcrust pastry is thick, hardy, and does not puff or separate into layers.

Can I substitute shortcrust pastry for puff pastry?


Shortcrust is fine to substitute, but it will be heavier. Puff pastry is used to create a lighter style of pie.

How do you avoid a soggy bottom?

Prevent a Soggy Bottom Pie Crust
  1. Bake it Blind.
  2. Choose a Rack.
  3. Brush the Bottom.
  4. Use a Cookie Sheet.
  5. Make a Thicker Crust.
  6. Add a Layer.
  7. Fill It While It's Hot.

How do you keep puff pastry from getting soggy?

1. Blind Bake. The most common way to ward off a soggy pie crust is by a process called blind baking. Blind baking means you pre-bake the crust (sometimes covered with parchment or foil and weighed down with pie weights to prevent the crust from bubbling up) so that it sets and crisps up before you add any wet filling.

How long do I blind bake puff pastry for?

Line the tart tin with baking parchment and fill with ceramic baking beans or dried pulses. Bake for about 15 minutes or until the pastry is firm, then remove the beans and cook for about 5 minutes more, until golden brown and biscuity. Trim off any excess using a small serrated knife before filling.

Why does my puff pastry not puffing?

Baking at the Right Temperature
One of the most common reasons that your puff pastry didn't rise is the baking temperature. Puff pastry needs to be baked in a very hot oven of about 400 degrees. This high heat is necessary to create enough steam in the oven, so the dough rises.

What temperature do you cook puff pastry?


It just doesn't work. Baking temperatures vary. Most pastry chefs agree with the instructions on the box -- bake puff pastry at a high temperature for a short time, usually at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes. When the pastry is high and golden brown, it is done.

Should a pie have a pastry base?

Wulf says the Oxford English Dictionary defines a pie as “a baked dish of fruit, or meat or vegetables, typically with a top and base of pastry”. However, my Sixth edition of the OED describes a pie as “encased in or covered with pastry”. The online version of the OED says a pie “frequently also has a base and sides”.

Why is my pastry tough?

A tough or gummy pastry is basically due to the fact that too much gluten has developed. This can be caused by a few factors, such as overmixing or over-kneading, there not being enough fat, the addition of too much flour, or too much liquid.

Can you eat raw puff pastry?

The short answer is no. Eating raw dough made with flour or eggs can make you sick. Raw dough may contain bacteria such as E. coli or Salmonella.

How do you keep profiteroles crisp?


Store the puffs in an airtight container for up to 2 days and re-crisp them in a low oven for 5 minutes on the day you intend to use them (let them cool before filling). For the filling we suggest you use a creme patissiere rather than just whipped cream. You can find plenty of creme patissiere recipes on-line.

What raising agent is used in puff pastry?

Steam acts as the raising agent in puff and flaky pastries.

Why is strong flour used in choux pastry?

Choux pastry is the lightest, crispiest, airiest pastry, which can be used to make profiteroles, éclairs or savoury gougères. To make about 30 choux buns you will need 2½ oz (60 g) of strong plain flour, which, with its higher gluten content, gives crisper results than ordinary soft, plain flour.