The Clever Butter Hack You Need To Try For Flakier Baked Goods

For flakier baked goods, a clever butter hack can transform your pastries and doughs into layers of flaky perfection. The secret lies in using frozen butter and grating it directly into your flour mixture. This technique ensures that small, consistent pieces of butter are evenly distributed throughout the dough. As the dough bakes, the butter melts, creating steam pockets that expand and result in a light, flaky texture. To try this hack, first freeze a stick of butter until it is solid, then use a box grater to shred it into your bowl of dry ingredients. Gently toss the grated butter with flour to coat the pieces evenly before adding any liquid. This method is especially useful for making pie crusts, biscuits, and scones, where the tender layers are highly desired. By keeping the butter cold and in small pieces, you ensure that it doesn’t fully incorporate into the flour, allowing the dough to maintain its structure during baking. This simple yet effective technique elevates the quality of your baked goods, producing a texture that is both light and flavorful, making every bite a delightful experience.
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Grate your butter for great bakes

The metal box grater you typically use to sprinkle Parmesan on your pasta is actually a versatile kitchen tool. This handy gadget can also be employed to grate root vegetables, shred cauliflower, chop hard-boiled eggs for egg salad, and mince cucumbers for dips. Most importantly, your reliable cheese grater is excellent for preparing cold butter to be incorporated into dough.

For extra flaky pastries, place a stick or two of butter in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. When you're ready to make perfectly puffed pastries, use your box grater to create small butter shards. This method is similar to the fraisage technique, where bakers use the heel of their hand to blend butter into thin layers within the dough. Be sure to work quickly while grating the butter, as taking too long can cause it to warm up. For an added chill, you might want to put your grated butter back in the freezer while you prepare the rest of your ingredients. Once grated, these tiny butter pieces mix easily into your dough and help keep it cool until it's time to bake.

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