Basic Pie Dough

Just the basics. My mom's fool-proof recipe.

Makes one crust for a 9-inch pie pan or dish

Ingredients:

2/3 cup + 2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces, chilled

2 tablespoons ice water, or more as needed

Instructions:

1. Combine the flour and salt in a medium bowl. Add the butter and use a pastry blender or two knives to cut in the butter until it is the size of coarse crumbs.

2. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of the ice water over the top and stir with a fork. Gently knead the mixture with your hands until the dough holds together. If it is dry, add more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and continue kneading.

3. Shape into an oval disks, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 40 minutes.

4. Roll the chilled dough disk on a lightly floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness and about 11 inches in diameter. Gently roll the pastry around the rolling pin and transfer it to a 9-inch pie pan or dish. Without stretching the dough, fit it into the bottom and up the sides of the pan or dish.