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Home Ā» Food Ā» By Ingredient Ā» Bread Ā» Rough Puff Pastry

Rough Puff Pastry

December 4, 2021 by Kimberly Killebrew Ā· 16 Comments

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This Rough Puff Pastry recipe is MUCH quicker and easier to make than classic puff pastry and produces beautifully flaky, buttery results!Ā  You can freeze it so you always have it on hand and use it in any recipe that calls for puff pastry.

rough puff pastry recipe easy

WHAT IS ROUGH PUFF PASTRY?

Rough puff pastry is exactly that – rough.Ā  In other words, it’s not quite as delicate or as intricately layered as traditional puff pastry but it’s still pretty darn amazing and is also vastly less work.Ā  Classic puff pastry takes several hours to make compared to about 30 minutes of active prep time (not counting the freezing time) to make rough puff pastry.

Unlike classic puff pastry where you roll a large solid slab of butter into the dough, rough puff pastry dices the butter into small 1/2 inch pieces and incorporates it that way.Ā  Advocates of this method maintain that using the larger chunks of butter produces a flakier end result.Ā Ā An alternative method involves pulsing the butter and flour in a food processor to get coarse crumbs, similar to making pie crust.Ā  Both methods work well and you can choose either one.

In short, rough puff pastry is easier and quicker to make than classic puff pastry and works beautifully for any recipe calling for puff pastry.

Can You Freeze Rough Puff Pastry?

Yes, you can!Ā  Wrap it very well and tightly in plastic wrap, place it in a ziplock freezer bag, and freeze for up to a month.Ā  When you’re ready to use it let it thaw at room temp and then proceed with your recipe.Ā  Be sure the dough is still very cold when you use it.

pasteis de nata rough puff pastry recipe

Ā© Viennetta | Dreamstime

Rough Puff Pastry Recipe

Let’s get started!

There are two methods for making rough puff pastry and you can choose whichever suits you.

The first method is pictured below.Ā  Add the chunks of butter to the flour and simply toss them with flour, then add the water and start working the dough with your hands until it comes together in a rough, chunky massĀ  (the large chunks of butter will remain in the dough).Ā  Then proceed with rolling out the dough.Ā  Advocates of this method maintain that using the larger chunks of butter produces a flakier end result.

The other method is to pulse the chunks of butter and flour in a food processor until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs, then add the water and work the dough until it comes together.Ā  The proceed with rolling out the dough.

Both methods work very well, your choice.

adding butter to flour

add water to butter and flour

Work very quickly when rolling out the dough so that the butter doesn’t get too soft and smear.

Roll the dough out into a rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick.Ā  Use a pastry cutter or similar to straighten out the sides of the dough.

roll out the dough

Fold the top of the rectangle (the short side) down to the middle of the rectangle.Ā  Then fold the bottom half up over the top half, folding it like a letter.

Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for 20 minutes.

rough puff pastry recipe easy

Repeat the process again at least 4 times and up to as many times as you like, wrapping and freezing each time.Ā  It’s critical that the butter in the dough stays very cold so don’t skip the freezing step.

rough puff pastry recipe easy

Each time the process is repeated the dough will become smoother and more and more refined.

After the final time of rolling, fold the dough like a letter again, wrap very tightly in plastic wrap, and store either in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze (place the wrapped dough in a freezer bag) for up to a month.Ā  When you’re ready to use it simply remove it from the freezer and let it thaw on the counter.

rough puff pastry recipe easy

Use your rough puff pastry in any recipe calling for puff pastry.Ā  Be sure to chill the pastry for at least one hour before using it.

Enjoy!

rough puff pastry recipe easy

Be sure to also try our

ULTIMATE Lard Pie Crust!Ā 

pie crust recipe best homemade shortcrust pastry butter lard

rough puff pastry recipe easy

Rough Puff Pastry

Kimberly Killebrew
Rough puff pastry is much quicker and easier to make than classic puff pastry and produces beautifully flaky, buttery results. Use it in any recipe that calls for puff pastry.
Print Recipe
5 from 10 votes
Prep Time 30 mins
Total Time 2 hrs 50 mins
Course Pastry
Cuisine French
Calories 1784 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 1/4 cups (155 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 sticks (170 g) chilled unsalted butter , cut into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 6-8 tablespoons (80-118 ml) ice water

Instructions
 

  • There are two methods for making rough puff pastry and you can choose whichever suits you.
    The first method is pictured in the blog post above.Ā  Add the chunks of butter to the flour and simply toss them with flour, then add the water and start working the dough with your hands until it comes together in a rough, chunky massĀ (the large chunks of butter will remain in the dough).Ā  Then proceed with rolling out the dough.Ā  Advocates of this method maintain that it produces flakier end results.
    The other method is to pulse the chunks of butter and flour in a food processor until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs, then add the water and work the dough until it comes together.Ā  The proceed with rolling out the dough.
    Both methods work, your choice.
  • For the following steps work very quickly when rolling out the dough so that the butter doesn't get too soft and smear.
    Roll the dough out into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick on a lightly flour work surface. Use a pastry cutter or similar to straighten out the sides of the dough.
    Fold the short side of the rectangle down to the middle.Ā  Then fold the bottom half up over the top half, folding it like a letter (see blog post for pictured illustrations).
    Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for 20 minutes.
    Repeat the process again at least 4 times and up to as many times as you like, wrapping and freezing each time.Ā  It's critical that the butter in the dough stays very cold so don't skip the freezing step.
    After the final time of rolling, fold the dough like a letter again, wrap very tightly in plastic wrap, and store either in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze (place the wrapped dough in a freezer bag) for up to a month.Ā When you're ready to use it simply remove it from the freezer and let it thaw on the counter.
    Use your rough puff pastry in any recipe calling for puff pastry. Be sure to chill the pastry for at least one hour before using it.Ā 
    Makes about 1 pound rough puff pastry.

Nutrition

Calories: 1784kcal | Carbohydrates: 119g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 139g | Saturated Fat: 87g | Cholesterol: 364mg | Sodium: 1795mg | Potassium: 208mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 4236IU | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 7mg
Keyword Easy, Puff Pastry, Quick, Rough Puff Pastry
Tried this recipe? Mention @daringgourmet or hashtag #daringgourmet

Originally published on The Daring Gourmet on December 18, 2020

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16 Comments →

« Dosa (South Indian Crepes)
Ultimate Lard Pie Crust »

16 Responses

  1. Susan F Lostetter says

    August 23, 2021 at 4:50 pm

    Ok I’m ready to take my dough out of the freezer for the 4th time and it still has large chunks of butter in it. Do I keep rolling it and make it thinner? The butter refuses to incorporate, very stubborn!

    Reply
  2. Ruth says

    December 28, 2020 at 1:49 pm

    Can you also use a little almond flour in place of some of the regular flour?

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      December 28, 2020 at 4:42 pm

      Hi Ruth, you can (Keto recipes use it) but just know that it will compromise the texture and flakiness.

      Reply
  3. Suzanne says

    December 27, 2020 at 4:42 pm

    Could I use this recipe for my pie crust?

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      December 27, 2020 at 5:10 pm

      Hi Suzanne, you can use it for any recipe that calls for puff pastry, so if the pie is for a puff pastry base then yes. Alternatively you can try my recipe for Ultimate Pie Crust.

      Reply
  4. Patricia says

    December 21, 2020 at 7:24 pm

    How great to have a recipe for homemade puff pastry! So many goodies to make with this!

    Reply
  5. Beth says

    December 21, 2020 at 2:13 pm

    You make this look so darn easy. I might have to give this a try!

    Reply
  6. Sandra says

    December 21, 2020 at 11:40 am

    This is so good!! My kids enjoyed baking and eating!

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      December 21, 2020 at 12:20 pm

      I’m so glad, Sandra, thank you!

      Reply
  7. Catalina says

    December 20, 2020 at 2:47 pm

    It seems so easy to make puff pastry with your recipe! I will definitely try it!

    Reply
  8. Toni says

    December 19, 2020 at 9:19 am

    This is one of those things I never imagined I could make myself at home! All the photos were so helpful and made sure I was on track until the end. Delicious!

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      December 19, 2020 at 2:57 pm

      Thanks so much, Toni, I’m so happy it was a success!

      Reply
  9. Jen says

    December 19, 2020 at 6:18 am

    I have never once thought to make my own but I honestly thought it would be more difficult. Thank you for making the process so easy and breaking it down so I have the confidence to try.

    Reply
  10. Ginny says

    December 19, 2020 at 12:25 am

    I love having this recipe. Anything that makes puff pastry a little quicker to make is a good thing. Your photos instructions are very good too.

    Reply
  11. Michelle says

    December 18, 2020 at 8:39 pm

    This is something that normally I wouldn’t even attempt, but you make it look do-able!

    Reply
  12. Erin says

    December 18, 2020 at 5:44 pm

    This Rough Puff Pastry recipe is looks absolutely fabulous! Yummy!

    Reply

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kimberly killebrew the daring gourmet

Welcome!Ā  I’m Kimberly and I share delicious originals, revitalized classics and authentic dishes from around the world.Ā  Come travel the world through your taste buds!

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