Gluten-Free Shortcrust Pastry

My Gluten-Free Sweet Shortcrust Pastry will be a great addition to your baking, and you will be delighted by how easy it is to make. It contains readily available ingredients which come together to form a pastry that is easy to handle and is buttery and flaky when baked.

Rolled pastry, between two sheets of baking paper, with a rolling pin alongside.

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Why we love this recipe:
Ingredients in this recipe:
Step by step instructions:
Tips for success and FAQs:
More delicious recipes for you to try:
Gluten-Free Shortcrust Pastry

Why we love this recipe:

If you are daunted by the thought of making your own pastry, let me assure you, this recipe is not difficult to make. As always, homemade is best. The pastry does not contain artificial or unnecessary ingredients which may be in commercial varieties. As well, we have a step-by-step guide and video to help you achieve the best result.

We love this Gluten-Free Shortcrust Pastry recipe because:

It contains ingredients that are readily available in the supermarket.
The dough comes together easily in the food processor.
It is buttery and flaky, flexible and easy to handle.
It will be a great addition to your gluten-free baking. There will be many ways to use it.

Ingredients in this recipe:

Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.

Gluten-free plain/all-purpose flour – our gluten-free flour blends contain either xanthan or guar gum to stabilise and provide structure to our recipes. If your flour blend already contains either of these gums, there is no need to add more. Not all gluten-free flour blends are equal. It may take trial and error to find one which you like.

Sugar – for a touch of sweetness.

Baking powder – aids the texture of the pastry. Ensure your baking powder is gluten-free. It is not the same as bicarbonate/baking soda.

Salt - coarse kitchen salt, not table salt. A small amount brightens flavours.

Unsalted butter – adds richness and flakiness.

Sour cream – full fat, helps make the pastry richer and flakier as well as easier to work with.

Iced water – to bring the dough together.

Egg - for egg washing the pastry - optional, but recommended.

Step by step instructions:

Steps 1-4 of preparing this recipe in a photo collage - the butter and flour in a food processor, adding the sour cream, slowly adding the water to the mix, and bringing the dough together on some cling film.

Steps 5-6 of preparing this recipe in a photo collage - a square of pastry and the pastry rolled between two sheets of baking paper.

Prepare all the ingredients before you start. The butter and sour cream need to be chilled so measure them out just before you begin.

In a glass or small bowl, add some ice to a quarter cup of water and set it aside.

Add the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt to the bowl of a large food processor. Pulse twice to combine the ingredients. Add the butter and pulse until the butter is about the size of a pea.
Add the sour cream and pulse until just combined.
Start the processor, and with the machine running, gradually add iced water through the feed tube until the dough starts to come together and is damp. Add the water slowly, being careful to not make the pastry wet and sticky. Test by squeezing some with your fingers to see if it will come together. If not, add a teaspoon at a time until it does. If it becomes too wet and you need to add extra flour it will negatively affect the texture.
Turn the dough onto a piece of cling wrap and bring it together with your hands.
When the ingredients are thoroughly incorporated, flatten into a block and smooth with your hands, turning it over once or twice and making sure there are no cracks. Wrap in the cling wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Remove from the refrigerator about 10 minutes before you want to use it. Place the pastry between two sheets of non-stick baking paper to roll. This will avoid adding extra flour. With your rolling pin, start at the centre of the block of pastry and roll away from you. Give the pastry a quarter turn and repeat this procedure. Work quickly and evenly, occasionally lifting the baking paper, then return it to the surface of the pastry and turn the pastry over. Doing this occasionally helps to roll the pastry evenly and keep it from sticking to the baking paper.

Depending on how you are using the pastry, it may be easier to work with if you cut it in half. I do this when making Mince Pies.

The pastry needs to be kept cold. If it becomes warm as you are working, cover it and return to the fridge to chill.

Pastry tops being cut out for mince pies.

Tips for success and FAQs:

The most important tip that I can give you is to make sure that your ingredients are cold and to keep the pastry cold throughout, returning it to the fridge as you work, if necessary. Handle it as little as possible so that the butter does not melt into the flour.

When re-rolling leftover pieces of pastry, don’t roughly squash them, stack the pieces on top of each other before rolling. This way, the pastry will not toughen.

To avoid using additional flour which would toughen the pastry, I recommend rolling the pastry between two sheets of non-stick baking paper. Further details are in the recipe.

Can I use the pastry as soon as I have made it?

The pastry needs to chill in the fridge for 1 hour to allow the flour to hydrate and to firm up, making it easier to use.

Can I use margarine?

For this pastry, my preference is butter. Firstly, it will provide the best flavour. As well, a soft spread, such as margarine, could make the pastry difficult to handle.

Why is my pastry hard and crumbly?

When making Gluten-Free Shortcrust Pastry, it is often necessary to add a small amount of water to hydrate the flour and prevent the pastry from crumbling when you roll it. The amount of water required is dependent on several factors; the type of flour, the humidity and the type of fat used. It is important to add water slowly until the dough just starts to come together. Test by pressing a small amount between your fingertips. If it is still crumbly, gradually add water a teaspoon at a time, just enough so the dough feels damp but is not sticky. If you add too much water and you need to add flour, it will make the pastry tough.

Can pastry be chilled for too long?

If necessary, you can chill it for 24 hours. Let it sit out of the fridge for about 30 minutes before you attempt to roll it or it will crack.

Can I freeze the pastry?

Yes, you can freeze the pastry for up to 2 months. Ensure it is wrapped well in clingfilm to prevent freezer burn. Defrost the pastry overnight in the fridge prior to using it.

Square of pastry, sitting on some baking paper, with a rolling pin alongside.

More delicious recipes for you to try:

You can find many more recipes to try in our collection of Gluten-Free Recipes.

Follow this recipe for our Gluten-Free Pastry and Homemade Fruit Mince to make delicious Gluten-Free Mince Pies.

You will discover many ways in which to use my sweet Gluten-Free Shortcrust Pastry. I look forward to hearing from you when you try it.

Alex xx

I have adapted this recipe from one found on Delish.