The Best All Butter Gluten Free Pastry No Xanthan Gum Recipes

GLUTEN FREE PASTRY

Steps:

• Add the flour, xanthan gum, salt (and sugar if using) to a large mixing bowl and stir together.
• Cut the COLD butter (and Cookeen/lard if using) into cubes and then add to the bowl. Using your fingers, rub the mix together until it resembles breadcrumbs.
• Crack the eggs into a bowl or mug and add the cold water. Whisk together until just combined. Then add to the mix and use a fork to start to 'mush' the mixture together. You'll see it start to form a sticky dough.
• Once it becomes harder to use the fork to mix, use your hands to bring the mixture together into a smooth dough. You should be able to pick this up easily without it being too sticky.
• Wrap the dough in clingfilm and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This is a really important stage - you need the dough to chill a bit so it is easier to roll!
• Roll the chilled dough between clingfilm to your desired thickness. I usually roll it to between 4-6mm for pies, tarts and quiches.
• Either cut the mini shapes using a pastry cutter, or transfer to a pie dish if making a quiche/pie before blind baking and/or filling.
• If you need a 'blind bake' in your pastry recipe, carefully use the rolling pin to lift the pastry into your pie dish. Don't worry about trimming any overhang yet.
• Use your fingers to press the sides of the pie into the ridges of the dish. Break off a small piece of the overhanging dough and roll into a ball - use this to press the pastry in further (it will stop your finger nails going through the pastry!).
• Gently push the overhanging pastry back over the pie dish so you have a couple of mm which are slightly thicker at the top of the pie crust. This will help to minimise any shrinking. Roll the rolling pin over the top of the dish and then remove any excess pastry and prick the bottom all over with a fork.
• Place a piece of baking paper over the top of the pastry and fill with baking beans (or dried rice/lentils).
• Bake in a preheated oven at 180'C / Fan 160'C / Gas Mark 4 for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the baking paper and beans, then bake for another 5-10 minutes until golden.
• Fill and bake the pastry case as per the individual recipe you're following - I have a few suggestions below this recipe card!
• For mini pies, roll the pastry to the desired thickness and use a pastry cutter to cut out the shapes you need. Re-roll any excess and repeat until all the pastry is used up. If it gets a little dry and crumbly, wet your hands slightly and work the pastry so it moistens a little. If it gets too sticky, chill it for 10-15 minutes before rolling.
• For a golden pie top, brush the pie lid with a beaten egg before cooking. For sweet pies you can then also sprinkle with a little sugar too!

THE BEST ALL-BUTTER GLUTEN-FREE PASTRY (NO XANTHAN GUM)

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl whisk together the sweet rice flour, sorghum flour, tapioca flour and salt.
• Slice the butter very thinly directly from the fridge and add to the flour.
• Rub the mixture between fingertips until roughly shorn. The mixture does not need to resemble breadcrumbs. It's okay that the butter is still in largish pieces. It should look quite shaggy in the flour.
• Make a well in the centre and pour in the eggs.
• Bring the dough together using your hands.
• Turn the pastry out on to a floured work surface and knead for about two minutes until the dough comes together into a smooth ball which is no longer sticky.
• Cut the pastry into two, one half slightly larger than the other.
• Roll each half into balls and flatten slightly to make two thick round discs. Wrap each in baking parchment.
• Place in the fridge for 1 hour to chill before rolling out.
• Cut two large pieces of baking parchment, around the size you need to roll the pastry out to. Flour them on the inside and place one of your chilled pastry discs between the parchment.
• Using a long rolling pin roll out the pastry until it is about 5mm thick.
• The pastry is then ready to use.