The Scientific Difference Between Pie Crust And Puff Pastry

When baking the most delectable dessert or savory treat, having a great base is vital. This often comes in the form of a flaky, buttery crust. From pies to pastries, the dough that is used for this base is often made of the same simple ingredients: flour, water, and butter. However, when it comes to puff pastry vs. pie dough, there is one huge difference: How the butter is distributed throughout the dough. 

For puff pastry, cold butter is placed down on the dough and then layered and folded many times; for pie crust, cold butter cubes are just mixed into the flour mixture (you can use a fork or food processor to do this). This is why, as the name implies, the puff pastry dough physically puffs up while baking to create thin, flaky layers, while pie crust remains a more uniform, denser base without any layers. 

Now that you're aware of the main difference between these types of dough, you can decide how to go about your next baking session. Some recipes, such as this one for flaky pie crust, take a bolder approach to the typical ingredients featured in its dough, with steps such as adding salt, sugar, and even vodka to help moisten the dough and keep it tender. Below are some more tips on how to utilize your dough and what recipes to use it for.

Puff pastry can be used for a variety of baked goods, sweet or savory. It's most recommended for treats like apple turnovers, tarts, hand pies, and anything where you want those thin layers to stand out. There are loads of other recipes where puff pastry can be used, including a fun riff on pizza.

And of course, pie crust can be used for more than just pies, including in recipes for empanadas, quiches, crackers, sugar cookies, and even DIY poptarts! Both of these types of dough are pretty versatile, it just depends on preference. There are certain pie crusts you can use for specific recipes, such as using a herby, seasoned mix for savory pies, or even switching to a graham cracker/cookie crust for a no-bake pie.

You can even swap pie dough for puff pastry if you're looking to switch things up or create a certain texture, even if it's not what's expected. For example, you can use puff pastry as a top layer for chicken pot pie, which can create a lighter feel while still retaining all of the same comfort. Making these doughs may sound intimidating, but once you get the hang of the preparation and mixing, the quality and taste of a homemade puff pastry dough or pie crust will thank you later.