Puff and Shortcrust pastries are both types of baked goods made from a mixture of butter and flour, enriched with shortening. The dough for these pastries is typically refrigerated and then baked as needed. Despite their similarities, there are some differences between the two types of pastries.
Key Takeaways
- Puff pastry is light, tender, and puffy, while shortcrust pastry is denser and heavier.
- The puff in puff pastry is achieved through the creation of multiple layers, which rise during baking.
- Puff pastry has a higher butter content than shortcrust pastry and requires more skill to create the layers and apply the butter.
Puff Pastry
Puff pastry is named for its characteristic puffing or rising during baking, resulting in a light and tender finished product. It is made from butter, salt, flour, and water, and the dough is created with many layers that allow it to puff up during baking.
Shortcrust Pastry
Shortcrust pastry is a simpler and more popular type of pastry, often used for making tarts and quiches. It is made with the same four ingredients as puff pastry: flour, butter, salt, and water. The dough is rolled out and shortening is applied with the fingers.
In summary, while both puff and shortcrust pastries share some similarities, the main differences lie in their texture, structure, and butter content. Puff pastry is lighter and more tender, with multiple layers that rise during baking, while shortcrust pastry is denser and heavier, without the characteristic puffiness.
