Basic Tart Crust

Ingredients:

• 1 1 /2 cups cake flour
• 1 tsp. granulated sugar
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 4 tbsp. cold unsalted butter, diced
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 tbsp. ice water

Makes 8 Servings (1/8 of tart crust per serving)

1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. With a pastry blender or two knives, cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the egg yolk, then the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough begins to form. Briefly knead the dough with the heel of your hand on a smooth surface. Shape the dough into a disk and wrap it in plastic wrap; refrigerate at least 1 hour.
2. On a floured surface, roll out the dough into a 12-inch circle. Fit the dough into a 9-inch tart pan, pressing to fit, rolling the dough over to form a rim, and trimming off any excess. Freeze 20 minutes. Prick the bottom with a fork.
3. Preheat the oven to 400 F. Line the crust with aluminum foil; fill with dried beans. Bake until crust is set, about 15 minutes; remove the foil and beans. Bake until golden, 10-12 minutes longer. Cool on a rack.

WW POINTS VALUE: 3 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW  New Complete Cookbook. This is a cheap and tasty alternative to a store-bought crust. This tart recipe can be used for sweet pies or tarts. You can omit the sugar in this recipe and the tart crust will still be good.