How to Cut Butter Into Pastry

Cut the cold butter into thin slices.

When you are baking pastry, the directions often call for butter to be cut into the pastry dough. While there are devices known as pastry blenders that are specifically designed for this job, you can also cut butter into the pastry dough using tools you already have in your kitchen. Start with cold butter, which you have just removed from the refrigerator. Does this Spark an idea?

Print this article

Cutting board
Knife
Fork

Instructions

- 1
  
  Place the amount of unwrapped cold butter that you need on a cutting board.
- 2
  
  Cut the butter into fourths through the width. Cutting the butter into segments allows you to keep it colder for longer periods of time as you cut it.
- 3
  
  Cut the butter into slices that are about 1/16 inch thick.
- 4
  
  Scatter the slices into your pastry dough.
- 5
  
  Cut the butter by pressing it to the sides of the bowl with a fork. This creates smaller crumbs. Clean the fork off against the rim of the bowl often to prevent it from becoming clogged.
- 6
  
  Continue cutting the butter until the dough mixture has a crumbling texture.