How to Do a Lattice Topping

Lattice toppings add simplistic elegance to the most basic of pies.

Lattice pie toppings consist of a crisscrossing framework of dough strips spaced evenly apart. Every other strip interweaves, creating a composed presentation simplistic in its design. Lattice toppings are as functional as they are decorative, as heat reaches the filling directly, caramelizing it as it cooks. Lattice toppings are easy to create, and keeping organized and placing the strips as uniformly apart as possible makes the process even simpler. Use only fresh, pliable dough for latticing for best results. Does this Spark an idea?

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10-oz. pie dough
All-purpose flour
Rolling pin
Pastry ruler
Pastry wheel

Instructions

- 1
  
  Flour the work surface and roll out the pie dough into a 13-inch-diameter round. Use a pastry ruler and a pastry wheel to cut the round into 1/2-inch strips.
- 2
  
  Remove every other strip of pie dough and place them 1-inch apart on the pie. Fold the first, third and fifth strips of dough over themselves halfway.
- 3
  
  Position one strip of dough over and perpendicular to the second and fourth strips and 1-inch from the edge of the pie. Unfold the first, third and fifth strips of dough. Fold the second and fourth strips over the perpendicular strip of dough to prepare for the next strip.
- 4
  
  Position another strip of dough 1-inch apart from the perpendicular strip of dough. Unfold the second and fourth strips over the second perpendicular strip. Fold the first, third and fifth strip back over the second perpendicular strip.
- 5
  
  Position another dough strip 1-inch apart from the second perpendicular strip and unfold the folded strips over it. Unfold the next group of strips back over the third perpendicular strip. Fold the second and fourth strips over the third perpendicular strip of dough.
- 6
  
  Position another strip of dough 1-inch apart from the third perpendicular strip of dough and unfold the folded strips over it. Fold the first, third and fifth strips back over the fourth perpendicular strip. This should complete the lattice work across the top of the pie. Clean up the edges so they don't hang over the side of the pie.