How to Make a Lattice on a Pastry
Whoever coined the term "easy as pie," likely never tried to make a homemade pie. Once you learn the tips to making a flawless, flaky piecrust, the next pastry mountain to climb is to create a classic lattice top for your homemade pie. Fortunately, creating latticework isn't as complicated as it looks. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Piecrust, divided for two-crust pie
- 8- or 9-inch pie plate
- Rolling pin
- Pastry board or bread board
- Sharp knife
- Cookie sheet or jelly roll pan
- Small bowl filled with water
Instructions
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1
Wash your hands before assembling your pie.
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2
Make sure you have enough crust for a two-crust pie.
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3
Line the pie plate with the bottom pastry, and trim the extra dough so it hangs about 1 inch over the side. Fill your pastry shell with the pie filling.
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4
Roll out the top crust into a 12-inch square on your pastry board. Your pastry should be about 1/8- to 1/4-inch thick.
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5
Cut the dough into 1/2-inch-wide lengths, which will create 20 strips. Depending on how you want the weave to look, you can use all or just some of the strips. If you don't use all of the pastry for the top, roll the remaining strips into a ball, and place them in a resealable bag before refrigerating or freezing for later use.
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6
Turn the jelly roll pan over so the back faces the ceiling.
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7
Place 10 of the strips vertically on the back of the pan, leaving a small space between the strips. Fold back every other strip by 11 inches, so five of the strips are folded back.
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8
Place the first horizontal strip over the five long strips so it touches the folds of the vertical pastry strips. Unfold the five folded strips by approximately 1 inch so they cover the first horizontal strip.
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9
Continue weaving the remaining nine horizontal strips until the folded strips are unfolded to their original length and a lattice weave is created.
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10
Dip your fingers into the water bowl and gently press the overlapping edges of the latticework together.
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11
Place the pan in the refrigerator until the latticework is firm.
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12
Remove the pan from the refrigerator and hold it so the far edge of the pan is just above your filled pie pan.
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13
Lower the far edge of the lattice onto the far edge of the pie plate and pull the jelly roll pan out from under the latticework so it gently lowers onto the pie.
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14
Trim any extra pastry pieces so the latticework is just slightly longer than the plate.
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15
Fold the edge of the bottom crust up and over the latticework edges to conceal them. Flute or decorate the pie edge and cook the appropriate amount of time.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If you want to create a different lattice flourish, twist each strip as you place and weave it.
You can create a simple latticework by laying a horizontal set of strips on the pie, followed by vertical strips directly on top, without weaving the lattice.
If you have time, make or buy enough crust for two double-crust pies, and practice your latticework on the practice pie.
If the pastry does not weave easily, it may be too soft, so refrigerate it for about 15 to 20 minutes until it is firm enough.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
