Puff Pastry

Original recipe here.

My friends posted a recipe on their food blog showing how to make little hot pockets. The recipe called for puff pastry (which can be found in the freezer aisle) and so I decided to try to find a recipe to make some from scratch! This is the result. The whole process takes a while (with a lot of stopping and starting), but it is a lot easier than I thought it would be!

Prep Time: 1 hour and 40 min

Ingredients:

• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 cups water, or as needed
• 2 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature (That's A LOT of butter, but it helps it "puff." Some people suggested using less. I may try that next time)
  

Directions:

1. Mix the flour and salt together in a large bowl. Gradually stir in water until the dough holds together enough to clean the sides of the bowl. You may not need the full amount of water. Shape into a flat ball, and allow to rest for at least 10 minutes.
2. Place the butter between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound into a flat disc using a rolling pin or other heavy object. Refrigerate (or freeze) until firm, about 20 minutes.
3. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a large rectangle about 1/2 inch thick. Place the disc of chilled butter in the center and fold the two ends over it so that it is completely encased in dough. Roll out the dough again, taking care not to let the butter break through the dough, to about 1/2 inch thickness. Fold into thirds. This is the first ''turn''. Rotate the dough 90 degrees and roll out into a rectangle again. Fold into thirds. By this time the butter is starting to warm up. Place the dough on a baking sheet and mark it with two pokes from your finger (two turns). Wrap in plastic and refrigerate (or freeze) for at least 30 minutes.
4. Repeat this rolling, folding and turning two more times, then refrigerate (or freeze) until firm. Repeat two more times for a total of 6 ''turns''. Wrap in wax paper and refrigerate or freeze. The dough is now ready to roll out and use in any recipe calling for puff pastry. Roll the dough out as thin as 1/4 inch to make pastries. Bake in a preheated oven of at least 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) to get the maximum puff from your pastry.

Makes: 24

Look at those flakes!