Shortcrust Pastry Baskets

Shortcrust pastry baskets are a versatile and delicious preparation, perfect to be filled with custard cream, fresh fruit, or whatever you prefer.

Ingredients

• 250 grams of type 00 flour
• 125 grams of cold butter, cubed
• 100 grams of powdered sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 pinch of salt
• Grated zest of 1 lemon (optional, for flavoring)

Preparation

1. In a large bowl or on a pastry board, mix the flour with the powdered sugar and the pinch of salt.
2. Add the cold cubed butter and quickly work the ingredients with the tips of your fingers until the mixture becomes sandy.
3. Make a well in the center and add the egg and the grated lemon zest. Work the dough until it forms a smooth, homogeneous ball.
4. Wrap the shortcrust pastry in cling film and let it rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
5. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
6. Roll out the shortcrust pastry to a thickness of about 5 mm. With a pastry cutter or a glass, cut out discs of dough and place them inside muffin tins or paper cases, pressing well into the bottom and sides.
7. Prick the bottom with the tines of a fork. This step is necessary to prevent the base from swelling during baking.
8. Bake the shortcrust pastry baskets in the preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes, until golden.
9. Remove from the oven and let cool completely before removing them from the molds.

Once the baskets are cold, you can fill them with your favorite cream, jam or fresh fruit. If you want an Italian variant, you could add some sweetened ricotta to the filling, maybe with the addition of chocolate chips or chopped pistachios.

Curiosity

Shortcrust pastry baskets are an ideal base to create spoon desserts in individual portions. The pastry, whose origins are lost in baking tradition, is loved all over the world thanks to its versatility and buttery, crumbly taste, and can be flavored in various ways according to personal taste or the filling that will be used.