Toughness in pastries and cakes could be caused by a few things, including too much dry ingredients in the mix, not enough butter, eggs that did not leven correctly, or over-baking.
Butter is what makes the crust flakey, instead of hard.
You probably handled it too much, or re-rolled it too much.
If the pastry is chilled, it is much easier to work with while rolling out, etc, and keeps it from being too sticky, requiring more flour (which would make it tough). Also, if it is chilled before putting in the oven, it creates steam, which helps the crust to be more tender and flaky.
Baking powder contains a combination of an acid and a base that react to produce carbon dioxide gas when moistened and heated. This gas creates bubbles, which help the pastry rise and achieve a light texture. However, using too much baking powder can lead to an overly dense or hard texture, as the excess gas can cause the structure to collapse or become tough. Additionally, insufficient mixing or inadequate liquid can inhibit the proper expansion of the pastry, resulting in a harder final product.
Shortening gives the pastry a crisp, light texture.
if you over handle your pastry it tends to get tougher or hard after you bake the mixture.
Flavor refers to the taste of the short crust pastry, which can be influenced by ingredients like butter, sugar, and salt. Texture, on the other hand, refers to the physical feel or mouthfeel of the pastry, such as its crumbly, flaky, or tender consistency. Flavor and texture work together to create a well-rounded pastry experience.
baked too long, baked too high a temp. Addition: If the pastry was tough then there could have been too much water in the mixture. Water aids the development of gluten, which makes pastry tough. It could also be because you "handled/kneaded or worked with" the pastry for too long. When making pie pastry, you must handle the pastry as little as possible.
They are massive, hard and tough in nature. They may resemble each other in terms of color and texture.
To achieve the perfect texture for your pie crust using a pastry blender, start by combining the flour and cold butter in a bowl. Use the pastry blender to cut the butter into the flour until it resembles coarse crumbs. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the crust tough. Gradually add cold water and mix until the dough comes together. Chill the dough before rolling it out for a flaky and tender pie crust.
A good substitute for puff pastry in a recipe is phyllo dough, which is thin and flaky like puff pastry but has a slightly different texture.
A suitable alternative for puff pastry in a recipe is phyllo dough, which is thin and flaky like puff pastry but has a slightly different texture.