All-Buttah Pie Dough = Perfectly Flaky Pie Crust | The Book On Pie | Erin Jeanne McDowell

Start by cutting the cold butter into ½ inch cubes. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Add the cubes of butter, tossing them through the flour until each piece is well coated. Cut the butter into the flour by pressing the pieces between your fingers, flattening them into big shards. As you work, continue to toss the butter through the flour, recoating the shingled pieces. If you have warm hands, you may want to use a pastry cutter. Take care to ensure that all the cubes of butter are fully coated in flour as you work.  

For a flaky crust, continue cutting the butter into the flour just until the pieces of butter are about the size of walnut halves. 

Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Add in the ice water. (Different types, or even brands, of flour hydrate differently so it is difficult to give a precise amount that will work every time; consider the base amount given as a solid jumping off point, knowing that you will almost always need to add more.) Using your hands, toss the flour with the water to start to mix the two together (this begins to combine them without creating too much gluten). As the flour beings to hydrate, you can switch to more of a kneading motion, but don’t overdo it, or the dough will be tough. Then add more water, about 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough is properly hydrated. It should be uniformly combined and hold together easily, but it shouldn't look totally smooth. Dough that is too dry may have sort of a “dusty” appearance or pockets of un-hydrated flour; it will not hold together and will look crumbly. Dough that is too wet will feel sticky or tacky to the touch, and it is often smoother and/or lighter in color than properly hydrated dough.

Form the dough into a disk and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using.