My aunt told me my pie crust was 'cardboard' and it stung but she was right

So back in October I brought a pumpkin pie to Thanksgiving at my aunt Linda's house in Phoenix. I thought it was solid but she took one bite and said 'honey this crust tastes like cardboard'. Ouch. But she's a pastry chef so I had to listen. She told me I was overworking the dough and not using cold enough butter. I switched to cutting my butter into pea sized pieces and chilling everything including my bowl and hands. Also started using a bench scraper instead of my hands to mix. First few tries were still tough but after maybe 5 attempts I got a flaky crust that actually held up. Still not as good as hers but way better than before. Has anyone else had a family member totally roast their baking and then teach them something that stuck?

2 comments

2 Comments

shah.evan9d ago

Yeah totally with you @reeseanderson, the specific advice is what made the difference. My aunt could have just said "it sucks" but she walked me through the cold butter trick and that bench scraper method step by step. That kind of tough love from someone who actually bakes for a living is worth more than a thousand YouTube tutorials.

reeseanderson9d ago

That's the thing about brutal honesty from someone who actually knows their stuff - it stings in the moment but saves you years of trial and error (and bad pie crusts). Your aunt's comment was harsh but she gave you specific actionable advice instead of just "it's not right" which is honestly more helpful in the long run. Getting roasted by a family expert is like a free masterclass, painful but worth it if you actually listen and apply what they said.