Pastries and doughs are both the foundation to many sweet and savory dishes. They’re made up of different ingredients and have varying textures, but they can seem like one in the same.
So what’s the difference?
Dough is a mixture of flour and water that can be used as either a sweet or savory food item. Dough is usually baked, which makes it chewy and soft. Pastry is usually made from pastry cream or eggs and butter that is baked into a shell shape.
The end result is a crisp exterior with a nice flaky texture inside. Pastries also tend to be sweeter than doughs with flavors like vanilla, chocolate, cinnamon, and hazelnut. So now you know! Pastries and doughs are both delicious for different reasons so don’t worry if you can’t decide which one to make this weekend!
What is the difference between pastry and dough?
Pastries and doughs are both the foundation to many sweet and savory dishes. They’re made up of different ingredients and have varying textures, but they can seem like one in the same.
Pastry ingredients
Pastries and doughs are both made up of different ingredients. Pastry is usually made with flour, eggs, and butter.
It can also be made from a sweet filling like pastry cream or fruit preserves. Dough is made from flour and water which makes it more versatile in terms of flavor. You can make a savory dish with dough or a dessert dish with the same dough recipe if you add an egg to the dough recipe.
Dough ingredients
There are some differences in the dough and pastry ingredients.
Dough is made up of flour and water, while pastry is made with eggs and butter. Doughs can be sweet or savory, while pastries are usually more sweet than savory. Doughs are cooked by baking, while pastries are cooked by frying or baking. This means that dough has a softer consistency than pastries after cooking, with a chewy texture you can sink your teeth into.
A final difference is that dough doesn’t have any sweetness to it, while pastries can be flavored with vanilla, chocolate, cinnamon, or hazelnut flavors. This might be a good place to mention that they’re both delicious in their own way!
Difference in texture
Both pastries and doughs are made up of different ingredients, but their texture is what makes them different. Dough is a mixture of flour and water that can be used as either a sweet or savory food item. It’s usually baked which makes it chewy and soft. Pastry is usually made from pastry cream or eggs and butter that are baked into a shell shape. The end result is a crisp exterior with a nice flaky texture inside. Pastries also tend to be sweeter than doughs with flavors like vanilla, chocolate, cinnamon, and hazelnut.
Differences in flavor
Pastries are usually sweeter than doughs. Pastries are often made with things like eggs, butter, and sugar while doughs are usually just made with flour. This means that pastries have a richer flavor profile that is hard to replicate in other types of dishes. Doughs are more versatile because they can be used for both sweet and savory dishes.
Conclusion
Making pastry and dough is a fine art, but the difference is primarily in ingredients. Pastry dough is a combination of butter, flour, and water to create a thick, elastic texture that can be used for a variety of baked goods. Dough made from good old-fashioned flour and water is a much more versatile product that can be used for a variety of dishes including breads, pizza dough, homemade pasta, and more.
Depending on the dish you want to make you will need to choose the appropriate type of dough or pastry dough. In most cases, the dough will be the foundation for any pastry dish since it is the main component.