What is the substitute for pastry blender in cookie making?

I'm going to do this recipe and it says in the recipe that I need to use pastry blender. I have a question that can I use this one instead of pastry blender? Or this one

Best Answer

No, the device called for, a pastry blender, is not what you have linked in either picture.

The first is a simple hand mixer with standard beaters. The second is the paddle attachment for a stand mixer.

A pastry blender is used to cut butter into flour and looks something like this:

enter image description here (Image from crate and barrel)

It is used to cut butter into flour, while leaving it in relatively large solid chunks.

If you don't have a pastry blender, alternatives include:

Using two knives, criss-crossed, to slowly cut the butter up with the flour mixture in a scissors-like motion
Pressing with the back of a fork
With skill and cold hands, you can even press the butter and flour together with your fingers, which is very old fashioned, but hard to describe in text

(All of these methods require butter cool enough to not blend into the flour, but warm enough to cut easily, about 65 F, 18.3 C.)
If you have one, cutting in butter is also very easily done in a food processor with the knife blade; in this case, you want cold butter. It usually takes not very many pulses, so monitor the texture after each pulse or two once you have done four or five.
If you have a large holed grater, you can even grate frozen butter, and then simply toss it with the flour

This video from Dear Martini Kitchen has an excellent demonstration of the pastry blender method that clearly shows the desired texture, an inset which shows the two-knife technique, and at the end a brief food processor demo.

Pictures about "What is the substitute for pastry blender in cookie making?"

What is the substitute for pastry blender in cookie making? - Four Cupcakes Photography

What is the substitute for pastry blender in cookie making? - Person Holding White Hexagonal Baking Mold

What is the substitute for pastry blender in cookie making? - Gingerbread on Grill Grate Near Jar of Jam on Table

Quick Answer about "What is the substitute for pastry blender in cookie making?"

Food Processor: Pulse small pieces of butter and the dry ingredients in your food processor until you achieve a nice, crumbly texture. It won't take long—just a minute or two—so be careful not to overwork the dough. Your Hands: Work the butter into the flour with your hands.

Can I use a regular blender instead of a pastry blender?

The best methods are the pastry blender, the frozen grated butter method, and the food processor. The outcome you are looking for is not a butter-flour paste, but rather little "pebbles" of butter surrounded by flour. @user23839 Yes, there's a machine - as the answer says, you can use a food processor.

Can I use a potato masher as a pastry blender?

If you don't have the lattice pastry cutter and have a potato masher in your kitchen, you can use a potato masher.

What can I use to cut butter into flour?

Ways to cut butter into flour:

Use a food processor and pules the mixture until you have a crumb like mixture.

Use two knives and literally cut the butter into the flour until you have little tiny bits of butter.

Use a pastry blender which ultimately works pretty similar to the knife method but is easier.

Can you cut butter into flour without a pastry blender?

You can simply substitute with two kitchen knives! Take the two knives like pictured above and "cut in" the shortening into your flour. It is a simple tip but one that may come in handy when you are in a bind. It is also a way to save money and keep your kitchen drawers from being cluttered too.

6 Superb List Of Pastry Blender Substitute That You Must Know

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Andrea Piacquadio, Julias Torten und Törtchen, JÉSHOOTS, Lina Kivaka