Penelope's Recipe Box

Just like the good manners your mother taught you (if you were lucky, so that now you can be relatively at ease in any situation) sweet tart dough is an invaluable basic. No matter what you make, you kind of can’t go wrong if it rests on simplicity and good taste. Like with any good party, combine the elements with a light hand and don’t over-beat the mix.

1. 6 tbs unsalted butter at room temperature
2. ½ cup confectioner’s sugar
3. 2 large eggs
4. 1½ cups all purpose flour
5. 2 tsp heavy cream

Use the paddle attachment on your electric mixer and set it to low speed to combine the butter and sugar. Add the egg yolks and continue beating until just combined. Still using low speed, add ¾ cup of the flour until blended, about 30 seconds. Add the remaining ¾ cup flour, plus the salt and cream. Mix until the flour is no longer visible. Turn out the dough onto plastic wrap and shape it into a flattened disk. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before rolling out.