Rough Puff, Step-by-Step

Updated Jul 25, 2025, Published Feb 07, 2017

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you click on the link and make a purchase.

Sheets of Rough Puff topped with cream cheese and jam.

How To Make Rough Puff, Step by Step
Rough Puff, Step-by-Step Recipe

I’m so excited about rough puff. Ideally 2017 would include a whole lot of laminated dough.

A few years ago I put making puff pastry at home in the silly category. Why would we make it when we can just buy it?!?!?

I’m still an advocate for store-bought pastry, especially when you’re in a bit of a jam. It’s so nice to have in the fridge/freezer when you want to serve up a tart or something last minute.

But lately, I’ve been experimenting with rough puff (isn’t the name fun?), which is basically EASY AF puff pastry.

It is puff pastry that is made a lot like pie dough with some additional “turns” (more on that later).

I figured I’d give you a step-by-step of this process since once you see it all broken out into steps it seems SO MUCH easier.

The whole process begins by combining your flour and salt. Just like how I make pie crust, I find it easiest to use a cheese grater to get the butter the perfect-sized bits.

I used the ratios from Gordon Ramsey and I found them perfect every single time. (The first time I made it, I cut the butter because I found the measurement sort of annoying (1 stick plus 1 tablespoon) but that extra tablespoon is important so we’re going to use it!)

I also used Ashley Rodriguez‘s technique and found it to be seamless and easy and yet the marbling was perfect.

How To Make Rough Puff, Step by Step

Grated butter is in a bowl with a grater and measuring cup nearby.

Once all the butter is grated, you coat the butter with the flour until it’s combined.
(THIS IS EXACTLY HOW I MAKE PIE DOUGH.)

I like to press the buttery bits into the flour. You’ll also notice that the mixture will go from white flour to almost off white/sort of yellow.

Then you create a little well in the center and add the water. A good mix and then I pour it out onto my work surface.

A spoon is used to make in a well in the middle of the butter and flour in the bowl.

I knead it a few times and form it into a rectangle. This is when we do what are called turns. We’re gonna do two of ‘em.

Process image of pastry dough being kneaded.

First the left side folds over and then the right. At this point I just use my hands, no rolling pin.

In process image of dough being kneaded into a rectangle.

And then I press it out and repeat the folding in the left side and then folding in the right side. After this I wrap it up with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge to rest for about an hour.

During that 1 hour gap, I’ll make cream cheese filling for cheese danishes or the glaze of wash clothes. There’s plenty to do.

AND then, I unwrap it, and do three more folds. This time I definitely use a rolling pin because it’s definitely necessary.

Process image of dough being rolled out with a rolling pin.

After the three folds, it’s all done. This is the perfect time to wrap it in two layers of plastic wrap and place it in the fridge or freezer. Or you can use it right away.

Process image of dough being folded over itself.

If you put it in the freezer, I recommend also wrapping it in foil so it doesn’t take on any weird smells and stuff.

A woman's hands folding the pastry dough over itself.

Lightly floured dough on a counter surrounded by a rolling pin and pastry scissors.

5 from 2 votes