How can I make my dough less sticky?

Question

I used this recipe to make fried apple pies: 2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup shortening
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cold water
2 apples
1/3 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup vegetable oil

except I used margarine instead of shortening (which people said was ok to do). I followed all the directions but I'm having the worst time rolling the dough and cutting out the pieces.

Can someone PLEASE tell me how I can solve this? :(

I've tried adding flour to the board and on the surface, but it's the center that makes it hard for me to detach the pieces from.

Answer 1

Add more flour or slightly reduce the water. Try rolling on waxed paper. Chill the dough before rolling it. Make sure you flour the surfaces. Try lifting your cutouts with the blade of a flat table knife.

Answer 2

I wet the counter top with a sponge, use a large piece of the extra wide aluminum foil or two of the more narrow pieces together. The water will make it stick to the counter. Use more flour, and put it thicker in the center where you are having trouble. Also try rolling smaller batches if you can with this recipe.

Answer 3

Well, I recently discovered that margarine and shortening are two entirely different ingredients. This substitution will make your desert thicker and fluffier. As for the stickiness, cover your hands and all areas the dough will be touching with a light sprinkle of flour.

Answer 4

Spray a little pam on the outside of the dough once it is rolled into a ball, instead of flour.

Answer 5

I've never heard of a recipe with both oil and shortening in it but when mine gets sticky I just roll it in more flour.

Answer 6

I work with pizza dough daily and sometimes the more you work with it, and the longer it is exposed to the temperature of the room the stickier it becomes, when tossing dough we use corn meal instead of flour and it sticks less.

Answer 7

well i am in a culinary class and when we are cooking we like to do half butter half shortening to make a better product and we also have extra flour that we put down for when we roll the dough so it dosen't stick to anything.

Answer 8

very lightly dust your counter or place where the dough is to be rolled at and also your rolling pin with flour. The same goes for whatever you are using to cut the pieces. :) Yummy!

Answer 9

try rolling it on a floured surface and sprinkle flour on top when rolling. it may help to knead a little more flour into the dough

Answer 10

flour on board and rolling pin