How To Make Dough In A Food Processor: Simple Guide For Home Bakers With All The Basics

While many people associate making dough with a stand mixer or by hand, a food processor for dough can easily handle various dough types - in smaller batches. It can be used to make dough for different types of delicious treats - pizza, pasta, cookies, bread, and pie crusts.

Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned baker, this blog post will tip you on how to make dough in a food processor and make your baking journey both efficient and enjoyable.

How To Make Dough In A Food Processor

1. How To Make Pizza Dough

Making pizza dough requires specific techniques to achieve the crust's crispy yet chewy texture. With a food processor, you can make pizza dough in minutes. We'll start with a pizza dough recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons of sugar
• 1 package (7 grams/ 0.25 ounce) active dry yeast
• 3/4 cup lukewarm water
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Instructions:

1. Securely attach the dough blade to your food processor.
2. Add the ingredients - flour, salt, sugar, yeast - to the work bowl.
3. Gradually pour lukewarm water and olive oil while running the food processor at a low speed.
4. Pulse the food processor about 30 seconds.
5. Process until the ingredients are well blended and a dough ball forms.
6. Remove the dough from the bowl.
7. Hand knead the dough on a floured surface for a few minutes.
8. Allow it to rest and rise for 20-30 minutes until doubled in size.
9. Proceed with making pizzas, and go for perfect pizza crusts.

2. How To Make Pasta Dough

Making homemade pasta dough may seem intimidating, but with a food processor, it's effortless.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• A few tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

Instructions:

1. Attach your food processor's dough blade.
2. Add the ingredients - flour and salt - to the work bowl.
3. Gradually add the eggs while running the food processor at a low speed.
4. Pulse the food processor for 30 seconds before adding olive oil.
5. Process until well blended and a dough ball forms.
6. Remove the dough from the food processor.
7. Knead the dough on a floured surface for a few minutes.
8. Allow it to rest and rise for 20-30 minutes before using.
9. Roll out your pasta dough and either create your own pasta shapes or use a pasta maker.

3. How To Make Cookie Dough

Cookie dough requires a soft and smooth texture for the perfect cookie batch. The food processor can make an excellent cookie dough in just a few minutes.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup crystal sugar, lightly packed
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Attach your food processor's dough blade.
2. Add the dry ingredients - flour, baking soda, salt - to the work bowl.
3. Gradually add butter and the sugars while running the food processor at a low speed.
4. Pulse the food processor for 30 seconds before adding eggs and vanilla extract.
5. Add in your chocolate chips or any other ingredients.
6. Process until well blended and a dough ball forms.
7. Remove the dough from the food processor.
8. Knead dough on a floured surface for a few minutes.
9. Allow it to rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before using.
10. Prepare your baking sheet with the desired shape and size of cookies.
11. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-13 minutes depending on the size of cookies.

4. How To Make Bread Dough

Bread dough requires a bit more kneading than the other dough types mentioned above. By hand it's time-consuming and tiresome, but with a food processor, it's a breeze.

Ingredients:  

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• yolk from 1 egg
• 1/2 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Attach your food processor's dough blade.
2. Add the dry ingredients - bread flour, sugar, salt, yeast - to the work bowl.
3. Gradually add water and olive oil while running the food processor at a low speed.
4. Pulse the food processor for a few seconds before adding the egg yolk and vanilla extract.
5. Process until well blended and a dough ball forms.
6. Remove the dough from the food processor.
7. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
8. Allow it to rest and rise for an hour or two until doubled in size before using.
9. Preheat your oven according to bread baking instructions.
10. Shape the dough into desired shape and size of loaf before placing in a lightly greased baking pan.
11. Bake in your preheated oven according to recipe instructions until golden brown, about 25-30 minutes.

5. How To Make Pie Crust

Pie crusts require a delicate and flaky texture that is easy to achieve with a food processor.

Ingredients:  

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (optional)
• 1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
• 6 tablespoons lukewarm water

Instructions:

1. Attach your food processor's dough blade.
2. Add the ingredients - flour, salt and sugar (if using) - to the work bowl.
3. Gradually add butter cubes while running the food processor at a low speed.
4. Pulse until it resembles coarse meal then slowly pour water over the top, while pulsing until the dough starts to form a ball.
5. Remove the dough from the food processor and continue the kneading process by hand for a few minutes on a lightly floured surface until smooth.
6. Divide dough in half, form each half into discs and wrap each in plastic wrap.
7. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before using.
8. Roll out the dough to desired size before transferring it to a pie plate.
9. Bake according to recipe instructions and enjoy your freshly made pie crust!

Tips & Tricks

• Pulse on low for 30 seconds before adding wet ingredients such as an egg, oil or lukewarm water to create a better emulsion of the dough for making dough.
• Do not over-process the dough. Properly kneaded dough looks and feels like a soft, smooth ball when ready.
• If the dough is too wet and sticky then add some extra flour to it before kneading dough on a floured surface.
• Begin by adding half of the liquid ingredients such as water or oil when making dough with a food processor and adjust if necessary.
• Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature before adding them to the food processor for best results.
• Cover the bowl with a damp towel or plastic wrap while letting dough rise and rest for added moisture retention.
• Experiment with different types of flours such as whole wheat or almond flour, extra flavor with spices, herbs or cheese to make a variety of flavors for your recipes.
• If making dough recipes is your thing, you want to make larger batches and your food processor bowl has become too small for your needs, consider uplifting yourself to the world of stand mixers.

Food processors for dough are game-changers in the world of baking, making dough preparation easy and efficient.

5 Picks Of The Best Food Processor For Dough: A Baker Pro

Looking for the best food processors with dough blade to knead dough? We’ve reviewed the 5 best food processors for dough to save your time. Check them out!

CatchyFindsJane Vo

With these simple steps, you can easily achieve a perfect dough and elevate your baking game.

Happy baking!

Catchy Finds