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4.5 from 18 votes

Empanada Dough

My empanada dough recipe requires less than an hour and just 5 ingredients to make up to 24 fluffy, tender empanada discs ready for filling!

Prep Time
15 mins
Chill Dough
30 mins
Total Time
45 mins
Servings: 24 servings
Calories: 79 kcal
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

  • 375 g all-purpose flour (3 cups) sifted, plus more for dusting work area
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 3/4 cup lard 6 ounces, or use unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp achiote oil (optional)
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1/2 cup milk warm

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Add the flour and salt to a large bowl. Using your fingers, a pastry blender or food processor, cut in the lard, blending well. Add the achiote oil and blend again to mix it in thoroughly (See Notes 1 and 2).
  2. Add the egg yolk, then the milk in small amounts, blending until small dough clumps start to form. Continue until all milk has been used and dough comes together. Press dough into a ball, scraping up bits in bottom of bowl.
  3. Cut empanada dough into 2 or 4 pieces, press to flatten slightly, then cover each with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes (See Note 3). At this point, dough can also be frozen for later use.
  4. On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough into a thin sheet (1/8th of an inch thick). Use 4 or 6-inch round biscuit cutter or cutting side of an empanada press to cut out empanada discs. Gather and re-roll dough pieces as needed to make remaining empanada discs.

Notes

  • This recipe is for baking the dough. If you want to fry the empanadas, add 1 teaspoon of baking powder to the flour in Step 1.
  • I typically freeze one disc for later use, as each makes 12 empanada discs (depending on the size cutter you use).
  • This recipe is for baking the dough. If you want to fry the empanadas, add 1 teaspoon of baking powder to the flour in Step 1.
  • If using this for a dessert empanada, omit the achiote oil and add 1 tablespoon of sugar in Step 1.
  • I typically freeze one disc for later use, as each makes 12 empanada discs (depending on the size cutter you use).

Nutrition Information

Calories 79kcal (4%) Carbohydrates 12g (4%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 2g (3%) Cholesterol 8mg (3%) Sodium 100mg (4%) Potassium 28mg (1%) Vitamin A 60IU (1%) Vitamin C 0.2mg (0%) Calcium 14mg (1%) Iron 0.7mg (4%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 24servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 79

% Daily Value*

Calories 79kcal 4%
Carbohydrates 12g 4%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 2g 3%
Cholesterol 8mg 3%
Sodium 100mg 4%
Potassium 28mg 1%
Vitamin A 60IU 1%
Vitamin C 0.2mg 0%
Calcium 14mg 1%
Iron 0.7mg 4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.