Sometimes your dough is dry because it’s thirsty. Flour can absorb moisture from the air, especially in dry climates. If you’re baking in a desert or a heated apartment in January, your flour might be hoarding all the moisture like a greedy camel.
The fix? Add a tiny splash of ice water—literally one or two teaspoons—and mix until it comes together. Don’t knead it like bread dough, or you’ll activate the gluten and end up with shortbread that could double as a hockey puck. Gently press it into a ball. It’s a therapy session for dough, not a boxing match.
