Do you want to make croissants or puff pastry from scratch, but have trouble with dough getting warm or sticky? If so, a marble rolling pin can help keep dough at the optimum temperature long enough for you to work with it — resulting in pastry that is light and flaky. Besides being naturally cool, marble’s substantial weight can help you roll out stiff pastry and bread doughs, especially if you choose a model with sturdy handles. Or you may just appreciate marble’s natural beauty and want a rolling pin to grace a kitchen shelf or counter.
If you’re looking for a quality marble rolling pin with comfortable wooden handles that is relatively lightweight, Sur La Table’s Marble Rolling Pin is a great choice.
What to know before you buy a marble rolling pin
A marble rolling pin is beautiful but may not be the best fit for you. Marble rolling pins excel in a few areas, but there are several styles of rolling pin suited to specific tasks. If you’re not sure which type of rolling pin you need or want to learn more, take a look at the full rolling pin buying guide from BestReviews.
Marble keeps dough cool
The primary strength of a marble rolling pin comes down to temperature. Keeping butter (and other fats) cold is essential when working with pastry dough that bakes up into flaky layers. These doughs turn into “laminated” pastries like croissants, puff pastry, kouign-amman and Danish pastries.
If you live in a warm climate or have a particularly hot kitchen, using a marble rolling pin when working with laminated doughs can buy you some time and prevent your butter from melting (and your finished pastry from being flat and greasy).
Marble applies pressure
The second reason to use a marble rolling pin is when you need to exert some pressure to roll out a stubborn or stiff dough. Some bread doughs fall into this category. Croissant or puff pastry dough requires you to fold and roll out chilled blocks of dough multiple times, and a marble rolling pin with sturdy handles can reduce fatigue.
However, if you mostly use a rolling pin for pie pastry, cookies or other delicate dough, marble might be too heavy for you. It can be more difficult to control and leave creases in softer dough.
French vs. American styles
Traditionally, most marble rolling pins on the mass market have been the American style of rolling pin — a cylindrical roller spinning around a shaft with wooden handles on either end. These are heavier.
You can also buy French-style marble rolling pins without handles. They come in various lengths and can be tapered at the ends or straight (shaped like a dowel). These are usually lighter than an American-style pin with handles.
Marble rolling pin features
Length and weight
Make sure that the length of the rolling surface is adequate for your needs. The rolling surface is the marble that comes into contact with the dough (and not the handles or thinner ends if tapered). Pay careful attention to product descriptions and specifications as sometimes the handles are included in the length.
Rolling pins range from as small as 7 inches in length and up to 20 inches or more. Keep in mind that the longer a marble rolling pin, the heavier it is. If you’re mostly rolling flatbread like pita, roti or chapati, a smaller size may be sufficient. For pie dough or puff pastry, you’ll need at least 10 inches not including handles.
Color
Marble naturally occurs in a variety of colors. While most rolling pins are made from white marble, you’ll also see black, grey, green, red, pink and even this beautiful mocha rolling pin.
Handles
Handles can be made from wood or metal. Occasionally some pins are made from one single piece of stone, so the handles are marble as well. Wood is more comfortable for your hands (and less slippery) than metal, which is important when you’re rolling out something stiff.
The width (diameter) of the handle makes a difference, too. Some rolling pin handles are less than an inch in diameter, but an inch and a half will be much more comfortable.
Cradle
Marble rolling pins usually come with a cradle to rest in when they’re not in use. This prevents the heavy pin from rolling away and potentially causing an accident. Marble is also fragile and can chip, split or break if dropped from a counter.
Marble rolling pin cost
Marble rolling pins range from around $15 to over $80 at the high end. You can get a good one for around $30. At the upper end, you’re paying for a higher-quality marble such as solid Carrara marble from Italy.
Marble rolling pin FAQ
Why use a marble rolling pin? Is a marble rolling pin better than wood?
A. A marble rolling pin isn’t necessarily better than wood. Marble is the classic choice for rolling out pastry doughs like croissant and puff pastry that need to stay as cold as possible. Marble is naturally cool and holds a chill longer than other materials. It’s also heavy, and that weight can help you press down on thick, stubborn dough, preventing muscle fatigue.
What’s the best way to clean a marble rolling pin?
A. Let’s start with what not to do. Don’t put a marble rolling pin in the dishwasher. Don’t ever submerge a rolling pin in water, especially one with wooden handles. Use a dough scraper to gently remove excess dough from your pin and scrub lightly with a dish brush or sponge with gentle dish soap. After rinsing, allow your marble rolling pin to air dry before returning to its cradle to prevent (especially if the cradle is wooden).
Which marble rolling pin should I get?
Best of the best marble rolling pin
Product brand/model name: available at Sur La Table
Our take: This durable white marble rolling pin is long enough to handle most pastry and bread doughs yet so not long that the weight of the marble pin becomes cumbersome.
What we like: The 10-inch marble section of the pin will keep your dough chilled while 4-inch handles on either end keep your hands comfortable. Unlike many marble rolling pins that come with a wooden cradle (that can crack or develop mold), Sur La Table’s comes with a curved marble stand.
What we dislike: Veteran bakers or pastry chefs may prefer a French-style pin without handles. Some may find 7 pounds too heavy for comfort.
Best bang for your buck marble rolling pin
Fox Run Polished Marble Rolling Pin with Wooden Cradle: available at Amazon, Home Depot and Wayfair
Our take: This marble rolling pin with 10-inch barrel is a solid choice at an affordable price point while still being made from 100% natural stone.
What we like: Nylon ball bearings create a smooth rolling action.
What we dislike: The included cradle is wooden rather than marble.
Honorable mention marble rolling pin
Ebun’s Kitchen French Marble Rolling Pin: available at Amazon
Our take: Many pastry chefs and experienced amateur bakers prefer the longer, narrower shape of a French-style rolling pin without handles — like this 16-inch white marble pin with matching cradle.
What we like: Its tapered shape allows you to feel the dough as you work and is much lighter than most marble rolling pins (less than two pounds in weight).
What we dislike: Compared to a version with wooden handles, if you chill this rolling pin before using it (to keep croissant dough cold and flaky, for example), your hands may be uncomfortably cold.
Rachel Boller is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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