Pastry refers to a variety of baked goods made from ingredients such as flour, water, sugar, and yeast or baking powder. These items are typically lightweight with a flaky texture due to the use of butter and/or shortening in their preparation. Pastry can be used to make various desserts like pies, tarts, cakes, croissants, danishes, and many more. The term "pastry" is often associated with pastries that are sweet or savory, depending on the filling they contain.