A pastry is a dough made from flour, water and solid fat like butter or lard. Pastries may be sweet or savory. Any baked good containing fat in the dough is considered a pastry, which includes cake. Donuts and croissants are pastries, too. When it comes to pie, the answer isn’t as cut and dry. The crust counts as a pastry, but the filling usually doesn't. Bread is not considered a pastry.