Pie Crust I Recipes

PERFECT PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Dice the butter and return it to the refrigerator while you prepare the flour mixture. Place the flour, salt, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse a few times to mix. Add the butter and shortening. Pulse 8 to 12 times, until the butter is the size of peas. With the machine running, pour the ice water down the feed tube and pulse the machine until the dough begins to form a ball. Dump out on a floured board and roll into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Cut the dough in half. Roll each piece on a well-floured board into a circle, rolling from the center to the edge, turning and flouring the dough to make sure it doesn't stick to the board. Fold the dough in half, place in a pie pan, and unfold to fit the pan. Repeat with the top crust.

BEST EVER PIE CRUST

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in water until mixture forms a ball. Divide dough in half, and shape into balls. Wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
• Roll out dough on a floured counter. Don't over work it. Use as directed in pie recipe.

EASY PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place all ingredients in 9 inch pie pan. Stir together with fork. Pat mixture into bottom and up the sides of the pan. Poke holes in bottom and side of crust.
• Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until light brown. Use as directed in favorite pie recipe.

EASY HOMEMADE PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Combine flour, salt, and butter in a food processor. Pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs, about 10 1-second pulses.
• Stir water and vinegar in a small bowl.
• Pour half the ice water and vinegar mixture into the flour and butter mixture. Pulse to combine, about 3 (1-second) pulses. Pour in remaining ice water and vinegar mixture. Pulse until mixture just starts to come together, about 8 (1-second) pulses.
• Turn dough out onto a wooden surface, pat into round shape and divide in half. Form each half into a disc about 5 inches wide.
• Wrap each disc in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes until ready to use.

EASY PIE CRUST

Steps:

• To make the dough for the pie crust, mix 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon each salt and sugar in a medium-size bowl. Cut 2 sticks chilled unsalted butter into pieces. With a pastry blender, cut in butter, working until mixture resembles coarse meal.
• Add 4 tablespoons ice water; work with hands until dough comes together. If dough is still crumbly, add more ice water a tablespoon at a time (up to 4 more tablespoons). Do not overwork.
• Divide dough in half, and flatten halves into disks. Wrap disks separately in plastic; refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• To form the pie shell, roll the dough on a floured surface into a 14-inch round. Wrap around rolling pin and carefully unroll over a 9-inch pie plate.
• Fit gently into bottom and side of plate. Use kitchen shears to trim dough to a 1-inch overhang; fold under, and seal to form a rim.
• Crimp rim with fingertips and knuckle. Repeat with remaining dough; wrap each with plastic, stack, and freeze.

EASY PIE CRUST

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the flour and salt; cut in shortening until mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle with vinegar. Gradually add the milk, tossing with a fork until a ball is formed. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until easy to handle. , For a single crust, roll out pastry on a lightly floured surface to fit a 9-in. or 10-in. pie plate. Transfer pastry to pie plate. Trim pastry 1/2 in. beyond edge of plate; flute edges. Fill or bake shell according to recipe directions., For a double crust, divide pastry in two portions so that one ball is slightly larger than the other. Roll out larger ball on a lightly floured surface to fit a 9-in. or 10-in. pie plate. Transfer pastry to pie plate. Trim pastry even with edge of plate. Add filling. Roll out remaining pastry to fit top of pie; place over filling. Trim, seal and flute edges. Cut slits in top. Bake according to recipe directions.

BUTTER FLAKY PIE CRUST

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in water, a tablespoon at a time, until mixture forms a ball. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
• Roll dough out to fit a 9 inch pie plate. Place crust in pie plate. Press the dough evenly into the bottom and sides of the pie plate.

OUR FAVORITE PIE CRUST

Steps:

• In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the flour, salt, and sugar. Add butter and pulse until coarse, pea-size crumbs appear, about 10 seconds. With the machine running, add vinegar and ¼ cup ice-cold water and process until the dough just holds together, about 30 seconds. Squeeze a small amount of dough between your fingers and if it is very crumbly, add more ice water, 1 Tbsp. at a time (2 Tbsp. maximum). Do not over process.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and push together into a rough ball. Knead a few times to combine, then divide into two equal balls. Flatten each ball into a disk with smooth edges (no cracks), cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to overnight. Do ahead: Dough can also be frozen for up to 3 months; thaw before using. Editor's note: This recipe was originally published in November 2014 as Our Favorite Pie Dough. Head this way for all of our best pie recipes →

EASY BUTTERMILK PIE

Steps:

• Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 350°. If using 1 disk of Our Favorite Pie Dough, roll out on a lightly floured surface to a 14" round. Transfer to a 9"-diameter pie dish, then lift edges and allow dough to slump down into dish. Trim dough, leaving about 1" overhang. Fold overhang under and crimp edges. Prick bottom all over with a fork. Freeze 15 minutes.
• Line crust or one 9"-diameter store-bought pie crust with 2 sheets of parchment paper or foil, leaving overhang, and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Place pie dish on a rimmed baking sheet and bake crust until dry around the edges, 20-25 minutes for homemade and 15-20 minutes for store-bought. Remove parchment and pie weights. Continue to bake crust until surface looks dry and is golden in spots, 10-15 minutes for homemade and about 5 minutes for store-bought. Transfer pie dish to a wire rack and let crust cool slightly while you make the filling.
• Whisk 1 cup sugar, 3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour, and ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt in a large bowl to combine. Add 3 large eggs, room temperature, 1½ cups buttermilk, room temperature, 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted, slightly cooled, 1 Tbsp. finely grated lemon zest, 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice, and 1 tsp. vanilla bean paste or 1½ tsp. vanilla extract and mix well.
• Pour filling into blind-baked crust and gently tap on counter to evenly distribute. Depending on the height of your crust, you may have some filling left over. Bake pie until crust is golden brown and filling is just set and golden, 60-70 minutes. Turn off oven, prop door open, and let pie sit in oven 15 minutes. Transfer pie to a wire rack and let cool completely. Do ahead: Pie can be baked 3 days ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before serving.