Simple Pie Pastry Recipes

HOW TO MAKE MEAT PIE PASTRY DOUGH

Steps:

• The first step to make meat pastry pie dough is to take 4 cups of plain flour in a large bowl and mix salt and baking powder into it. If you want some sweetness too in the pie, then you can add one teaspoon of sugar into it as well. Knead well with your hands.
• Add some margarine into the mixture. Work it properly into all of the flour until it starts looking like a bowl of breadcrumbs.
• Start adding ice cold water little at a time and keep kneading until you make a stiff ball of dough. If the flour is too hard, add some more water to it, but if it gets too soft and runny, add some more flour to make it stiffer.
• Test the consistency of the dough by slightly pulling the dough and checking its elasticity. It should be elastic enough to come out with a slight pull, but should not stick to your hands.
• Grab a roller pin and flatten the ball of dough on a lightly floured surface. Roll until the dough ball becomes smooth and gets flat to around half inch thickness.
• Use a pot lid or a dough cutter to cut a circle out of the flattened dough, trim off the edges and add your favorite filling in it.
• Take a separate bowl and beat 2 eggs in it.
• Using a basting brush, apply the beaten egg on the dough edge around the filling. This will help the edges to stick to each other when folded. Also use a fork to press the edges and give it the classic shape of a meat pie. Do not forget to brush some beaten egg on the folded dough so that it turns golden brown when cooked.
• Once you have made the pastry dough and filled the filling in it, the trick lies in its cooking and baking too. You might need to cook the pie for around 45 minutes at 180 ºC/350 ºF, but it is important to check it after every 20 minutes. It is also important to place the pastry on a greased plate only, otherwise the dough will stick to the pan and refuse to come off
• Once your meat pie is ready, allow it to cool and serve. Add some homemade Worcestershire sauce to top your delicious pie. Bon apetit.

CLASSIC BUTTER PIE PASTRY

Steps:

• Combine flour and salt; cut in butter until crumbly. Gradually add ice water, tossing with a fork until dough holds together when pressed., Shape dough into a disk for a single-crust pie; for a double-crust pie, divide dough in 2 with 1 piece slightly larger than the other. Shape into 2 disks. Wrap and refrigerate 1 hour or overnight., On a lightly floured surface, roll 1 disk of dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. pie plate. , For a single-crust pie: Trim crust to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate; flute edge. Fill or bake according to recipe directions., For a double-crust pie: Add filling to pie. Roll remaining dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle. Place over filling. Trim, seal and flute edge. Cut slits in top. Bake according to recipe directions.

NEVER, NEVER FAIL PIE PASTRY

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in lard until mixture resembles coarse meal.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together water, egg yolk, vanilla extract, and vinegar. Stir into flour mixture and knead dough briefly, just until smooth. Allow to rest 15 minutes before rolling out. Pastry is easier to work with when chilled. Can be stored in refrigerator for up to 1 week.

ALL-PURPOSE EASY SHORTENING PIE DOUGH

Steps:

• Combine the flour and salt in a medium bowl.
• Using a pastry blender, cut in the shortening until the mixture is crumbly, with a few pea-sized pieces of shortening.
• Sprinkle in the water and mix with a fork, adding just enough until the mixture is moistened and begins to clump together.
• Gather up the dough and form into a flat disk.
• You can use this dough immediately or proceed to the next step.
• Wrap the dough in wax paper or plastic wrap.
• Refrigerate for atleast 20 minutes or up to overnight.
• If chilled until hard, let the dough stand at room temperature for about 10 minutes to soften slightly before rolling.
• ********Double-CrustShortening Pie Dough*********.
• Use all-purpose flour, salt, vegetable shortening and ice-cold water.
• Divide the dough into 2 equal pieces.

QUICK AND EASY FLAKY PASTRY

Steps:

• Mix the sieved flour and salt in a bowl. (add sugar if using)
• Weigh out the butter and divide into 4 amounts.
• Add one portion of the butter to the flour and using a round bladed knife, incorporate the butter and flour, whilst slowly adding enough cold water until the mixture comes together to form an elastic dough.
• Dust the rolling surface with flour, and turn the dough out. Roll out the dough into a rectangle shape (see photo) and keep rolling, adding more flour if necessary to stop from sticking, until the dough is about 4 mm thickness.
• Rub any excess flour from the surface and using the next portion of butter, dot the butter (about 1 cm dots) on two thirds of the rolled out pastry evenly. (see photo).
• Fold the pastry into three portions, bringing the end without butter to the centre, then folding down the other third. (see photo)
• Press together pastry edges with your fingers, give the pastry half a turn and roll out lightly again until the pastry is 4 mm thick (same size before you dotted with butter).
• Repeat steps 5 - 7 twice more, then fold into three, cover with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

PIE PASTRY IN UNDER A MINUTE? IT'S POSSIBLE!

Steps:

• Place all ingredients into food processor and pulse a few times.
• Add a little ice water, a few more pulses and it is ready to roll (literally)!
• Your pastry should sort of come together, but still be somewhat crumbly when ready. Don't add too much water, though, as it will make the crust tough. Shape into a ball, cover with cling wrap and refrigerate for at least half an hour.
• Use as desired, baking according to pie recipe directions.

PASTRY FOR SINGLE-CRUST PIE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour and salt; cut in shortening until crumbly. Gradually add water, tossing with a fork until a ball forms. Roll out pastry to fit a 9-in. or 10-in. pie plate. , Transfer crust to pie plate. Trim crust to 1/2 in. beyond rim of pie plate; flute edge. Fill or bake crust according to recipe directions.

TOTALLY AWESOME PIE PASTRY

Steps:

• Mix Five Roses Flour, salt and baking powder together.
• Cut in shortening with two knives or pastry blender.
• Add ice cold water, a little at a time, using just enough to bind the mixture so the dough can be patted lightly to form a ball. HANDLE AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE.
• Form 2/3 of dough into a round disc and place on lightly floured board. Save remaining dough for top crust. Roll dough from center outward, with a light, even pressure, to form a circle 1/8 inch thick and an inch larger than the pie plate.
• Fold double and lift gently into pie plate. Unfold and fit loosely in place. DO NOT STRETCH.
• Trim edges, allowing 1/4 to 1/2 inch extra all around. Put in a generous amount of filling. Heap fruit filling in center because it will cook down during baking.
• Roll out top crust; fold double and cut slits or fancy design near center to allow steam to escape.
• Brush edges of bottom crust with water, fit top crust over filling and lightly press top edges together. Trim edges evenly and flute.
• Bake as directed for pie filling.
• Yield: One 9 inch double crust pie or two 9 inch single shells.
• Single Shell:.
• Use only 1/2 of dough for each single shell. Arrange bottom crust in pie pan as above.
• Press pastry to rim of pie plate; flute.
• Add filling. Bake as directed for filling.

PIE PASTRY

Steps:

• Rub the lard and butter into the flour with a generous pinch of sea salt until completely combined. Add the beaten egg and 100ml ice-cold water and mix until you have a soft dough. Transfer to the fridge and chill for at least 1 hr, or until needed.
• Divide the pastry into 12 equal pieces and roll out into rounds on a lightly floured surface. Use six of the rounds to line the bottoms of six individual pie dishes, leaving an overhang. Fill the pies with the mixture of your choice, brush the rims with some of the egg yolk, top with the remaining pastry rounds, then trim and crimp the edges. Decorate with the trimmings, if you like. Glaze with more egg yolk, or as indicated in the filling recipe, and chill until you're ready to cook.
• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 6 with a baking tray inside. Put the pies on the hot tray and bake for 30-35 mins until golden. Leave to rest as directed, then serve in the dishes or turn out onto plates.

PIE CRUST (SHORTCRUST PASTRY)

Steps:

• Pulse Dry: Place flour, sugar and salt in food processor. Pulse twice to combine.
• Cut in butter: Scatter butter across surface. Pulse 5 times until the largest pieces are the size of chickpeas.
• Add chilled water: With the motor running on low, pour 2.5 tbsp of water into the tube feeder.
• Form crumbs: Keep blitzing for 10 seconds until crumbs form (also see video). Pinch between fingers - they should stick and form a dough.
• HAND option: Whisk flour, sugar and salt in large bowl. Rub butter into flour with tips of fingers until it resembles crumbs - it should look the same as using a food processor. Then mix in cold water with rubber spatula, then proceed with steps below.
• Form disc: Tip crumbs out onto work surface, bring together into dome (don't knead), pat into 2cm/ 4/5" thick disc.
• Chill: Wrap in clingwrap then refrigerate 1 hour (up to 2 days, otherwise freeze).
• Dust with flour: Sprinkle work surface with flour, unwrap dough and place on the flour. Sprinkle top with flour, dust rolling pin with flour.
• Roll out: Roll out into round that's 10cm/4" larger than 22.5cm/9" pie tin. Patch up and roll over cracks as necessary
• Transfer to pie dish: Gently roll the pastry so it wraps around the rolling pin. Unroll it over the pie dish.
• Drape pastry into pie tin (do not stretch/pull, causes shrinkage).
• Trim: If making a pie with NO LID (like Pumpkin Pie), then trim edges with scissors leaving a 1 cm / 2/5" overhang. If making a pie with a lid (like a Meat Pie) then trim edges so they align with the edge of the pie tin (ie no excess overhang).
• Tuck excess under, if appliable (ie per step above, if making a no lid pie). Then crimp or decorate edge as desired.
• Refrigerate: Put pie crust in the freezer for 15 - 30 minutes (while oven heats up). This helps prevent shrinkage, firms up the butter again (flakiness!) and helps to ensure decorative crimped edges remain in tact.
• Baking options (Note 4) - Blind bake the pie crust if it will be baked once filled (eg Meat Pie, Pumpkin Pie). Fully bake the pie crust if it will not be baked once filled.
• Preheat oven to 200°C/390°F (180°C fan).
• Line & weigh down: Place 2 large pieces of parchment/baking paper crosswise over the pastry, then fill with baking beads or lots of rice or dried beans to weigh it down. (Note 2)
• Bake 1 covered: Bake for 15 minutes, then remove from oven.
• Bake 2 uncovered: Use excess paper to CAREFULLY remove hot beads, then return to oven for 5 minutes or until base is light golden (doesn't need to be 100% cooked though).
• Cool: Remove from oven. Cool 15 minutes in the pie tin before filling (another measure to avoid soggy base).
• Follow directions per Blind Baking steps above BUT bake at 190°C/375°F (170°C fan) covered with baking beads for 25 minutes, then 15 minutes uncovered until golden. Fully cool before filling.
• Fill and bake per directions of chosen pie filling - such as Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie, Meat Pie. The par baked pastry will not be 100% cooked, it finishes cooking with the filling. It's cooked enough so the crust will not go soggy.

EASY VEGAN PIE CRUST

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the cold cubed vegan butter and cold water. Knead with your hands until the dough starts to clump together (or use a food processor). Then transfer to a working surface and continue kneading until a smooth dough forms.
• Form the dough into a disc, wrap in plastic foil and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• After the chill time, roll out the dough between two sheets of cling wrap or parchment paper a little larger than your pan (see step-by-step photos in the blog post). Then use the foil or parchment to lift it into a 10-inch (25,5cm) tart pan (or 9-inch pie dish). Remove foil and press the bottom and sides firmly to form an evenly tart shell. (If your baking pan has a different size, you can adjust the quantities of ingredients using my cake pan conversion converter).
• Cover the pie crust and chill in the refrigerator until ready to use or continue immediately with the desired recipe. (You can make the dough up to 5 days ahead of time or freeze it, *see recipe notes).
• Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
• Prick the bottom a few times with a fork, then line the crust with parchment paper and top with pie weights (such as dry rice, beans, or chickpeas, *see tip/note below).
• Blind bake for 15 minutes. Remove tart from the oven and carefully lift out the parchment paper with the weights. Return the tart to the oven and bake until the bottom crust is golden brown, about 10 minutes longer.
• Let the baked crust cool completely before adding the filling. Enjoy!

EASY PUFF PASTRY PIE DOUGH

Steps:

• In a food processor, add flour, sugar, salt and cubed butter. Pulse mix on and off for 1 minute, until the flour mixture turns into a small breadcrumb-like consistency.
• Drizzle ice water into the mixture (ice water is the key here). Close the lid and continue to pulse mix on and off for another 1 minute. If you squeeze the crumbs together and they stick together, that means the crumbs are good to go.
• Transfer the crumb-like dough into a large ziploc bag. Squeeze with your hands to bring all the loose crumbs together until it turns into a nice and smooth dough ball. Using disposable gloves will help prevent the butter from melting too quickly, as handling the pie dough directly with bare hands will cause the butter in the dough to melt much more quickly, making the dough sticky.
• Divide the dough ball in half. Place one in the refrigerator, and take the other and place it in between two pieces of large parchment paper or cling wrap. Flatten it with a rolling pin. Transfer to the refrigerator and repeat with the second ball of dough. You will have 2 equal discs. (Whenever you are not working with one of the dough pieces, place in the refrigerator).
• Take one dough disc at a time, and fold it in half. Turn the dough 90 degrees and fold it again to roughly form a square. Roll each dough out with a rolling pin into a 12-inch circle. Repeat this step one more time (folding and rolling). This creates the laminated puff pastry dough which is made up of many layers of alternating dough and butter.
• Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap or keep it in between parchment paper and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before using to make a pie.

VEGAN SHORTCRUST PASTRY (PIE CRUST)

Steps:

• Measure flour by gently spooning a heaping amount into the measuring cup then use the flat edge of a knife to scrape off excess.
• Add flour and salt to a large bowl and whisk together.
• Add half the butter (¼ cup) in small pieces to the flour. Use your hands to cut this butter into the flour until the pieces are about pea-sized. To cut the butter in, press on the pieces with your fingers to make the butter smaller and ensure each of these smaller pieces are coated in flour. Work as efficiently as possible to help keep the butter cold.
• Add the remaining vegan butter to the flour and cut this butter in, using the same technique as above; this time, keep these butter pieces larger, about the size of a nickel or penny. At this point there should be flour-coated pieces of butter throughout, but the mixture will still look grainy and there will be loose flour (it won't look like dough yet).
• Create a well in the center of the flour-butter mixture and add ice cold water (literally water with ice cubes in it to make sure it's very cold).
• Use a fork to mix water into the flour until everything is just mixed (as soon as there are no more dry pieces of flour, stop mixing). At this point the dough should form. If you press the dough together it will stick to itself and not just crumble away. It shouldn't be so sticky that it's sticking to your hands. If the mixture is too dry (not holding together) slowly add more water, ½ tbsp at a time. If it's too sticky, add some additional flour 1-2 tbsp at a time.
• Shape the dough into a round, flat disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Allow to rest in the fridge for at least 20 minutes, up to overnight. If you want to freeze the dough, this is the time to do that.
• When ready to roll the dough, preheat the oven using the temperature indicated in the recipe you're using to fill the pastry with. If blind-baking, set the oven to 400 °F.
• Sprinkle flour over your rolling surface and place the dough in the center of this. Sprinkle more flour over the top of the pastry dough.
• Gently roll using light pressure from the center of the dough to the edges. If the edges begin to crack, lightly press them together, avoiding getting extra flour in between the cracks (it shouldn't crack too much; if it is, not enough water was added to the dough).
• Continue rolling, adding extra flour to the top and bottom of the dough as needed (you can peel the dough up to add extra flour to the bottom). Roll to ¼ inch/ ½ cm thick.
• Transfer the dough to your baking dish. It's easiest to roll the dough onto the rolling pin then lift to transfer, unrolling loosely over the baking dish.
• Shape the pastry as needed, cutting excess dough from the edges.
• If blind baking, poke holes with a fork across the bottom (see pictures for indication of how many holes to poke). Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the top edges have browned and the crust is lightly crisped all over.
• If adding filling before baking, refer to the other recipe for baking directions.
• Enjoy your delicious, buttery and flaky vegan pastry!

BASIC SHORTCRUST PASTRY

Steps:

• Sift 225g plain flour into a large bowl, add 100g diced butter and rub in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Stir in a pinch of salt, then add 2-3 tbsp water and mix to a firm dough.
• Knead the dough briefly and gently on a floured surface.
• Wrap in cling film and chill while preparing the filling.

MIXED VEGETABLE PIE WITH SHORTCRUST PASTRY

Steps:

• You will need 1 prebaked 25 cm round pie crust, at least 3 cm deep. You can make your own prebaked pie crust using my shortcrust pastry recipe. It gives instructions on how prebake a pie crust. You will need to make the full recipe. Use half the dough for the pie crust and the remainder for the lattice decoration on top. Use the link below to get a copy of the recipe.https://recipepocket.com/how-to-make-shortcrust-pastry/ Alternatively, buy a premade pie crust and use ready-made puff pastry or ready-made shortcrust pastry for the lattice decoration on top. Just keep in mind you may have to reduce the filling, if the pie crust you buy is smaller or, make two small pies to use up all the filling.
• Heat the oil in a large fry pan add the onion and cook until soft.
• Add the capsicum and garlic and cook on medium/high heat for about 5 minutes or until the capsicum has softened. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
• Steam, boil or microwave the remaining vegetables until just tender. Drain and add to the onion mix.
• Season with salt and pepper, mix well and allow to cool.
• Combine the milk and cream. Put aside.
• In a medium saucepan melt the butter, add the flour and cook over a low heat,, stirring for about 1- 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Slowly add a little milk to the mixture, mixing well, then add a little more milk and mix again. Repeat until all the milk is combined, it should be lump free. If it is a little lumpy pass it through a strainer.Tip: Use a whisk if you have one, it will help make a smooth sauce.
• Return the pan back to the heat, stir using a wooden spoon until it boils and thickens. Remove from the heat.
• Add the beaten egg and cheese and mix well. Season with salt and pepper.
• Pour the sauce over the vegetables, gently mix to combine. Put aside.
• Instructions is using homemade doughIf you have used my shortcrust pastry, use the remaining half of the dough for the lattice pie crust top.- Lightly flour the bench and roll the remain dough, into a square that's roughly 30 cm in size (or a length that's slightly larger than the diameter of the flan tin you are using).- Use a ruler and a sharp knife (or pastry wheel or pizza wheel) and cut out even sized strips about 2 cm wide (or a width you prefer). You will need about 8 - 10 strips.Instructions if using ready made pastryIf frozen allow the dough it to thaw, roll out if necessary and cut into even sized strips as above.
• Spoon the filling into the pie crust, and gentle press down. Use the back of spoon to smooth the filling level with the sides of the crust, bringing the excess filling to the centre of the pie. Tip: The pie crust is fragile. It is best kept in the flan tin when filling and baking.
• To make the lattice pie crust. Brush a little beaten egg onto the top edge of the pie crust.Evenly space out 5 strips of pastry over the top or the pie, in parallel lines. Then weave 4 or 5 other strips across the top. Use the image below as a guide.
• Gently press the pastry strips to the top of the pie crust edge, and use a sharp knife to trim away the excess dough.
• Brush the lattice with beaten egg and bake for 40 - 50 minutes or until the lattice is golden brown.
• Remove from the oven and allow to stand for a few minutes before serving. Serve hot or at room temperature.

BASIC PIE PASTRY

Steps:

• Combine the flour, sugar, salt, and lemon zest in a large mixing bowl. Add the butter and mix with a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the egg yolk and ice water and work that in with your hands. (Or do the whole thing in a food processor, pulsing a couple of times to combine the dry ingredients, then pulsing in the butter, and then the egg.) Check the consistency of the dough by squeezing a small amount together between thumb and forefingers: You want there to be just enough moisture to bind the dough so that it holds together without being too wet or sticky. If it's still crumbly, add a little more ice water, 1 teaspoon at a time. When you get it to the right consistency, shape the dough into a disk and wrap it in plastic. Put it in the refrigerator and chill for at least 30 minutes.