See the step by step video down in the recipe card. Everyone needs a perfect, easy pie crust recipe, and it’s time to share this one! I’ve been using this pie crust recipe for years now (in this Coconut Cream Pie, this Banana Cream Pie and this Chocolate Cream Pie to start!), and it’s never failed me. With a simple combination of flour, butter, sugar, salt and water, it’s easy to throw together and really makes those homemade pies stand out! It works in both sweet and savory dishes (like this homemade Chicken Pot Pie!), and is great for other uses like tarts, galettes, quiche and more! This Pie Crust recipe is also my 6 Ingredient Staple this recipe, which means I’ll be sharing all kinds of pie and other recipes we can use it in!
How to make pie crust:
I use my food processor whenever I make pie crust, but it is almost as easy to make by hand! Here I’ll include tips for both, as the method is the same overall.
Start with the dry ingredients: flour, sugar and salt. Mix them together! Add cold butter: cut it into small cubes and break it up with a pastry cutter or in the food processor, by pulsing on and off for a couple seconds until the butter is broken into pea-sized chunks. Add cold water so that the butter does not become soft: and add just a little at a time until the pie dough comes together! Use your hands or the food processor (again, always use the “pulse” button and not “on”) to work it until a ball forms. Press the pie crust into a thick disc, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate or freeze until well chilled. I confess I have skipped this step a time or two in a pinch, but it really is going to give you the best results! Roll it out and fill your pie plate! See tips below for blind baking, or fill and bake until golden brown.
Can I use whole wheat flour?
Absolutely! Keep in mind that whole wheat flour has a nuttier flavor and slightly different texture, which is why I prefer to use only half whole wheat flour instead of 100%. Most often, I use all purpose flour for pie crust, because pie is a treat! All purpose flour will have the best texture and flavor overall.
Can I use shortening instead of butter?
Yes! Butter is my go-to, but you can use all shortening or you can go half and half. You can also use lard or a combination, as long as the ratio of flour to fat is the same. I have found that all-butter pie crust is the easiest to roll — I’ve had a really hard time with shortening pastry crumbling and being difficult to work with. This is just my experience, but I butter works perfectly for me every time!
Tips for rolling out pie crust:
As I mentioned above, I’ve had some trouble rolling out shortening pie crust and getting it smooth and not crumbly and full of cracks. For this reason, I wanted to share a few extra tips to help if you’re having trouble!
We have quartz counters in our kitchen, and, like marble they are naturally cooler in temperature than vinyl or others. I have found that rolling out pie crust on my counters is a dream, but on the vinyl backdrop when we shot this video, it was a struggle. Obviously, you can’t just swap your counters, but if you make a lot of pie it might be worth investing in a small marble board for rolling pastry. Using just the right amount of flour is key, as we don’t want it to stick but we also don’t want it to be dry and have difficulty crimping. Start with a light amount, and reapply and reposition your crust as you roll it. If you’re worried about transferring the crust to the pie plate (or using too much/too little flour), you can roll out your pastry on a piece of wax paper or parchment. This way, you can just pick it up and place it right over your dish!
How to blind bake a pie crust:
Blind baking a pie crust is something every baker should know how to do! Blind baking is baking the crust entirely without any filling, so that we end up with an empty but fulled cooked pastry. We blind bake pie crust when making cream pies, or some fruit pies (this Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie is one!) — any pie where the filling is not cooked in the oven. To blind bake a pie crust, you could just throw it in the oven at 425 degrees F and bake until cooked. However, this isn’t the best method! Blind baking is trickier to master because it can shrink and shrivel when there’s nothing to help it hold its shape.
Here’s how we do it:
Press your pie dough into the pan however you want it to look. Use a fork to poke holes in the bottom and sides of the pie crust (which allows steam to escape and can help prevent bubbles). Place a piece of parchment paper in the middle of the crust, and pour in some dried beans or pie weights. Bake at 425 degrees F for 10-12 minutes until the edges are light golden brown, then remove the pie weights and continue baking for 5-10 minutes until the bottom is cooked through. If desired, you can brush an egg wash (whisk an egg with a tablespoon of water) over the bottom of the crust before baking the bottom to keep the crust crispier and prevent it from getting soggy when filled later on.
How to store pie pastry:
Pie pastry is one of those things I love to have stashed away in the fridge or freezer! They are a big help when I need a quick dinner or dessert, and I don’t have to turn to store-bought if I have some on hand.
In the refrigerator:
Wrap your pie crust disc in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3-4 days before using.
In the freezer:
Pie dough is easily frozen, as well! Simply place your wrapped disc of pie dough in the freezer for up to 3 months. To use, let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before rolling out and using to make your favorite pies.
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