How To Brand Perfect Pie Crust

Today, I’m teaching you lot all my tips + tricks to assist you lot principal homemade pie crust! It requires alone a few basic ingredients, comes together quickly, as well as produces a beautifully flaky crust that serves equally the base of operations for thus many sweetness treats! I’ll suspension everything downward alongside lots of step-by-step photos to assist you lot – let’s dive in.

First, permit me tell this – in that location are a lot of words as well as steps inwards this post. Don’t live intimidated! I’m trying to live equally thorough equally I tin ship away to brand certain you lot receive got ALL your pie crust questions answered. As you lot brand pie crust to a greater extent than as well as more, it volition acquire 2nd nature as well as you lot won’t demand to re-read through each pace every fourth dimension you lot brand it. And, fifty-fifty though this ship service is long, there’s truly non a ton of hands-on fourth dimension involved alongside making pie crust! Like I said, this ship service is extensive as well as wordy to brand certain I’m giving you lot all the tools you lot demand to live successful. Now, travel forth as well as bake!

I’ve had lots of practise making pie crust – alongside many failed attempts as well as many calls to my mom yell for “How the heck does this purpose work??” I’ve gone through many failed attempts as well as learned plenty virtually what to do + what non to do – to assist you lot hopefully avoid those same mistakes!

Pie Crust Tools

First, let’s beak tools! You don’t demand a lot of fancy gadgets to brand pie crust, but in that location are a few tools that volition brand your life a lot easier, as well as that I definitely yell back are worth purchasing!

• Rolling Pin – Obviously essential! I’m non certain how you lot would gyre out the dough without this, haha! I recommend a uncomplicated wooden 1 alongside handles.


• Pastry Cutter – Technically non essential but it makes cutting the butter into the flour SO much easier as well as produces great results!


• Pastry Cloth – Not essential but helpful if you lot receive got issues alongside pie crust sticking to your counter (even alongside flour) when rolling it out – this helped me a ton when I was exactly getting the hang of homemade pie crust. I no longer utilization it, but it tin ship away live handy for beginners. 


• Pie Plate – Essential! This is the dish you’ll bake your pies in. I recommend a see-through drinking glass one, peculiarly if you’re a pie-crust beginner – the transparent drinking glass makes it slowly to depository fiscal establishment stand upwards for the bottom crust to ensure that it’s baked through!


• Pie Crust Shield – Not essential, but it’s handy for preventing burnt crust edges! You tin ship away also utilization a slice of foil.


• Pastry Brush– Essential! This is how you’ll brush on your egg wash, which is how you lot reach that nice, deep, golden brownish crust! 

Pie Crust Ingredients

We’re dealing alongside exactly five basic ingredients for pie crust!

• Flour – This provides the construction for the whole crust


• Salt – Essential for flavor! 


• Butter – This is that magical element that gives us flaky pie dough! Keeping it equally mutual depression temperature equally possible is essential!


• Shortening – Some recipes utilization all butter, some utilization all shortening, as well as I utilization a niggling chip of shortening, as well as a whole lotta butter!


• Sugar – Not every pie crust recipe uses sugar, but I dear adding exactly a few teaspoons for a niggling extra flavour – it won’t live overly sweetness – it exactly subtly enhances the flavor.


• Water – Cold, cold, mutual depression temperature is the telephone commutation hither too! Cold H2O helps bind the ingredients together to cast a dough. Pop your mutual depression temperature H2O inwards the freezer piece you lot mix upwards the balance of the dough thus it’s equally mutual depression temperature equally Frosty the Snowman (er, earlier he melted…)

Pie Crust Technique

Now that we’ve met the cast of ingredients, let’s beak virtually how to brand the pie dough!

1. Whisk together your flour, salt, as well as sugar

2. Cut your mutual depression temperature butter into chunks. Toss inwards the flour to coat it on all sides. Cut butter as well as shortening into the flour mixture alongside a pastry cutter. You desire to receive got pea-sized pieces scattered throughout the dough.

3. Add ice-cold H2O inwards a few additions, stirring some after each add-on to assist evenly moisten the dough. To brand certain your H2O is truly H2O ice cold, fill upwards a bowl alongside H2O ice as well as water, as well as stair out it out a tablespoon at a time. Or, stair out the exact amount earlier starting the dough, as well as maintain it inwards the freezer until you’re ready – it won’t live inwards in that location long plenty to truly freeze. Stop when you lot tin ship away squash a handful of dough as well as it sticks together, similar dough (hah).

4. Start to cast the dough into a ball. Don’t gyre it – exactly gather it together. Once you lot receive got a ball of dough, flatten it slightly into a thick disc. Wrap tightly inwards plastic roll as well as chill it inwards the refrigerator for 2 hours or inwards the freezer for 30-40 minutes. Lots of people swear yesteryear the refrigerator method, as well as I recommend doing that if you lot receive got fourth dimension – I typically volition brand my pie crust the twenty-four hr catamenia earlier I programme to bake thus I’m non rushed. If not, the freezer industrial plant inwards a pinch. 

This is what the dough ball volition await similar – it may await a chip dry out but that’s normal! We don’t desire it the dough to live over-hydrated. 

Gently flatten it a chip (I flattened it a tad much here, the below photos are a improve reference).

And roll tightly inwards plastic wrap!

5. Once your filling is ready to travel as well as your dough is chilled, gyre it out as well as transfer to your 9-inch pie plate (I recommend a drinking glass 1 similar this for beginners thus you lot tin ship away easily come across the crust to tell if it’s baked!) as well as reduce the overhang to virtually 2 as well as 1/2 to iii inches.

6. Fold the overhang over,  rolling it similar a rope, pinching it to the within of the crust, thus you lot receive got a thick rope of dough roughly the rim of the pie plate. Crimp using your index finger on the exterior of the pie plate, as well as guide the shape of the crimp or flute using your index finger as well as pollex on your other hand, from the within of the pie plate.

The within edges where you lot folded the dough over may await a tad messy but that’s fine! That purpose won’t exhibit because of the filling. Just seek to press the border onto the within of the dough equally best you lot tin ship away as well as motility on. 

7. If you’re making a unmarried crust pie (like pumpkin or pecan, where there’s no crust on top of the filling), at this indicate you lot desire to freeze the pie crust inwards the pan for xv minutes earlier filling, egg washing as well as baking! If you’re making a double crust pie, I yet recommend prepping the topping (crumble, lattice, or fifty-fifty a whole crust – it tin ship away live rolled out as well as chilled on a baking canvas inwards the fridge.) as well as filling ahead of fourth dimension as well as refrigerating it piece you lot acquire your bottom crust inwards the pan. Once your whole double crust pie is assembled, freeze for xv to a greater extent than minutes earlier egg washing as well as baking. 

8. Once your pie is filled as well as chilled, brush the crust alongside egg wash, sprinkle alongside coarse carbohydrate as well as bake!

To larn how to brand a lattice top crust for your pie, depository fiscal establishment stand upwards for out this video.

Pie Crust Troubleshooting

There are a few mutual (and a few not-so-common) mistakes that volition impede your pursuit of the perfect pie crust.

• Problem 1: Un-Flaky Pie Crust – This is caused yesteryear letting the dough sit down out besides long at room temperature – the butter volition melt at room temp rather than inwards the oven as well as you lot won’t receive got a flaky pie crust. The steam that’s released when the butter melts inwards the oven is what creates those lovely flakes inwards your crust.


• The Fix: If your dough is getting besides warm or melty when working alongside it, popular some plastic roll over it as well as motility it dorsum to the freezer for a 10-minute chill (or longer) to maintain the butter cold. You should live able to come across the bits of butter inwards the dough when it’s rolled out. (It’s hard to come across it inwards these photos, but it’s there!)

 

• Problem 2: Your lovely crimped crust edges melted off the edges of the pie plate piece your pie was baking – this had never happened to me until terminal week!


• The Fix: This is a two-fold problem. First, don’t lay your bottom crust into your pan as well as permit it sit down for a piece earlier trimming the overhang as well as adding the filling. The weight of the crust that’s hanging over the edges tin ship away crusade the dough roughly the top border to acquire dry out as well as tear. Combine that alongside dough that’s besides warm when it goes into the oven, as well as you lot receive got a not-so-great situation. So, don’t lay your bottom crust inwards the pie plate until you lot receive got your filling AND topping ready to go. Immediately reduce the overhang, add together your filling, as well as proceed from there. I always chill my assembled pie for an extra xv minutes inwards the freezer or thirty minutes inwards the refrigerator earlier egg washing as well as baking!

 

• Problem 3: Your pie dough is hard to function alongside – it’s besides dry out as well as crumbly, or it’s besides wet as well as sticky.


• The Fix: Getting the wet of the pie crust correct is thus of import – besides much H2O or besides niggling H2O tin ship away crusade problems. Make certain you’re adding the mutual depression temperature H2O exactly a bit at a fourth dimension (it’s easier to add together to a greater extent than than to seek as well as compensate for dough that’s besides wet later), stirring alongside a fork to evenly distribute it. The dough is moist plenty when you lot tin ship away catch a chunk as well as it holds together, similar a dough – but yet looks a tad dry. I travel over this inwards to a greater extent than particular inwards the recipe equally well. You tin ship away ever add together a chip to a greater extent than flour to assist dry out things up, if it’s besides sticky.

 

• Problem 4: You can’t acquire the rolled-out pie dough into your pie pan without it tearing.


• The Fix: This could live caused yesteryear dough that’s besides gluey (see occupation 3) or yesteryear dough that’s been rolled besides thin. Make certain you’re rolling your dough to virtually 1/8′” thick – no thinner. Also brand certain that you lot floured your surface well, as well as fifty-fifty flour your rolling pin. Aside from those things, in that location are 2 ways to acquire your dough into your pan. You tin ship away gently crease it inwards one-half lengthwise, as well as thus inwards one-half over again widthwise, making sort of a funnel shape, as well as elevator that into your plate, centering the point, as well as gently unfolding the edges. You tin ship away also gently roll the dough roughly a floured rolling pin. Roll the dough dorsum over the rolling pin, without lifting it off the counter much – slide the pie plate underneath as well as mantle the dough dorsum over it – this is my preferred method – I detect that folding the dough tin ship away fissure it thus I truly never do it that way!

 

• Problem 5: Your dough is groovy a lot when you’re rolling it out.


• The Fix: Your dough needs to sit down at room temp for virtually 10-15 minutes in 1 lawsuit it’s been chilled thus it’s workable. Stop rolling as well as give it a few minutes, as well as thus seek again. You tin ship away also sort of force the cracked edges together alongside your hands to seal them up. Before I start rolling out the dough, I similar to concur my rolling pivot vertically, as well as whack the dough 4 times, moving across it, as well as and thus repeating inwards the other management (side to side as well as top to bottom) – as well as thus I start rolling it for real. It exactly helps acquire things moving when it’s thus mutual depression temperature at nowadays out of the refrigerator or freezer.

 

• Problem 6: You tore a hole inwards the pie crust in 1 lawsuit you lot got it into the pie plate.


• The Fix: No demand to start over! Just catch a fight of dough from trimming the border overhang as well as field the hole. Grab/make 1 that’s exactly slightly bigger than the tear. Dip your finger inwards a bowl of mutual depression temperature H2O as well as run it roughly the border of the fight as well as roughly the border of the hole (you’re non trying to add together extra H2O here, but the dough needs to live a tad wet to stick). Place the fight over the hole as well as gently tap the edges of the fight into the surrounding dough, as well as thus dip your finger inwards the flour as well as gently tap the patched location to counteract whatever wetness. The same technique industrial plant if you lot receive got a brusque location on the border of the crust where in that location isn’t plenty dough to brand a crimp.

I also recommend taking off whatever rings when making pie dough – your hands volition acquire messy as well as you lot volition acquire niggling bits of pie dough stuck inwards all the tiny crevices of your ring. Not that I know this from experience.

Also, banker's complaint that MOST pie recipes telephone telephone for a 9-inch pie dish, thus I recommend buying or using a 9-inch one.

Pie Recipes:

Now that you’re a pie crust master, lay your skills to utilization alongside these delicious recipes!

Savory Pies:

Perfect Breakfast Quiche – Full of amazing flavour as well as perfect for brunch!

Mixed Vegetable Galette – Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 fun dinner selection – as well as it’s super healthy, since, you lot know – vegetables. 

 

Sweet Pies:

Cranberry Apple Slab Pie alongside Maple Glaze –  Perfect for feeding a crowd! 

Classic Fruit Galette – Filled alongside juicy blueberries as well as cherries.

Chocolate Pecan Bourbon Pie – One of our FAVORITE pies ever! Great for Thanksgiving, as well as it’s a great selection if you lot don’t similar traditional pecan pie. 

Dutch Caramel Apple Pie – Another Thanksgiving favorite – tender, spiced apples as well as salted caramel sauce alongside a crumble topping. 

Homemade Blueberry Pop Tarts – Fun to brand as well as perfect for dessert or brunch! They gustatory modality 100x improve than store-bought.

Cherry Bourbon Pie alongside Crumble Topping – Made slowly alongside a crumble topping, as well as that bourbon cherry filling – SO good!

Maple Pie alongside Brûléed Topping – Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 unique pie that’s sweet, creamy, as well as topped alongside a layer of brûléed carbohydrate – exactly similar on a creme brûlée. Serve alongside whipped cream!

Salted Caramel Pear Galette – Pears shine inwards this galette that’s topped alongside salted caramel sauce. 

 

Hand Pies: 

Cherry Hand Pies – Portable pies are the best variety of pies – made alongside a sweetness cherry filling. 

Cherry Cobbler for Two – The perfect wintertime dessert! Makes exactly 2 servings. 

Pumpkin Pasties – Personal-sized pumpkin paw pies filled alongside a buttery, maple pumpkin filling. Yes, please! 

 

Did you lot brand this recipe? Snap a photograph as well as travel out a comment! 

Be certain to  and tag alongside your photo! You tin ship away also ship service a photograph of your recipe to the . I’d dear to come across what you lot make! Be certain to travel out a comment + rating if you lot brand this recipe thus I tin ship away come across how you lot liked it!

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Perfect Pie Crust

The best flaky, buttery, flavorful pie crust! This recipe makes plenty for a two-crust pie, or 2 one-crust pies. I'll walk you lot through the procedure alongside tons of tips, tricks, as well as photos!

Course

Dessert

Cuisine

American

Keyword

How to Make Pie Crust, Perfect Pie Crust Recipe, Pie Crust Recipe, Pie Crust Tips as well as Tricks

Prep Time 20 minutes

Chill Time 2 hours 15 minutes

Total Time 2 hours 35 minutes

Servings 2 crusts

Author Stephanie Simmons

Ingredients

• 
  3
  cups
  all-purpose flour
  


• 
  3/4
  tsp
  salt
  


• 
  1
  tbsp
  sugar
  


• 
  2
  tbsp
  shortening
  


• 
  16
  tbsp
  cold butter (2 sticks)
  (I ALWAYS utilization salted butter!)
  


• 
  9-10
  tbsp
  ice-cold water
  

Instructions

1. 
   

   Please Read This Before You Begin: Make certain your filling as well as topping (crumble, lattice, etc.) are ready to travel earlier you lot gyre out your bottom crust as well as lay it inwards the pan - I explicate why inwards the ship service inwards a higher identify - it tin ship away acquire weak as well as dry out if you lot permit it sit down inwards the pie plate besides long piece you lot brand the filling as well as topping. Don't do it!

   Read through the directions in 1 lawsuit earlier you lot begin, peculiarly if you're newer to making pie crust. This volition assist you lot to avoid whatever mistakes!

   I receive got lots of troubleshooting fixes inwards a higher identify inwards the torso of this post, thus if you lot receive got issues alongside your dough at whatever point, scroll dorsum upwards as well as read through those. 

   
   


2. 
   

   Making the dough: Before you lot begin, stair out out the H2O as well as popular it inwards the freezer thus it gets REALLY cold. Whisk together flour, salt, as well as carbohydrate inwards a medium mixing bowl. Next, accept the 2 sticks of butter out of the refrigerator (it’s of import that the butter is COLD for the crust to plow out). Unwrap as well as cutting into chunks. Add to the flour mixture as well as toss to coat them inwards the flour. Add alongside shortening (I never chill my shortening) as well as start to cutting inwards the fats using a pastry cutter or 2 forks (highly recommend getting a pastry cutter!) You've cutting it inwards plenty when in that location are generally pea-sized bits of flour coated butter, as well as the balance looks similar rattling modest crumbles (almost similar the powdery parmesan that comes inwards the shakers).

   
   


3. 
   

   Drizzle the mutual depression temperature H2O into the flour/butter mixture, 2 Tablespoons at a time, stirring alongside a fork after each addition. Stop adding H2O when the dough comes together easily as well as begins to cast large clumps. The dough shouldn't experience gluey or overly wet. If you lot tin ship away catch a handful of the dough, as well as it forms, well, dough when you lot squash it, it's ready! It volition yet seem a chip on the dry out side.

   
   


4. 
   

   Gently start to cast the dough into a ball - don't gyre it, exactly gather it as well as pat it until you lot receive got a ball. You tin ship away function it a chip to acquire some of the cracks out - do this inwards the mixing bowl or on a floured counter. Use a large knife or bench cutter to evenly separate the dough inwards half. Slightly flatten each one-half into a 1-inch thick disc. Wrap tightly inwards plastic roll as well as chill inwards the refrigerator for 2 hours (preferable) or inwards the freezer for 30-40 minutes earlier proceeding. 

   
   


5. 
   

   When rolling out the dough: Let the dough sit down at room temp for virtually 10 minutes earlier rolling it out or it volition yet live besides hard as well as it volition crack. Flour your counter as well as your rolling pin. Start inwards the middle of the disc, as well as gently gyre the dough out inwards all directions. Turn the dough betwixt each gyre to brand certain it's non sticking to the counter. Continue flouring the counter as well as rolling pivot equally you lot go. Smooth out/push together whatever cracked areas as well as proceed rolling. Flip your pie plate upside downward as well as lay it on top of the dough to come across if it's rolled out enough, allowing for a 2-3 inch overhang of dough roughly the border of the pie plate. Don't gyre the dough thinner than virtually 1/8". I unremarkably gyre my dough out to virtually sixteen inches across. 

   (I oftentimes similar to concur the rolling pivot vertically as well as give the dough disc 4 wacks across inwards each management earlier outset to gyre it out - it helps acquire inwards workable after it's been chilled.)

   
   


6. 
   

   Transferring dough to your pie plate: There are 2 ways to do this, but I don't recommend the inaugural of all 1 - I'll explicate below. 

   -Gently crease your dough into quarters, as well as lay it downward inwards the pie plate, alongside the indicate inwards the center, as well as gently unfold it. I detect that this method tin ship away crusade creases inwards the dough that volition as well as thus tear. I NEVER utilization this method! I recommend using the method below.

   -Gently as well as loosely roll your dough roughly the floured rolling pin, but don't elevator it far off the counter. Roll virtually one-half the dough roughly the rolling pin. Slide the pie plate nether the rolled part as well as gently mantle it dorsum over the pie plate. Gently press as well as shine it downward onto the bottom as well as onto the sides of the plate, making certain in that location are no gaps betwixt the dough as well as the pan. 

   
   


7. 
   

   Finishing Touches as well as Crimping the Edges: Once you've transferred your dough to the pie plate, reduce the edges alongside a kitchen pair of scissors or knife, leaving a 2-2 1/2 inch overhang. Fold the overhang over, into the within of the pie plate, rolling it similar a rope, pinching it to the within of the crust, thus you lot receive got a thick rope of dough roughly the rim of the pie plate. If it doesn't adhere to the within of the crust that is OK - we're going to freeze the crust earlier baking thus it won't matter. If you lot touching the dough a ton during this pace it volition melt as well as autumn inwards the oven fifty-fifty after freezing - trust me, I've learned the HARD way.

   Crimp the edges yesteryear using your index finger on the exterior of the pie plate, as well as guide the shape of the crimp or flute using your index finger as well as pollex on your other hand, from the within of the pie plate. Repeat all the way roughly the pie! You tin ship away brand your crimps equally large or modest equally you lot want. 

   Extra Chill Time - SUPER IMPORTANT STEP: Once the pie dough is inwards the pan (before egg wash), chill it inwards the freezer for an additional xv minutes to ensure that everything is overnice as well as mutual depression temperature earlier going into the oven.

   For a Single Crust Pie Or a Pie alongside a Crumble (Dutch) Topping: If you're making a unmarried crust pie (such equally a pumpkin pie or a pie alongside a crumble topping) you'll freeze the crust for xv minutes, egg launder the crust, pour inwards the filling, top alongside whatever crumble topping, if using, as well as bake it.

   For a Single Crust that Needs to live Blind Baked: Freeze the crust inwards the same way, skip the egg wash, as well as blind bake the pie equally directed inwards the recipe. I dear the method from the Sister Pie cookbook. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Use 1 as well as 1/2 pounds of beans or rice or fifty-fifty granulated carbohydrate inwards a pinch for your pie weights. Take the pie crust out of the freezer as well as gently press inwards a slice of foil thus that the edges are completely covered - you lot may demand to stagger 2 pieces to encompass it all. Pour inwards the pie weights as well as bake on a baking canvas for 25-27 minutes, or until the crimps are lightly browned when you lot elevator the border of the foil to depository fiscal establishment stand upwards for them. Let the pan cool for half dozen minutes on a cooling rack earlier removing the foil as well as weights. Let the pie crust cool earlier filling as well as baking again. This method should function alongside almost whatever recipe for a unmarried crust pie! I used it inwards my Bourbon Cherry Pie.

   For a Double Crust Pie: If you’re making a double crust pie, I yet recommend prepping the topping (a lattice or a whole crust – it tin ship away live rolled out as well as chilled on a baking canvas inwards the fridge) as well as refrigerating it piece you lot brand the filling as well as and thus acquire your bottom crust inwards the pan. Once your whole double crust pie is assembled, freeze for xv to a greater extent than minutes earlier egg washing as well as baking.

   Regardless of the type of pie you're making, don't skip this step! It volition assist ensure that the pie crust holds its shape as well as bakes upwards alongside that beautifully flaky texture.

   Egg Wash: I ever utilization an egg launder on my crust - it helps it brownish nicely inwards the oven! Beat 1 egg alongside 1 tbsp of milk - brush on all exposed parts of the crust using a pastry brush. Sprinkle crust alongside coarse carbohydrate as well as proceed to bake equally directed inwards the recipe you're using! I linked all of my pie recipes inwards this weblog post, inwards a higher identify the recipe!
   

   Preventing Burnt Crust: No affair how long the bake fourth dimension is for a pie, I ever start alongside virtually 20 minutes, as well as depository fiscal establishment stand upwards for the crust at that indicate to brand certain it's non browning besides quickly. If it is, lay a slice of foil across the top of the pie to forestall the edges from burning. You tin ship away also utilization a pie shield, but I detect that a slice of foil industrial plant exactly fine!

   If you're using partial bake times similar this, it's helpful to maintain a fight of newspaper as well as a pen nearby thus you lot don't lose rails of the bake time!

   
   


8. 
   

   Crust Decorations: Gather your pie dough scraps, gyre them out (no thinner than 1/4 - 1/8") as well as utilization a knife or leaf shaped cookie cutters to cutting designs! Brush alongside egg launder as well as sprinkle alongside coarse sugar. Bake on a parchment-lined baking canvas (use whatever temp your pie is baking at) for virtually 5-12 minutes (depending how large they are). They're finished when lightly browned. Top your pie alongside these pie crust designs! They function good for hiding whatever flaws inwards your crust, as well as they're fun!

   
   

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Source: bluebowlrecipes.com