A pie crust recipe that works perfectly for sweet and savory pies. This pie crust recipe is made by hand and makes a perfect pie crust every single time!
The perfect basic pie crust recipe makes any pie better – more magical even.
Growing up, I watched my Mother and Grandmothers quickly make pie crusts as if it were nothing in the world. However, when I first started baking my own pies, their knack for effortless pie crust escaped me. Well, that is until one day my Grandmother explained it all to me and the world of pie crust just made sense.
After that, I spent a whole afternoon practicing the art of the pie crust recipe until I got it just right.
Basically, the debate seems to exist on whether to use butter, shortening, lard, or some combination for the flakiest, best tasting pie crust. Some folks swear by using a food processor while my Grandmother only used two forks. Some people freeze all of the ingredients before mixing their pie dough and others do not. It can be quiet confusing, really.
But, I thought I’d share with you what I found as the perfect basic pie crust recipe that works with most pie fillings and can be made by hand fairly quickly. It always provides a flaky crust with lots of flavor that is sturdy enough to hold even the heaviest of pies well.
In other words, it’s a keeper of a recipe.
Here’s my basic pie crust recipe. I think you’ll love it for all sorts of delicious pies.
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup vegetable shortening
- ¼ cup butter + more for buttering pie plate or skillet
- 4-5 tablespoons ice water
- Butter a 9-inch pie plate or skillet and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour and the salt. Cut in the shortening and butter with a pastry blender or two forks until the mixture resembles a coarse meal.
- Gradually add enough ice water to the mixture while mixing with a wooden spoon until a ball of dough is formed.
- Pour the dough onto a lightly floured sheet of plastic wrap and form into a disc. Lightly flour the top of the pie dough and place another sheet of plastic wrap on top. Rolling from the center, roll until the dough is about a ⅛-inch thickness. Remove the top piece of plastic wrap, fold the dough over and lay across the pie plate and remove the bottom piece of plastic wrap. Press the pie dough lightly into the bottom and sides of the pie plate. Cover the pie plate with a piece of the plastic wrap and place in the freezer for at least 30 minutes to overnight.
- If pre-baking, use a fork and lightly prick the bottom and sides of the pie dough.Then preheat the oven to 425º F and bake the pie crust for about 8 minutes.
- If not pre-baking, simply fill the pie crust with pie filling and bake according to instructions for the pie recipe.
Preparation time does not include resting time in the freezer.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
From the Add a Pinch recipe archives, originally published 2012.
I am a little confused…I doubled for a two curst pie..correct..I seem to have lots of dough left…btw..I am 56 and I have been trying to master “the pie crust’ all these years..today was the best and easiest try I have ever had…pie is in the oven so I can’t say how the test is…but I still had that question if it is double or single crust recipe…Thank you for sharing…
Kerry,
The recipe is for one single 9-inch pie crust. I’m so glad you were able to “master” the pie crust with my recipe. xo
I am the worst pie crust maker there is!! I have tried every recipe out there!!
Hi Sissy!
I hope you give my pie crust a try! I recommend reading through my blog post and following this recipe.
I find this recipe to turn out great – and it’s pretty simple to make too! If you have any questions, please let me know! Enjoy it!
Thanks so much! xo
Do I thaw out the crust before baking it?
How on earth do you make that scalloped/rippled edge?!
Hi Angela,
I shape the edges with my fingers. I hope you enjoy the pie crust. They are so much fun to make! Thanks! xo