Best Favorite Pie Crust Recipes

OUR FAVORITE PIE CRUST

Steps:

• In a food processor, pulse flour, salt, and sugar several times to combine. Add butter. Pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal, with just a few pea-size pieces remaining.
• Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons ice water. Pulse until dough is crumbly but holds together when squeezed with fingers (if needed, add up to 2 tablespoons more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time). Do not overprocess.
• Turn dough out onto a work surface; form dough into a 3/4-inch-thick disk. Wrap tightly in plastic, and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Before baking, unwrap dough; place on a large piece of floured waxed paper. Roll dough to a 14-inch round. Using paper, lift and wrap dough around rolling pin (discarding paper); carefully unroll over a 9-inch pie plate. Gently fit into bottom and up sides of plate.
• Trim overhang to 1 inch; fold overhang under itself. Pinch between thumb and forefinger to make a uniform edge around the rim. Crimp edge; refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

OUR FAVORITE PIE CRUST RECIPE-HOW TO MAKE A TENDER PIE CRUST

Steps:

• For a flaky, tender crust (as opposed to one that's harder, mealy, and more cookie-like), the following works well.
• Whisk together all of the dry ingredients, reserving a few tablespoons of the flour.
• Cut in half of the fat, working the mixture until it's mealy and crumbly.
• Place the reserved flour on your work surface, and coat the remaining fat with the flour.
• Use a rolling pin or the heel of your hand to flatten the fat till it's about 1/2-inch thick.
• Break this flour-coated fat into 1-inch pieces, and mix it into the dough, just till it's evenly distributed; some of the pieces of flour-coated fat should break into smaller pieces.
• Sprinkle the liquid(s) over the dough while tossing with a fork.
• Just as soon as the dough becomes cohesive (i.e., you can squeeze it into a ball easily), stop mixing; there should still be visible pieces of fat in the dough.
• Flatten the dough into a disk and wrap it in plastic wrap or waxed paper.
• Refrigerate for 30 minutes or longer; this resting period allows the flour to absorb the water, making the dough easier to roll out.
• Flour your work surface and roll the dough into a 12 x 9-inch (approximately) rectangle.
• (If it isn't holding together well, sprinkle it lightly with a couple of teaspoons of water.
• Fold the dough into thirds (like a letter), then fold it into thirds the opposite way, to form a rough square. Wrap it well and refrigerate again.).
• When you're "ready to roll," remove the dough from the fridge.
• If the dough is made with all lard and/or vegetable shortening, you'll be able to work with it directly from the refrigerator.
• A dough made with all butter will need to warm slightly (10 to 15 minutes) before rolling, as butter becomes brittle when it's refrigerated.
• Dough made with a combination of butter and shortening should rest for about 5 minutes at room temperature before rolling.
• Roll the dough to the size needed (about 13 inches for a 9-inch pie).
• Fill and bake as directed in your recipe.
• Note: in this particular recipe, cut all of the lard or vegetable shortening into the flour, then coat the butter with flour before adding it to the dough.

MY FAVORITE VINEGAR PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Mix salt with flour.
• With pastry cutter or fork and knife, cut shortening into flour mixture until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make sure there are no large pieces left.
• Add egg and knead in just until mixed.
• Quickly add vinegar and ice water all at once.
• Knead until dough is a cohesive, homogenous ball that just begins to pull away from sides. (Flour hands if necessary.).
• Divide into four equal balls for immediate use or to freeze. If it's a warm day, you may need to chill the dough just a few minutes to make it easier to roll.

MARK'S FAVORITE CLASSIC DOUBLE-CRUST APPLE PIE

Steps:

• For crust: Whisk flour and salt in large bowl to blend.
• Add butter and shortening and rub in with fingertips until very coarse meal forms.
• Sprinkle with 3 tablespoons water; toss until moist clumps form, adding more water by teaspoonfuls if mixture is dry.
• Gather dough into ball; divide in half.
• Flatten into disks.
• Wrap in plastic; chill at least 1 hour.
• (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated. Soften slightly at room temperature before using.) For filling: Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Spray 9-inch-diameter deep-dish glass pie dish with nonstick spray.
• Stir all apples, 3/4 cup sugar, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and vanilla in large bowl to blend.
• Let stand until juices form, about 15 minutes.
• Mix in flour.
• Roll out 1 dough disk on lightly floured surface to 12-inch round.
• Place dough in prepared pie dish.
• Spoon in filling; dot with butter.
• Roll out second dough disk to 13-inch round.
• Using small bottle cap, cut out ten 1/2-inch-diameter circles from dough for decoration; discard circles.
• Drape dough over filling.
• Seal top and bottom crust edges together; trim to 1/2-inch overhang.
• Fold overhang under; crimp decoratively.
• Brush pie with milk.
• Combine remaining 1 tablespoon sugar and large pinch of cinnamon in small bowl; sprinkle over pie.
• Transfer pie to baking sheet; place in oven.
• Immediately reduce temperature to 375°F.
• Bake pie until crust is golden brown, apples are tender and filling is bubbling thickly, covering edge with foil if browning too quickly, about 1 hour.
• Cool 30 minutes.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.
• (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover loosely; store at room temperature.).

BARB'S FAVORITE NEVER FAIL PIE CRUST

Steps:

• 1. Mix the flour and salt in a bowl.
• 2. Cut in the shortening until the size of small peas. (I do this using my hands for better control)
• 3. Add the vinegar to the milk and IMMEDIATLY combine with the flour mixture.
• 4. Mix, with your hands, until the dough holds together.
• 5. Roll out to desired size and proceed according to your pie recipe.
• 6. For single crust pies, bake at 350 degrees until golden.

MY FAVORITE PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Set out the solid margarine stick for a while on the kitchen counter to soften it.
• Mix flour, salt,and margarine with one hand in small bowl-1 1/2 quart size. You do not want the mixture to get too warm. Use your other hand to hold bowl or use 2 knives which is what I do.
• Mix until you have pea-sized pebbles.
• Chill for 30 minutes (or freeze and later defrost and continue with remaining directions).
• Remove bowl from refrigerator; add 1 tablespoon of icy cold water. Add more if you need to.
• Mix with one hand until mixture sticks together in a ball. Use other hand only to hold the bowl.
• Put additional flour onto counter and rolling pin.
• Roll dough into a circle for your pie.

FAVORITE PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Measure flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder into large bowl. Mix thoroughly and cut in lard until dough is the size of tiny peas.
• Break egg into 8 ounce measuring cup. Beat with a fork, then pour in vinegar. Add enough cold water to reach the top (you will have a total of 1 cup liquid). Pour over flour mixture a little at a time, tossing and stirring with a fork until all liquid is absorbed.
• Shape dough into a ball, then divide into four equal portions. Wrap tightly. Can be stored in refrigerator up to 2 weeks, or freezer up to 6 months. Each portion will make 1 double crust pie.

MY FAVORITE PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Whisk together all of the dry ingredients, reserving a few tablespoons of the flour. Work in the shortening, mixing until the mixture is the texture of sand and all the flour particles are coated. Now cut in the butter, but do not completely Incorporate it. You want small pea sized dots of butter, this will add flakiness.
• Sprinkle the vinegar and ice water over the dough while tossing with a fork. Just as soon as the dough becomes cohesive (i.e., you can squeeze it into a ball easily), stop mixing; there should still be visible pieces of fat in the dough. Flatten the dough into a disk and wrap the two disks in plastic wrap or waxed paper. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or longer; this resting period allows the flour to absorb the water, making the dough easier to roll out.
• When you're "ready to roll," remove the dough from the fridge. Dough made with a combination of butter and shortening should rest for about 5 minutes at room temperature before rolling. If you've made the dough with all vegetable shortening, you'll be able to work with it directly from the refrigerator. A dough made with all butter will need to warm slightly (10 to 15 minutes) before rolling, as butter becomes brittle when it's refrigerated.
• Roll the dough to the size needed (about 13" for a 9" pie). Fill and bake as directed in your recipe.

MY FAVORITE FLAKY BUTTER PIE CRUST RECIPE

Steps:

• 1. Makes a double crust: Get a measuring cup fill with ice. Add cold water. Set cup aside.
• 2. Cut sticks of butter in half length wise. Turn over and cut in half again. You will have four pieces. Cut again width wise several times. You will have a little cubes of butter.
• 3. In a bowl Whisk the flour and salt together. Place mixture in a food processor.
• 4. Add butter to flour and pulse or blend until Butter is well incorporated. It should look like course crumbs.
• 5. Add 2 TB ice water to flour butter mixture. Pulse well. Add more water as needed by 1 tablespoon at a time. You will not be using all of the water. You will be using just enough to make the crust form a ball. (Do not add ice from water)
• 6. Turn food processor back on and pulse until it looks like it is beginning to form a ball. Remove from processor. The dough should easily form in to a pliable dough.
• 7. Divide dough in half,and flatten in to 2 disc's. Wrap well with plastic wrap. Place disc's in refrigerator for at least 3-4 hours. You may make the night before using. You may also freeze until ready to use. Roll dough out on floured surface until 11 inch circle is formed. Place in pie pan,and trim edges. Repeat for a top crust if needed. Makes enough for 1 bottom and 1 top, or 2 shells.
• 8. Note: before filling Crust. Beat an egg white. Brush bottom crust with egg white. This will prevent crust from getting soggy.

NANNY'S NEVER FAIL PIE CRUST- 5 STAR FAMILY FAVORITE

Steps:

• Cut crisco and butter into the flour and salt. Beat egg, vinegar and water.
• Mix the egg mixture into the flour mixture.
• Knead together then roll out into 3 pie crusts.
• Nanny would put them into a pie dish and cover and freeze for up to a few weeks.
• For a baked crust bake the crust for about 15 minutes at 375° till golden.

FAVORITE PIE CRUST FOR LEMON CREAM PIE

Steps:

• In a food processor, pulse flour, salt, and sugar several times to combine. Add butter. Pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal, with just a few pea-size pieces remaining.
• Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons ice water. Pulse until dough is crumbly but holds together when squeezed with fingers (if needed, add up to 2 tablespoons more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time). Do not overprocess.
• Turn dough out onto a work surface; form dough into a 3/4-inch-thick disk. Wrap tightly in plastic, and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Unwrap dough; place on a large piece of floured waxed paper. Roll dough to a 14-inch round. Using paper, lift and wrap dough around rolling pin (discarding paper); carefully unroll over a 9-inch pie plate. Gently fit into bottom and up sides of plate.
• Trim overhang to 1 inch; fold overhang under itself. Pinch between thumb and forefinger to make a uniform edge around the rim. Crimp edge; refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

FAVORITE PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Measure flour, sugar, salt and baking powder into a large bowl.
• Cut in lard until the size of tiny peas.
• Break egg into measuring cup and beat with a fork.
• Add vinegar and pour in enough water to measure 1 cup.
• Pour a little at a time over flour mixture, tossing and stirring with fork until all liquid is absorbed. You may not always need all of it.
• Shape pastry into a ball.
• Divide into 4 flat patties.
• Wrap and refrigerate.
• Wrap and refrigerate.
• Use with your favorite filling recipe.

OUR FAVORITE PIE CRUST

Steps:

• 1. In a large bowl, using a pastry blender, combine flour, salt, and sugar. Add butter, and cut in with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal, with just a few pea-size pieces of butter remaining. 2. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons ice water, and continue to work dough with pastry blender until crumbly but holds together when squeezed with fingers (if needed, add up to 2 tablespoons more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time). Do not overwork. 3. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface; form into a 3/4-inch-thick disk. Wrap tightly in plastic, and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour. (Or wrap in plastic, place in a resealable plastic bag, and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before rolling.)