Best Joy Of Cooking Pie Crust Recipes

JOY OF COOKING PIE CRUST RECIPE - (3.9/5)

Steps:

• Chill your fat and water! This is essential. Cut your butter into small pieces and add to your measured flour and salt. Cut the butter in quickly and then cut in the shortening. Your mixture should resemble coarse meal. Bigger lumps of fat are just fine; aim for pea-sized at biggest. Slowly add the water and watch closely as you work it in with the edge of a spatula or continue pulsing. It should still look dry. Grab some with your hand and squeeze. Did it hold together? Then you have enough water. If it didn't, or you're not sure, add a little more and mix quickly. Test again. Divide the dough in half to make single crust amounts. Wrap up the dough up by placing a portion of it on a piece of plastic wrap. Using the wrap, instead of your hands, push the dough into a flat disk. Refrigerate this for an hour or more. Sometimes dough gets too hard in the refrigerator. If this happens to you, let it warm up a little (15 or 20 minutes) on the counter before you roll it out. Using a lightly floured board, begin by rolling from the middle of the disk up. Turn the dough one quarter and repeat. To avoid toughening of the pastry, always roll in one direction and turn the dough often. For berry pies or other pies that may leak, roll the crust a little thicker. Carefully fold the dough in half, pick it up and lay across the pie plate. Open up the dough and gently work it into the plate. If it tears or splits, just pinch it together again, or use scraps to repair any holes. Crimp the edges. Use the dough as called for in your recipe. Some call for an unbaked pie crust, and some call for a baked pie crust.

DELUXE BUTTER PIE PASTRY DOUGH

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine flour and salt with a rubber spatula.
• Working quickly to prevent softening, cut the butter into 1/4-inch pieces. Add the butter to the dry ingredients.
• Using a pastry blender, cut the butter into pea-size pieces. Add the shortening.
• With a few quick swipes of the pastry blender, cut the shortening into large chunks and distribute throughout the bowl. Continue to chop with the pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-size pieces. Do not let the mixture soften and begin to clump; it must remain dry and powdery.
• Drizzle 6 tablespoon ice water over the fat and flour mixture. Cut with the blade side of the spatula until the mixture looks evenly moistened and begins to form small balls. Press down on the dough with the flat side of the spatula. If the balls of dough stick together, you have added enough water. If they do not, drizzle 1 tablespoons more ice water over the top. Cut in the water, then press with your hands until the dough coheres. The dough should look rough, not smooth.
• Divide the dough in half , collect each half in a square of plastic wrap and pull the plastic tight to form a cohesive round, flat disc. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, preferably for several hours, or for up to 2 days before rolling. The dough can also be wrapped airtight and frozen for up to 6 months. Thaw completely before rolling.
• Bake this crust in a preheated over at 450 degrees for 15 minutes. Let cool 20 minutes before filling.

OUR FAVORITE PIE CRUST

Steps:

• In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the flour, salt, and sugar. Add butter and pulse until coarse, pea-size crumbs appear, about 10 seconds. With the machine running, add vinegar and ¼ cup ice-cold water and process until the dough just holds together, about 30 seconds. Squeeze a small amount of dough between your fingers and if it is very crumbly, add more ice water, 1 Tbsp. at a time (2 Tbsp. maximum). Do not over process.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and push together into a rough ball. Knead a few times to combine, then divide into two equal balls. Flatten each ball into a disk with smooth edges (no cracks), cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to overnight. Do ahead: Dough can also be frozen for up to 3 months; thaw before using. Editor's note: This recipe was originally published in November 2014 as Our Favorite Pie Dough. Head this way for all of our best pie recipes →

PAT-IN-THE-PAN CRUST FROM THE 1997 VERSION OF JOY OF COOKING RECIPE

Steps:

• 1. Position rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 400 2. Whisk together the flour and salt (or food process for 10 seconds) 3. Add the pieces of butter and mash with the back of a fork or food process until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs 4. Drizzle the heavy cream over the top and stir or process until the crumbs look damp and hold together when pinched (add more liquid if you're not getting there) 5. Transfer the mixture into a 9-inch pie pan 6. Pat evenly over the bottom and sides with your fingertips and form an even crust edge 7. Crimp or flute the edge 8. Use a fork to poke holes regularly around the sides and bottom of the crust then bake until golden brown - 18- 22 minutes 9. Check regularly to see if any bubbles are forming and use the fork to deflate them. 10. Remove crust 11. If you are filling the crust with an uncooked mixture that will require further baking, whisk together the egg yolk and salt, then brush it thoroughly over the inside of the crust 12. Return to the oven and bake until the egg glaze sets - 1-2 minutes

JOY OF COOKING PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• If planning on using fresh pumpkin puree, prepare the night before. Slice pie pumpkins in half, leaving seeds in. Place cut side down on foil lined baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees until pierces easily with a fork, approximately 60-90 minutes.
• Once tender, remove and let cool. Remove the seeds and strings, then scoop out the pumpkin pulp and place into a large colander resting in a large bowl to catch the liquid. Cover and place in refrigerator overnight.
• The next day, remove the pumpkin from the fridge and allow to warm to room temperature for a couple of hours. Place the pumpkin pulp into a food processor (in two, 2 cup batches if making a double recipe) and process until smooth.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Combine the sugar, salt, and spices in a large bowl and blend together using a fork. Measure and add pumpkin pulp, evaporated milk, and eggs; mix until well blended.
• Line large pie pan with two crusts that have been rolled out to 11 inches to fit the pie pan, crimp the edges. Pour pumpkin pie mixture into the pie crust.
• Bake for 15 minutes at 425 degrees, then reduce heat to 350 degrees, rotate pies in the oven, and cover the pie edges with a pie crust shield. Continue baking for another 45 minutes or longer until the edge of the pie reaches 205 degrees, and the center reaches 195 degrees.
• Remove the pie from the oven and allow to cool on a rack; store in the refrigerator when cool.
• Serve with sweetened whipped cream, if desired.
• NOTES: Makes one, 9-inch Single-Crust Pie. I always double this recipe and make two large pumpkin pies. I like to make my own pumpkin puree and I also grate my own nutmeg and make sure to get the best cinnamon and ginger I can get my hands on.

JOY OF COOKING APPLE PIE RECIPE - (3.4/5)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Prepare unbaked pie crust in 9-inch pie pan. Modify sugar amount based on tartness of apples, and modify cornstarch based on juiciness of apples. If dry, add some water or lemon juice. Stir apples gently until coated. Place in layers in pie shell. Dot with 1 1/2 tablespoon butter Cover pie with pricked upper crust. Bake 10 minutes at 450°F. Reduce heat to 350°F. Bake until done, 35 to 45 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle top with sugar and cinnamon, brushing with milk first. Alternately, replace upper crust with streusel