Best Skinny Piecrust Recipes

PERFECT PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Dice the butter and return it to the refrigerator while you prepare the flour mixture. Place the flour, salt, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse a few times to mix. Add the butter and shortening. Pulse 8 to 12 times, until the butter is the size of peas. With the machine running, pour the ice water down the feed tube and pulse the machine until the dough begins to form a ball. Dump out on a floured board and roll into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Cut the dough in half. Roll each piece on a well-floured board into a circle, rolling from the center to the edge, turning and flouring the dough to make sure it doesn't stick to the board. Fold the dough in half, place in a pie pan, and unfold to fit the pan. Repeat with the top crust.

MY FAVORITE PIE CRUST RECIPE

Steps:

• Combine the flour, salt and baking powder in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Process for 5 seconds to blend.
• Add the butter and shortening. Pulse until you have coarse crumbs with lots of pea-sized clumps of butter and shortening within, 15 to 20 one-second pulses.
• Add the water and pulse until the mixture is just evenly moistened and very crumbly, 7 to 10 one-second pulses.
• Dump the crumbly dough out onto a work surface and gather it into a ball.
• Pat the dough into a 5-inch disc and wrap it in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 45 minutes or up to 3 days to rest.
• Take the dough out of the refrigerator and dust your work surface lightly with flour. Place the dough on top and sprinkle a little flour over the dough. Use your hands to quickly knead the dough into a soft and malleable disc (don't overwork it; you want it just supple enough to roll).
• Roll the dough, turning it frequently and adding more flour as necessary so it doesn't stick, into a 13-inch circle.
• Fold the dough into quarters without creasing it and transfer it to a 9-inch deep-dish pie pan.
• Gently fit the dough into the pan, easing it inwards rather than stretching it outwards. Don't worry if it tears, just patch it right back up.
• Trim the edges to ½-inch beyond the lip of the pie pan, if necessary. Turn the edges under to create a rim on the crust (you can use the scraps to patch in any thin areas); then press the rim against the lip of the pan, forming it into an even edge as you go. Using your fingers, crimp the rim. Place the crust in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, and then proceed with your pie recipe.
• If your crust requires blind baking: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Remove the crust from the refrigerator and cover with a piece of parchment paper. Fill the crust at least halfway full with dried beans or pie weights. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the crust is pale and partially cooked. Remove the parchment and dried beans/pie weights and proceed with your pie recipe.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The pie crust dough can be frozen for up to 3 months after you've formed it into a disc. Wrap it tightly in a layer of plastic wrap and a layer of foil. Before using, thaw the dough in the fridge overnight and then proceed with the recipe.

EASY 3-INGREDIENT LOW-FAT GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Place all the ingredients into a food processor and pulse a few times.
• Add 1 tbsp water and pulse a few more times until it has a texture of coarse meal.
• Press into an 8-inch pie dish making the crust about 1/8-inch thick evenly all around and up the sides.
• Refrigerate the crust for 30 minutes before you bake it, this will help prevent crumbling when you want to serve it.
• Bake until the edges are golden, about 8 to 10 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let the crust cool on a wire rack, before filling.

PIE CRUST

Steps:

• In a food processor, pulse together the flour and salt. Add butter and pulse until the mixture forms lima bean-size pieces. Slowly add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse until the dough just comes together. It should be moist, but not wet.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gather into a ball. Flatten into a disk with the heel of your hand. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 2 days.

BEST EVER PIE CRUST

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in water until mixture forms a ball. Divide dough in half, and shape into balls. Wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
• Roll out dough on a floured counter. Don't over work it. Use as directed in pie recipe.

THIN BUTTER CRUST

Steps:

• 1. Mix together the flour and salt. Cut the butter into pieces the size of a walnut (about 1 1/2 tablespoons). Mix the flour and butter together in a large bowl, using only your hands, until the butter begins to break up.
• 2. When the flour has just begun to pick up a little color from the butter , add the water, a bit at a time, and mix until the dough starts to come together. Since the exact amount of water needed will always vary, you have to develop a feel for how much to use.
• 3. Remove the dough from the bowl to a floured surface and knead briefly, just until the dough begins to smooth out. Wrap in waxed paper or plastic wrap and refrigerate immediately. Allow the dough to rest for at least 30 minutes.
• 4. When ready to roll out the dough, divide it in half. Place one half on a floured surface; return the other half to the refrigerator. To roll out the dough, form each half into a flat circle and quickly roll it out in the shape required. Always roll the dough very thin (about 1/4 inch). Line the pie pan with one half and set aside the second half for the upper crust. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• 5. When assembling the pie, wet the edges where the two crusts join, to form a seal. Using your thumb and index finger, crimp them together. Make vents for the steam to escape.
• VARIATION
• Roll out the dough in one piece and cut out circles 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter larger than the tartlet forms. Place the circles in the forms and line with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Add beans, rice or pie beads. Prebake blind at 350 degrees. Cooking time is determined by final use.