Pie Crust Recipe

Here comes the best Easy Buttery Flaky Pie Crust Recipe for any filling of choice! Always make the perfect flaky pie crust or pie pastry for Thanksgiving or a weekend meal!

Trust me, I use this recipe for all of the pies I serve to my family, and all of them have turned out splendidly!

This pie crust pastry recipe will give you the best results every time!

How to Make Pie Crust

Get ready to make an easy yet quality pie crust that will leave you craving more.

Ingredients

These are my secret ingredients for making the best pie pastry:

Plain flour

According to The Kitchn, flour gives structure and flexibility to the crust. It also serves as a binder to make the dough easy to knead. The most recommended ones are all-purpose or pastry flour. 

My favorite flour recipes include Pancakes, Donuts, and Pound Cake.

Butter

Butter incorporates great flavor, especially when it melts into the pie. It has a custard-like taste and an appetizing aroma to make the pie appealing. Using cold butter can also add to the flaky quality of the pie. 

Fresh milk

Fresh milk is one of the best liquids to make dough. It can give a pie a golden brown color and pleasant flavor. It also binds the dry elements for kneading. 

If you’re a vegan, you can use Almond Milk instead.

Egg

Using an egg for pie pastry helps improve the dough’s elasticity. The egg is also a glaze for a fresh and crispy crust. It reacts with the flour for fluffy pie!

Seasoning

Even if added in small amounts, sugar and salt can make a huge difference in your recipe. They balance and intensify the flavors of the dough for a well-distributed taste throughout the pie. 

With these simple pastry ingredients, you can make the best pie crust. You will get the right texture and color at every attempt! The crust is guaranteed to make any filling yummier!

Directions

Check out how effortless this Pie Pastry recipe is!

1. Use a fine-mesh sieve to filter the flour, sugar, and salt over a large bowl.
2. Mix the butter and dry ingredients with your hands or a whisk until crumbly.
3. Incorporate the egg and evaporated milk and knead. 
4. Place the dough in a bowl and cover it with cling film to let it rest in the fridge for an hour or overnight. 
5. Once ready to use, slice it into two with a dough cutter.
6. Roll it out with a rolling pin to fit the bottom and top of the pie pan. 

Don’t forget these steps for every pie recipe! You can achieve the best-tasting and perfectly textured pie crust every time. This pie pastry is guaranteed to ensure you’re serving delicious pie!

Tips

Storing pie crust ingredients

Most of the ingredients of the pie crust can be kept at room temperature. Meanwhile, the butter is best refrigerated, especially a few hours before use.

On the other hand, unopened fresh or evaporated milk can last up to two weeks in the fridge. Once opened, transfer the contents into an airtight bottle to consume within three days. 

Pie Crust Variations

Whether you’re into vegan or gluten-free dishes, there is a pie crust recipe that you can use. For vegan foodies, I recommend using vegan butter to replace ordinary butter. 

Instead of fresh or evaporated milk, substitute it with water, almond milk, or other dairy-free milk. You can also use egg alternatives. Meanwhile, you can also do a gluten-free version by replacing plain flour with gluten-free flour. 

Recommended Tools

• Glass bowl: Prepare the dough ingredients in a glass bowl.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Use the appropriate ingredients by measuring with cups and spoons. 
• Fine-mesh sieve: Filter the dry ingredients with a fine-mesh sieve. 
• Whisk: Mix the ingredients using a whisk.
• Cling film: Cover the bowl with cling film to let it rest.
• Dough cutter: Slice the dough using a dough cutter.
• Rolling pin: Roll out the dough with a rolling pin. 
• Pie pan: Mold the dough in a pie pan for the proper pie shape.
• Silicone brush: Baste the pie with egg wash using a silicone brush. 

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How to Use Pie Crust

The best thing about this pie pastry recipe is that you can use it for any filling. With this crust, every pie you make will be the best one yet. Here are some of the best ones you can try with this pie crust:

• Cherries
• Apples
• Rhubarb
• Dark Chocolate
• Pecans
• Pumpkin
• Meringue
• Strawberry Jam
• Turkey and Mushroom
• Chicken
• Beef
• Mashed Potatoes

To ensure you prepare the pie correctly, refrigerate it before pouring the filling. Let the dough rest in the fridge, allowing it to rise as it bakes.

Storage Tips

• At room temperature: Put the pie dough at room temperature when ready to use it. Let it sit unrefrigerated for about 30 minutes before use. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is pie pastry called?

Pie pastry is called “pie crust” because it is flaky and tasty and surrounds the flavorful filling. It may be called differently in other countries and in recipes.

What are the three types of pie crust?

According to Food for Thought, there are three types of pie crusts. Brisée is the pie pastry perfect for the savory meat filling. I used it for my Turkey and Mushroom Pie recipe. 

Meanwhile, there is also sucrée –  a sweet and light crust commonly used for fruits, creams, and chocolates. On the other hand, sablée also has a sweet but sandy texture. It is usually prepared for fruit tarts. 

What is pie pastry made of? 

Pie crust or pastry is usually made of flour, butter, sugar, salt, egg, and milk or water. However, these are highly customizable depending on your dietary needs.