• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Free Instant Pot Recipe Guide! download now!

FREE 5 Instant Pot Meals in 5 Minutes E Course!


Thank you for subscribing!


Formerly Your Homebased Mom

  • About
  • Latest
  • Contact
NEW! Watch on youtube!

Your Homebased Mom

Leigh Anne Wilkes

  • Recipes
    • Course
      • Appetizers
      • Beverages
      • Bread
      • Breakfast and Brunch
      • Dessert
        • Bars and Brownies
        • Cake
        • Candy and Treats
        • Cookies
        • Ice Cream
        • Pie
      • Main Dishes
      • Salads
      • Sandwiches and Burgers
      • Sauces and Dressings
      • Side Dishes
      • Soup
    • Cooking Method
      • Crock Pot
      • Grilling
      • Instant Pot
      • One Pan
      • Oven
      • Quick and Easy
      • Recipes for Two
    • Ingredients
      • Beef
      • Eggs
      • Pasta
      • Pork
      • Poultry
        • Chicken
        • Turkey
      • Seafood
      • Vegetarian
      • Gluten Free
    • Cuisine
      • American
      • Asian
      • European
      • Indian
      • Italian
      • Mediterranean
      • Mexican
    • Holiday
      • New Year’s Eve
      • Valentine’s Day
      • St. Patrick’s Day
      • Easter
      • 4th of July
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
      • Christmas
  • Travel
    • Europe
    • United States
      • New York City
      • Portland
    • What To Wear
  • Life
    • Home
    • Party Ideas
    • Empty Nesters
    • Church
      • Activity Day
      • Relief Society
    • Organizational Tips
    • Recommended Reads
  • New? Start Here
  • Subscribe for weekly recipes

    FREE 5 Instant Pot Meals in 5 Minutes E Course!


    Thank you for subscribing!


Recipe Finder

  • Course
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Bread
    • Breakfast and Brunch
    • Dessert
    • Main Dishes
    • Salads
    • Sandwiches and Burgers
    • Sauces and Dressings
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup
  • Cooking Method
    • Oven
    • Crock Pot
    • Grilling
    • Instant Pot
    • One Pan
    • Quick and Easy
  • Ingredients
    • Beef
    • Eggs
    • Pasta
    • Pork
    • Poultry
    • Seafood
    • Vegetarian
    • Gluten Free
  • Cuisine
    • American
    • Asian
    • European
    • Indian
    • Italian
    • Mediterranean
    • Mexican
  • Holiday
    • New Year’s Eve
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
Home / Latest Posts / Recipes / Course / Dessert / Pie / Perfect Pie Crust Recipe and Tutorial

Perfect Pie Crust Recipe and Tutorial

Jump to Recipe Print Video Share
Share on:
By: Leigh Anne WilkesPosted: 7/15/18Updated: 8/11/20

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure policy here.

How to make the perfect pie Crust tutorial, all the tips and tricks.

Making the Perfect Pie Crust is easy with this step by step tutorial.  The results are a perfect crust every time.  And all perfect pies start with a perfect pie crust.  That is what makes pie crusts so intimidating.

unbaked pie crust

I used to be scared of pie.  Because nothing can ruin a good pie quicker than a bad pie crust!  Pie crust should be flaky and tender and never tough.  And there are so many pie crust recipes out there.  Some swear by shortening and others promise perfect results with butter.  I am here to take all of the worry out of baking the perfect pie crust.

Perfect pie Crust

Perfect Pie Crust

Several years ago a friend and I did a pie crust bake off.  We tried all different recipes and combinations to see which one we thought was the flakiest and the most tender.  And today’s recipe is the one I liked the best.  It is a combination of shortening and butter, so you get the best qualities of both.

Pie Crust is really pretty easy to make.  The trick is to remember to be gentle and to handle it as little as possible.  Overworking the dough and handling it too much will pretty much guarantee a tough crust.  Today I’m going to share with you my Perfect Pie Crust Tutorial for flaky and tender pie crust every time!

How To Make Pie Crust

Step 1:  Combine shortening, butter, flour and pinch of salt in a deep bowl.

Pie Crust Ingredients in a bowl

Step 2: Using your hands or a pastry blender, combine the ingredients until little pebbles form. Using a pastry blender will help keep the dough from getting too warm.

Step 3:  Your water needs to be cold.  I put some water in a cup and then fill it with ice cubes.  You don’t need much water.  I can’t tell you the exact amount because it will vary according to the day, the weather, etc.  I just splash a small amount into the bowl and then use a fork to start “fluffing” the dough until it starts to hold together.

Cold Water for Pie Crust

Do not pour a bunch of water into the bowl! Add it teaspoon by teaspoon just until the dough holds together. Use your hands to form it into a ball.  The dough should be soft and moist, but not wet.

pie crust in a bowl

Step 4: Divide dough into two balls. While working with one keep the other covered so it doesn’t dry out.  Or if you only need one pie crust, you can freeze the second piece for later. If the dough has gotten warm, wrap it in plastic wrap and chill it for 30 minutes or so to make it easier to work with.  When ready to work with it, place the dough you are using on a layer of wax paper and flatten it.

pie crust on a marble slab

Pie Crust Tutorial

Step 5: Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out into a circle. If you are using a 9 inch pie plate make sure your circle is bigger than 9 inches. Use flour to keep the dough from sticking to the rolling pin.

Rolling Out Pie Crust

Step 6:  Lift up the wax paper and flip the pie crust over and into the pie pan.  Remove wax paper and press the dough into pie pan.

Pie Crust in a dish covered with wax paper
Step 7: Using your fingers, form an edge around the pie and then if you are not using a top crust, flute the edge of the crust.

pie crust edge

hands crimping pie crust edges

Step 8:  Cover the pie with foil or plastic wrap.  Put covered pie in the freezer for about 30 minutes to allow the pastry to firm up a bit and to prevent shrinkage while baking.

covered pie crust

Step 9: Then, depending on the type of pie you are making you may fill the pie or bake the crust first. For Grandma Zola’s Chocolate Meringue Pie I blind baked the crust first.

homemade pie crust

How to Blind Bake a Pie Crust

Blind baking is the process of baking a pie crust without the filling.  Baking blind is done for cream pies where the filling will not be baked.  It is also used for pies and quiches when the filling has a shorter bake time than the crust.  Blind baking is also used to keep a pie crust from becoming soggy due to a wet filling. It is also called pre-baking.

There are a couple different methods for blind baking a pie crust.

    • After placing pie crust in pie plate, freeze for 30 minutes.
    • Remove from refrigerator and line your pie crust with parchment paper.  Fill with pie weights which are ceramic or metal beads.  You can also use rice or dried beans.  Remove the weights and paper after  Bake at 425 degrees F for 12-15 minutes and then remove weights and paper, the crust will just beginning to turn golden brown. Bake for an additional 5-10 minutes or until crust is totally golden brown
    • An easier method is to pierce the crust with a fork to produce small holes after freezing for 30 minutes.  The holes will allow steam to escape and prevent crust from bubbling up.  Bake at 425 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

 

What to Bake with Your Perfect Pie Crust

  • Grandma Zolas Chocolate Meringue Pie
  • Beef Pot Pie
  • Skillet Apple Pie
  • For a fun idea to use up your pie crust scraps check out my Pie Fries post!

For all of my other favorite kitchen products and tools visit my Amazon Store.

Did you know I wrote a cookbook?  Check out the Holiday Slow Cooker Cookbook for 100 delicious recipes.

 

Perfect Pie Crust Recipe

 

4.53 from 19 votes
Pie Crust Tutorial

Perfect Pie Crust

Recipe From: Leigh Anne Wilkes
Making the Perfect Pie Crust is easy with this step by step tutorial.  Perfect pie crust every time!
serves: 24 servings
Prep:13 minutes
Cook:12 minutes
Total:25 minutes
Rate Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 C all purpose flour
  • 1/2 C butter
  • 1/2 C shortening
  • pinch of salt
  • ice cold water add teaspoon by teaspoon until right consistency has formed

Instructions

  • Place flour, salt, butter and shortening in bowl.
  • Use your hands to combine ingredients until small pebbles form
  • Add cold water a teaspoon at a time until the dough begins to hold together and form a ball.
  • Do not over handle the dough. Dough should be soft, moist but not wet.
  • Divide dough in half.
  • Place ball of dough onto wax paper and flatten. Place another piece of wax paper over the top and roll out the pastry into a circle. If your pie pan is 9 inch make sure your circle is bigger than 9 inches so you have enough for the edging..
  • Remove the top layer of wax paper and place pastry into pie tin. Remove other piece of wax paper and press pastry into pan. Use your fingers to crimp the edge of the crust.
  • Freeze for 30 minutes to firm up the pastry. This helps prevent pastry from shrinking during baking.
  • Prick the bottom of crust to prevent bubbling during baking.
  • If pie calls for a baked crust bake at 400 degrees. For the first 10-12 minutes keep the edges of pie covered with foil and then remove for the last 15 minutes. Bake until golden brown.
  • Recipe makes two 9" pie crusts

Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 119kcal (6%) Carbohydrates: 9g (3%) Protein: 1g (2%) Fat: 8g (12%) Saturated Fat: 3g (19%) Cholesterol: 10mg (3%) Sodium: 34mg (1%) Potassium: 13mg Vitamin A: 120IU (2%) Calcium: 3mg Iron: 0.6mg (3%)
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full disclosure here.
Course:Dessert
Cuisine:American
Keyword:crust, pie, pie crust
Pie Crust Tutorial
Did you make this?I love seeing what you made. Be sure to share a picture and tag @yourhomebasedmom on social media!
Tag on Insta! Leave a Rating

Need some help figuring out what’s for dinner tonight?

Come join our Facebook Group!  Join hundreds of others who love sharing dinner time ideas.  You don’t want to miss out on the fun!

You’ll find lots of ideas for dinner from all our awesome members and you can share your ideas too!  Join the Family Dinner Table today.

 

How to make the perfect pie Crust

Originally posted November 2012

Previous Post
Frosted Strawberry Lemonade
Next Post
Pesto Pasta with Sun Dried Tomatoes

Related Recipes

  • slice of chocolate chip cookie pie
    Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie
  • Coconut Cream Pie
    Coconut Cream Pie
  • Razzleberry Pie with ice cream
    Razzleberry Pie
  • Graham Cracker Crust in two pie dishes
    Graham Cracker Crust

Never miss a recipe!

Receive my FREE 5 Instant Pot Meals in 5 Minutes E Course and my FREE weekly meal plan.


Thank you for subscribing!


Reader Interactions

Leave a Review Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Made this? Rate this recipe:




  1. Karen Arnold says

    Posted on 11/24 at 9:49 am

    I’ve been using this recipe for years! It is the best pie crust recipe I’ve found. The only one that does justice to my grandmother’s pecan pie recipe (she never wrote out her crust recipe). Thank you for the tutorial too.

    Reply
  2. Kathie says

    Posted on 11/19 at 5:42 am

    Excellent recipes!

    Reply
  3. Lacie says

    Posted on 11/26 at 11:14 am

    if I need the crusts for tomorrow and want to make them in advance, should I just refrigerate them overnight? Or do I freeze them? And how long do they need to sit on the counter before I shape my crust after freezing? Thank you! I’m excited to try your recipe!

    Reply
    • Leigh Anne says

      Posted on 11/26 at 11:21 am

      Just wrap them air tight and refrigerate. I would let them sit out for 20-30 minutes before rolling it out. You don’t want it too warm but if it is straight out of the fridge it will be a little hard to roll out. Enjoy!

      Reply
      • Lacie says

        Posted on 11/26 at 11:48 am

        Thank you for responding so quickly! You saved me ???? Have a wonderful holiday season!

        Reply
        • Lacie says

          Posted on 11/26 at 11:50 am

          Those were supposed to be !!!!!… it’s what happens when you have pie crust on your hands and don’t proof read ????

          Reply
Older Comments

Primary Sidebar

Welcome

After years of raising my own family and watching them start their own, I now dedicate my time to helping thousands of mothers and women live a more intentional life. Read more

Get my 5 Instant Pot Meals in 5 minutes e-Course for FREE!

Receive my FREE 5 Instant Pot Meals in 5 Minutes E-Course, This e-course includes my most popular Instant Pot recipes and my FREE weekly Meal Plan.


Thank you for subscribing!


Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window

Trending Now

overhead shot of cinnamon rolls

One Hour Cinnamon Rolls

plate of smashed potatoes and a fork

Smashed Potatoes

overhead shot of bowl of almond chicken

Almond Chicken

baked riblets

Easy Oven Baked Riblets

No knead bread in a pan

Instant Pot Bread

Tomato tart pieces

Easy Tomato Tart

spoon full of mac and cheese

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

Almond Torte

  • Crock Pot
  • Instant Pot
  • Chicken
  • Breakfast
  • Appetizers
  • Bread
  • Salad
  • Dessert

Order my Cookbook, Holiday Slow Cooker!

Buy Now!
Back to Top
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure
  • Contact
© 2013–2021 Leigh Anne Wilkes Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled