Easy methods to Make the Good All Butter Pie Crust

I first made my very own do-it-yourself pie crust from scratch once I was simply 9 years previous and have been doing it ever since. I nonetheless keep in mind the day as a result of my Mother and I spent most of it roasting sugar pumpkins to make an uber creamy and candy pumpkin pie filling.

To today, I nonetheless make all my pies and pie crusts from scratch. Not solely is it nostalgic, but additionally therapeutic and 10x higher than any store-bought pie crust. The love and care that goes into baking do-it-yourself pies is certainly one of a form.

As we speak, I’m going to share all of my ideas and methods for making the perfect flaky pie crust recipe that’s made with all butter and 0 shortening. It’s actually foolproof and no fail, and I’m SO excited so that you can attempt it.

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Butter vs. shortening in pie crust

The talk of butter vs shortening in pie crust has been occurring for many years, however personally, I consider an all-butter pie crust to be higher for just a few causes.

1. Higher taste: butter undoubtedly has higher taste and texture than shortening. So whereas shortening does have a better melting level, butter offers you a extra scrumptious crust with scrumptious flaky pockets.
2. Deliciously flakier: butter will produce a barely flakier crust. Since butter has a better water content material when in comparison with shortening, it’s going to supply a barely flakier crust. You’ll additionally discover that an all butter pie crust may have a puffier crust because of the layers of butter primarily steaming inside the flour.

Elements in the perfect do-it-yourself all butter pie crust

This straightforward pie crust recipe requires just a few easy elements that you simply probably have already got in your pantry, which is another excuse why it’s so nice.

• All goal flour
• Salt
• Sugar
• Chilly unsalted butter
• Vodka (non-compulsory however really helpful!)
• Ice water

Tools wanted to make pie crust

You’ll want these three items of apparatus to make sure excellent pie crust success:

1. Meals processor: I favor to make use of a meals processor for ease, however you may as well use a pastry cutter.
2. Rolling pin: a rolling pin is crucial to rolling out pie dough. At all times be certain that your rolling pin is properly floured earlier than rolling.
3. Pie pan: a traditional glass pie pan is ideal for baking your pies.

Ideas for making the proper butter pie crust

There are just a few important ideas and methods to making sure that your pie crust comes out excellent each time:

• Be sure that your butter is VERY chilly. Chilled butter is greatest when making pie crust, particularly because you’ll be working with heat palms. My advice is to cube up the butter, place on a plate and set within the freezer for not less than 15-Half-hour. This can even provide the alternative to get your entire elements out and able to go.
• Use vodka. I like to recommend utilizing vodka in your pie crust to attain an ideal, flaky crust. If that’s not potential for you, then you’ll be able to exchange vodka with 1 tablespoon buttermilk, milk or cider vinegar, I wouldn’t use greater than a tablespoon although (the remainder of the liquid needs to be water.) That is additionally assuming you’re solely making a single pie crust as an alternative of a double.
• Enable your pie dough to relaxation within the fridge for not less than Half-hour-1 hour. Resting your pie dough within the fridge will permit gluten to loosen up, the butter to harden and agency up inside the pockets of flour and provide you with a flaky, excellent crust.
• Thaw out your pie dough for a couple of minutes earlier than rolling. Earlier than you roll out your dough, permit it to take a seat out at room temperature for 5-10 minutes in order that it’s simpler to roll. If in case you have bother rolling it out, then merely wait one other 5 minutes.
• Strive to not overwork the dough. Don’t spend a ton of time processing the dough within the meals processor; you actually solely have to pulse it 10 occasions to get the butter to come back collectively into the dough earlier than including your liquid.
• Chill your crust within the pie pan earlier than including your pie filling. After rolling out your dough and putting it in your pie pan, cowl the pie crust and place it again within the fridge to get the dough again to being very chilly by chilling the fats within the crust. Once more, that is greatest for reaching a flaky pie crust and serving to to maintain the form of your crust upon baking. Alternatively, you’ll be able to at all times roll it out immediately, put it in your pie pan after which refrigerate the crust within the pan till you’re prepared to make use of.
• Be sure that your floor and rolling pin are well-floured: that is to forestall the dough from sticking to the floor or to the rolling pin.

Why use vodka in do-it-yourself pie crust?

I first keep in mind listening to about utilizing vodka in pie crust from Prepare dinner’s Illustrated, and it’s reworked my pie crusts into flaky little goddesses. Primarily, the idea is that vodka provides moisture to the dough and likewise prevents gluten within the pie crust from over-developing, leaving you a flakier pie crust and a pie dough that’s simpler to work with.

Don’t attempt to substitute one other alcohol for the vodka as you’ll not find yourself with the identical outcomes. If you wish to attempt a substitute, you’ll be able to attempt subbing in a tablespoon of cider vinegar, or a tablespoon of buttermilk or milk rather than the vodka.

Time to form your pie crust

As soon as you’re able to go, it will possibly really feel intimidating to really place it and form it onto your pie pan. Don’t fear! It’s simpler than you suppose with just a few easy directions and ideas:

• Roll out the dough: the dough needs to be about 1 inch bigger than the pie pan diameter. Don’t fear an excessive amount of about cracks, you’ll be able to patch them up as you go or simply begin over. The pie dough needs to be about 1/eighth inch thick when rolled out.
• Fold the dough. Take your rolled out dough and gently fold it in half with the intention to choose it up and switch it to your pie pan.
• Place the dough. Fastidiously unfold and ease the dough into the pan. Don’t fear if the dough cracks or messes up, simply reshape the dough right into a disk and roll out once more!
• Trim the surplus. As you place the dough into your pan, trim the additional crust across the edges of the pie plate and discard extra dough.
• Flute the perimeters. Lastly, flute the perimeters of the crust nonetheless you’d like. I usually use my finger and thumb to pinch the dough or you should utilize a fork! See above for a photograph instance, and take a look at the video to see it in motion.

Do I have to do a blind bake?

A blind bake, AKA a pre-bake or a par-bake, signifies that you partially bake your pie crust earlier than including the filling and baking all of it collectively once more. I personally don’t blind bake this pie crust earlier than making any of my pies as a result of the pies at all times end up excellent as-is!

Whether or not or not it’s worthwhile to do a blind bake earlier than baking your complete pie actually is determined by the pie recipe and the filling, so simply you should definitely take note of the recipe you’re following to see if a blind bake is really helpful. For instance, no bake pies typically require blind baking the crust as a result of the filling (in fact) is not going to be baked after including it to the crust.

High savory pies with this do-it-yourself crust

Not solely can you utilize this straightforward pie crust recipe to make a scrumptious crust on your favourite candy pie recipes, however you may as well use it to prime savory pies like my well-known hen pot pie and scrumptious broccoli cheddar hen pot pie!

As a substitute of putting the pie crust in your pie pan and shaping it as described above, you’ll merely:

1. Prepare dinner the savory pie filling
2. Add the filling to your pan
3. Fastidiously layer the crust on prime of the filling, press the perimeters to seal it
4. Poke just a few holes or slits to let the filling steam whereas it bakes!
5. Brush the crust with an egg wash so earlier than baking in order that it will get good and golden

See methods to make an all butter pie crust

Are you able to freeze pie dough?

Sure! I really like freezing pie crust earlier than baking as a result of then anytime I need to make a pie all I’ve to do is thaw it out and roll. Making and freezing pie dough forward of time can also be an effective way to avoid wasting time in the course of the hectic vacation season.

There are two choices for freezing pie dough.

1. Freeze, then roll out later. That is my favourite possibility. First make the recipe as instructed, then wrap in plastic wrap then wrap in foil and place in a reusable or freezer protected bag and freeze for as much as 3 months. As soon as able to make your pie, you’ll be able to thaw the frozen pie dough within the fridge for just a few hours, then roll it out and place in your pie pan.
2. Freeze within the pie pan. To avoid wasting further time, you’ll be able to freeze your pie crust earlier than baking proper in your pie pan. Merely roll out the dough, then freeze within the pie pan you propose on baking in. You’ll simply want to verify it’s well-wrapped with plastic freezer wrap, foil after which locations in a freezer bag. As soon as able to bake you’ll be able to add your filling on to the frozen crust and bake your pie as your usually would. You simply may have so as to add 5-10 minutes extra baking time.

Do that pie crust with these wonderful recipes

Don’t overlook to get all of our wonderful Thanksgiving recipes right here!

Should you make this pie crust recipe you should definitely go away a remark and a score so I understand how you favored it! Do you could have any ideas or methods for making the perfect pie crust? I’d love to listen to from you — go away a remark under!

This publish was initially revealed on November 11, 2019, republished on October 31, 2021, and republished on October twenty first, 2023.