Description

This All Butter Pie Crust recipe delivers a flaky, tender base perfect for both sweet and savory pies. Made with cold unsalted butter and all-purpose flour, this crust provides excellent texture and richness. Optional ingredients and substitutions allow customization like herb-infused, whole wheat, gluten-free, or sweetened versions, making it versatile for various pie recipes.

Ingredients

Scale

Basic Ingredients

1 cup (225g) cold unsalted butter, cubed
2 1/2 cups (312g) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon granulated sugar (optional)
6 to 8 tablespoons ice cold water

Optional Ingredients for Variations

Chopped fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme) for herb-infused crust
Substitute half the flour with whole wheat flour for a whole wheat blend
Gluten-free flour blend with xanthan gum for gluten-free crust
Extra sugar (1-2 tablespoons) for sweetened crust
Cinnamon or nutmeg for spiced crust

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Instructions

Chill Your Ingredients: Place the cold unsalted butter and ice cold water in the refrigerator for at least one hour to ensure they remain chilled for the best flaky texture.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, and granulated sugar if using. This combines them evenly and prevents clumps when you add the butter.
Cut in the Butter: Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, cut the chilled butter into the flour mixture until pea-sized crumbs form. Leaving some larger butter pieces enhances flakiness.
Add Ice Cold Water: Slowly add the ice cold water one tablespoon at a time, gently mixing with a fork just until the dough starts to come together. Avoid overworking to keep the butter cold and dough tender.
Form and Chill the Dough: Gather the dough into two discs, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to hydrate the flour and relax gluten.
Roll Out and Use: Lightly flour your surface and roll each dough disc to about 1/8 inch thickness. Transfer to your pie dish, trim edges neatly, and proceed with your pie filling and baking as desired.

Notes

Keep all ingredients very cold to achieve a flaky crust texture.
Do not overwork the dough to prevent toughness.
Chilling the dough before rolling helps relax gluten and improves texture.
Feel free to add herbs, spices, or sweeteners to customize the crust.
For gluten-free crust, use a gluten-free flour blend with xanthan gum.
Use the crust immediately after rolling or keep refrigerated until ready to bake.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Baking
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American