I’m going to teach you how to make an easy, tender, and flaky pie crust. In fact, it’s my Never Fail Pie Crust!
This truly is a Never Fail Pie Crust. My sweet Hubs gave me a food processor for our anniversary this year. I had only made a pie crust once before and, although edible, it wasn’t the best crust I’d ever eaten! That was before the food processor!
I’ll have to say, cutting the shortening and flour together in the processor makes all the difference in a pie crust. I think I just wasn’t patient enough cutting them together by hand. So, if you’ve given up on the perfect crust, give this one a try. I think you’ll be happy you did.
And, I may just have a couple of recipes coming up that you’ll need this for! (wink, wink)
This crust is flaky; the secret to a flaky crust is to have your ingredients cold and handle it as little as possible. Don’t over-process the dough, stop when it just begins to crumble. Form a ball using your hands, don’t allow it to process until it reaches the ball stage.
I have used this for sweet as well as savory pies, tarts, and hand pies. I have not tried to freeze the dough since this recipe only makes one crust, but I have had friends recommend it with great success.
Mix ingredients in the food processor.
Handle with your hands as little as possible so the ingredients stay cold.
The crust will be dry. Pull it together, quickly, using hands.
Form dough into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate.
Roll crust thin and place in pie shell, make hand pies, tarts, or whatever your creative mind can imagine!
While you’re here, check out these recipes
- Tropical Pineapple Coconut Scones
- No Yeast Blueberry Cinnamon Rolls
- Blueberry Dessert Dumplings
- Lemon Cobbler
- 10 Best Cobbler Recipes
- Strawberry Shortcake Twinkie
Never Fail Pie Crust
Ingredients
- 1 and ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter cubed
- 5 Tablespoons shortening
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 Tablespoons ice water
Instructions
- Cute the butter and shortening into cubes. Freeze 30 minutes beforehand.
- Add salt and pulse 3 times for 3 counts each time.
- With the processor running, pour ice water into the bowl. Process just until the dough begins to get crumbly. Do not wait until it's a big clump. It will be way too moist at that point and will be tough.
- Stop the processor and dump the dough onto a sheet of plastic wrap. Using your hands, press the dough into a ball squeezing if necessary to make it stick together.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill it about 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Roll it out on a cool surface if possible. This will prevent the fat from melting. At this point you are ready to follow your recipe for baking.
Notes
Nutrition
Do you like cakes or pies better to make? to eat?
Pumpkin Pie Pop-Tarts
TenaRenee says
What if I screwed up being all busy and put my dough in the freezer instead of the fridge? Oops its frozen!!!
Paula says
I just saw this… move it to the fridge until it thaws but is still cold
Joan - My Cookie Clinic says
Paula, I’ve tried pie crust in a food processor and I’ve yet to master it. I think I put too much water in it. You’ve inspired me to try again….maybe for the upcoming Thanksgiving pies.
Paula says
I never had luck with pie crust before and I’ll have to say, I’m not confident with them so I’m very precise. I don’t find pie crusts easy to make at all and it stresses me, but when you get it right it’s so worth it. But, then, my Mom has always used the store bought crusts and no one complained 🙂
Eileen says
I started making my pie crusts when I was 12 years old without any help and it was very hard, but I think I finally got it mastered. I am now 60 years old and I am constantly trying new pie crust recipes.
Mary Malone says
Hi,
Thanks for the recipe! I never hav unsalted butter on hand. Could I just use salted butter? I know the pros use unsalted butter, but I’m just regular..~ ha~
Mary
Paula says
oh, absolutely, I forget to get un-salted all the time and use salted in this and cakes and really can’t tell that much of a difference.
Cindy Eikenberg says
I definitely need a new pie crust recipe, too, Paula! Thanks for sharing yours and pinning! Have a great Wednesday!
Paula says
Thank you, Cindy.
Danni@SiloHillFarm says
I could use a no-fail pie crust. I have never had success making them. Pinning! And thank you girl!
Paula says
I NEVER made pie crust until I found this recipe, hope you like it Danni!