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Home » Recipe Search » Pies & Tarts

Sep 7, 2020(last updated October 31, 2021)

How to Make Flaky Pie Crust

5 from 1 vote
BySam Adler
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This post might have affiliate links, please check out my full disclosure policy.

Today we’re talking all about how to make a flaky pie crust. I’m here to tell you that it is not scary, and you can do it. There’s only a few simple rules and techniques you need to follow.

This recipe is so easy that you can even make it in your stand mixer. YES I said stand mixer! I have found that it yields the same results as if I used a food processor or made the dough by hand. This recipe makes 2 pie crusts, one bottom and one top!

Unbaked pie crust with crimped edges on a white surface

Let’s start with the ingredients you need.

Ingredients

These are all simple and basic pantry ingredients but they all offer something special for the pie crust. This recipe uses a combination of butter and shortening for maximum flavor and flakiness!

ingredients for a flaky pie crust

Butter– This is gonna give you that great buttery flavor that we all love in a pie crust.

Shortening– I normally don’t use shortening in my desserts but shortening is what is going to give the pie it’s extra flakiness. It will not leave a waxy feeling on your tongue!

All purpose flour– If you can, use a high quality flour that has a lot of protein for the best results. I like using Bob’s Red Mill. A high protein flour means you’re baked good will have a better bite to it!

Salt– I always use kosher salt, not table salt!

Ice water- This helps bring it all together and keep the ingredients cold.

White Vinegar– say whattt? Yes vinegar! The vinegar helps to keep the pie crust from overmixing and keeps it from turning a dull grayer color

Butter Vs Shortening

There’s a lot of debate about this subject on the blogosphere.

I think if you are new to pie baking that it is easier to achieve a flaky pie crust using both shortening and butter. Some people use all butter but the risk of it melting is less because you have the shortening (Crisco) there to help!

Pro tip: Keep the fats cold

This is probably one of the most, if not the most important thing to remember when making pie crusts.

You need to keep your butter and shortening cold to have the best results.

Why is this so important?

The flakiness of the crust depends on the coldness of the fat! When the fat is kept cold it creates these small lumps in the pie crust. When placed in the oven, those lumps start to melt and release steam.

Cold fat is what creates flaky layers in your pie dough.

BUT if the butter melts before it hits the oven, you wont have those little lumps (insert Fergie song here) to melt. Instead of a flaky crust you will have a greasy and heavy pie crust.

For best results I keep shortening in the freezer and use butter straight from the fridge. I also place my mixing bowl and paddle in the freezer for 20 minutes or so before making pie crust.

Ok so now that we got that covered, let’s start making pie crust!

How to make it

Use your stand mixer to make this recipe, you don’t need to whip out your food processor hooray!

First add 2 1/2 cups of all purpose flour and 1 teaspoon of salt to your mixing bowl. Cut up the 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup shortening into small cubes and add it to the flour.

Butter and shortening cubed in a glass bowl on a stained brown surface

This is the part where you “cut in” the fat. This just means combining the flour and fat. The flour will create a coat over the little pieces of butter and shortening.

Connect the paddle attachment and mix on low- medium speed until you have crumbs the size of peas and smaller. About 2 minutes.

Flour, butter, and shortening mixture in a mixing bowl

In a measuring cup add 1/3 cup water and 2 ice cubes. This equals about 5-6 tablespoons.

Add the vinegar and then ice water 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough forms large clumps but not as a whole. Usually this comes together for me in about 4 tablespoons but might be a little bit more for you.

Pie dough crumbles in a metal bowl

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead lightly until it comes together into a ball. Using a bench scraper or large knife, cut the dough in half.

  • pie dough pieces on a floured white surface
    This is what the dough should look like when you stop mixing.
  • A disc of pie dough on a white surface
    Knead into into one smooth disc.

Wrap each half in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for a minimum of two hours or up to 3 days. Alternatively you can freeze it for up to 3 months.

  • Pie crust cut in half to form two crusts
    Cut the disc into two for two pie crusts.
  • 2 discs of pie dough wrapped in plastic wrap
    Shape into discs and wrap in plastic wrap.

Chilling

Do not skip this part!

The gluten in the dough that you just created needs some time to chill out and rest. Chilling will also help the butter specks and lumps stay cold so they will release their flakiness when baked.

Rolling

Take only one piece of dough out of the fridge to work on at a time. Unwrap it on a lightly floured surface.

If the dough is too hard, give it 5 minutes at room temperature. If it is sticking too much to your surface, it needs to go back in the fridge.

Starting rolling from the center of the dough, rotating it as you go around. If your rolling pin is sticking to the dough, dust it also with flour.

pie crust rolled out onto a large circle on a white surface

Roll it about 1/4″ inch thick. The pie crust should lift easily from your work surface. If it doesn’t, add a little more flour. Continue rolling and rotating the crust into a 10″ circle.

Getting the pie crust in the pan

Do not stress out about this.

If the pie crust cracks its ok, you can press it back together. Luckily this pie crust is super easy to use and should allow you to get it into the pan easily.

Lightly fold the pie crust over in half. Lift it up and unfold it into the pan. It does not have to be perfect!

  • pie crust folded over itself on a white surface
  • untrimmed pie crust in a tin pan

Best pan to use

I have found that the best pan to use and bake your pie crusts in is a metal or aluminum pie plate with sloped sides.

I always have a much harder time getting pie crusts into a pie plate that has straighter sides.

See the difference between these two pie plates?

A ceramic pie plate next to an aluminum pie plate on a white surface

Because the metal one has sloped sides, it will be so much easier to drape the crust into.

Trimming and crimping

To trim the edges of the pie crust all you need is a sharp pairing knife. Place the knife on a diagonal against the pie plate and press down to trim off the excess crust. Repeat this all around the crust.

a knife trimming the edges of a flaky pie crust

You can also use the tines of a fork to create a pretty edge or crimp the edges with your fingers!

To crimp the edges of the dough just use your fingers in a pinching motion.

Place your pointer finger down onto the edge of the crust. Using your other hand, pinch the dough from the other side.

fingers crimping the edges of pie crust

If my 5 year old can do it, so can you! Continue all around the pie.

Depending on the recipe you are following you are now free to bake!

Tips on baking

  • If you are making a double crust pie with a filling that needs to be baked– lightly sprinkle the bottom of your pie crust with a mixture of 1 teaspoon flour and 1 teaspoon sugar. This will help prevent a soggy pie bottom. Fill the pie crust with the filling and repeat the rolling out process for the pie crust top. Beat an egg and brush the top of the pie crust. Preheat the oven to 375° and bake for 30- 35 minutes. Cover the edges with foil if they start to burn.
  • If you have an already baked filling and need a pre baked crust– Prick the bottom of the crust with fork tines. Lay a piece of parchment on top and either use dry beans, dry rice, or pie weights to keep it down. Bake on 375° for 15 minutes, then remove the weights and bake for 5 minutes more.
  • Create a pie shield to make sure the edges of the crust dont burn– Rip a large piece of tin foil big enough to cover the pie. Place it on the counter and put the pie on top. Crimp the foil up the sides of the pie so that it covers only the outer edges. Continue to bake. 

Need a good pie filling? Try these recipes:

  • Apple Pie Bars
  • Easy Cranberry Pie
  • Easy Key Lime Pie

This post contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something off one of these links, I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my blog!

Unbaked pie crust with crimped edges on a white surface

Flaky Pie Crust Recipe

Learn how to make flaky pie crust with these easy tips and techniques! You can even use your stand mixer for this recipe! This recipe makes 2 pie crusts.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: how to make flaky pie crust, how to make pie crust in a stand mixer
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
chilling: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 358kcal
Author: Sam Adler

Equipment

  • Stand mixer
  • Rolling Pin
  • pie plate

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter cold, cubed small
  • 1/2 cup vegetable shortening cold, cubed small
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/3rd cup ice water
  • 1 tbsp white vinegar

Instructions

Mixing the dough

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer add the 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon salt, the 1/2 cup cold diced butter, and 1/2 cup cold diced shortening.
  • With the mixer on low-medium speed mix with the paddle attachment until pea size lumps form.
    Flour, butter, and shortening mixture in a mixing bowl
  • Add the 1 tablespoon of vinegar and then 1 tablespoon of water at a time and continue mixing until larger clumps form. I have used as little as 4 tbsp of water. You don't need to use all 1/3rd cup.
    Pie dough crumbles in a metal bowl
  • Pour the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead together to form into a ball. Cut the ball in half, shape it into a disc, and wrap it in plastic wrap. Chill for 2 hours before rolling or keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. Freeze for up to 3 months.
    A disc of pie dough on a white surface

Rolling out the dough:

  • Take one pie crust out of the fridge and unwrap onto a floured surface. Lightly flour the rolling pin too. Roll from the center of the pie crust out, rotating after every roll to make sure it's not sticking. The dough should not be sticky. Continue rolling until the pie crust is about a 10" round.
    pie crust rolled out onto a large circle on a white surface
  • Fold the crust onto itself half way then lift and press it into the pie plate. Trim the excess with a knife and crimp the edges.
    fingers crimping the edges of pie crust
  • Follow your recipe instructions to bake or see below for baking tips!

Notes

Tips on baking the crusts:
For a double crust pie: Preheat oven to 375° F. Dust the pie crust with a mixture of 1 tsp sugar and 1 tsp flour. Fill the pie crust with the filling and top with another pie crust (repeat the roll out process for the top crust). Beat and egg and brush the top of the crust. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Cover the edges with foil to prevent burning.
For a one crust recipe- Prick the bottom of the crust with a fork. Lay parchment paper on top and fill with dry rice or beans or pie weights. Bake for 15 mins on 375° F, then remove weights and bake for 5 more minutes. Cool and fill with pre baked filling.
Prevent the sides from burning by covering them in tin foil. Rip a large piece of tin foil big enough to cover the pie. Place it on the counter and put the pie on top. Crimp the foil up the sides of the pie so that it covers only the outer edges. Continue to bake. 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Flaky Pie Crust Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 slice)
Calories 358 Calories from Fat 225
% Daily Value*
Fat 25g38%
Saturated Fat 11g69%
Cholesterol 31mg10%
Sodium 294mg13%
Potassium 42mg1%
Carbohydrates 30g10%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 355IU7%
Calcium 9mg1%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Please leave a rating and a comment below, I read and respond to them all! Also don’t forget to tag my on instagram @frostingandfettuccine with all your beautiful desserts!

I love when you share my recipes!!

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Filed Under: Pies & Tarts Tagged With: Apple, Caramel, Cranberry

About Sam Adler

Sam Adler is a Le Cordon Bleu professionally trained pastry chef, Saveur Blog Award winner, food photographer, and food blogger over on FrostingandFettuccine.com. She has been featured in numerous online and in-print publications including Taste of Home Magazine, Saveur Magazine, The Feed Feed, and Food Blogger Pro. Sam lives in Hollywood florida with her husband, two young kids, and french bulldog. When she’s not baking and dancing in her kitchen you can find her at her favorite yoga spot.

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Hi! Im Sam Adler,

I'm a professionally trained pastry chef and food photographer.
This is a place where you will find easy yet impressive looking desserts. I also share a ton of food photography resources too! What can I say, I love pretty & delicious baked goods! Learn more about me!

As Featured In:

Logo images of media places Sam Adler has been featured in
Saveur Blog award winner for best food Instagram

samadlerphotography

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#ALDILove
Prep time: 1 hr 45 mins
Cook time: 1 min
Yield: 40 donut fries
2 pack Baker’s Corner Active Dry Yeast
1 1/2 cup warm water
1/3 cup Sugar
2 Simply Nature Grade A Organic Cage Free Brown Eggs
2 tbsp Stonemill Pure Vanilla Extract
1/3 cup Carlini Pure Vegetable Oil
5-6 cups Baker’s Corner All Purpose Flour
1 tsp Kosher salt
½ cup Baker’s Corner Powdered Sugar
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