A tender, flaky, and easy pie crust recipe that tastes and smells like homemade buttermilk biscuits! It’s the best pie crust I’ve ever had!

My cousin: Can you make me a pie?

Me: Of course, what kind do you want?

My cousin: Just the crust. A crust pie. I just want to eat the crust.

LOL, she was dead serious, and I completely understood because I can (and have) eaten this pie crust as is. Hello, pie crust bites. It’s that good! 

If you’re accustomed to picking up a premade pie crust from the grocery store, I’d like to gently encourage you to try your hand at making one from scratch. 

Once you taste the difference, you’ll think twice about returning to store-bought versions!

I experienced this realization not too long ago when I was craving a peach pie and took a shortcut by using a frozen pie crust. I mean, it couldn’t be too bad, right? LIES!

The pie filling was great, but the flavor of that crust just ruined the experience. Bless it!  It just didn’t hold a candle to this homemade pie crust.  That pie lasted five days in my house before it was gone. That is soooo not normal for us. We finish pies in 24-48 hours around here!

If you’re gonna take the time to make a delicious homemade pie filling, it deserves a homemade crust! Whether it’s for apple pie, pumpkin pie, or chicken pot pie, this flaky pie crust is it!

Thankfully, this pie crust recipe is also super easy to make! 

easy pie crust recipe

What makes this the BEST easy pie crust recipe?

If you have been following me for some time, you know this is the ONLY pie crust I use. I’ve posted a few others on this site, but I always come back to this one because, in my opinion, it’s a perfect example.

  • The taste: This is my top choice. Magic happens when your pie crust AND the filling are incredible! This pie crust recipe tastes and smells like a buttermilk biscuit. It elevates ANY pie, whether sweet or savory.
  • The ease: The pie crust dough is such a dream to work with and prepare. It rolls out with ease and is simple to bake.
  • The appearance: This pie crust browns up beautifully, resulting in a perfectly golden pie, and holds up well to liquid fillings.
  • Makes extra – This recipe yields enough for two (9-inch) pie crusts, with some dough to spare. It’s much easier to work with too much dough than to try to stretch it to make it fit! Plus, you’ll have extra if you want to add a pretty braid trim or crust decorations, such as leaves or hearts. You can also freeze the extra dough and use it to make pie crust bites to accompany soups or dips!
homemade blueberry pie recipe

Is pie crust better with butter or Crisco (shortening)?

The answer is BOTH!! I’ve made this recipe with all butter and all shortening, and I’m team #butterandshortening!! 

While I love the magic and flavor of butter, it just can’t seem to create a texture like shortening can! They work together as the perfect duo in this homemade pie crust recipe.

Tricks to making a GOOD Pie Crust

  1. Use super cold ingredients – Yes, throw the ingredients into the fridge to chill them before starting. This will ensure that your pie crust is perfectly flaky.
  2. Chill the dough- Letting the dough rest and chill before rolling it out and before baking will prevent a tough crust.
  3. Use a light touch when kneading the dough; knead it only long enough to combine the ingredients. Overworking the pie dough can over-activate the gluten, leading to a gummy, heavy crust (been there, done that!)
easy pie crust

How To Make This Homemade Pie Crust Recipe

INGREDIENTS

  • All-purpose Flour– The foundation for the pie crust, which provides structure. I prefer all-purpose over bread or cake flour.
  • Granulated sugar- helps the crust brown and adds subtle flavor (no worries, the crust won’t taste sweet)
  • Salt– enhances the flavor of the crust.
  • Unsalted butter– Cold butter adds to the flavor and texture of the pie crust.
  • Butter-flavored shortening– Adds additional fat, which creates flavor and a softer yet flakier texture. (Be sure to use butter-flavored for the best taste)
  • Ice water– hydrates and binds the ingredients while keeping them cold.


INSTRUCTIONS (full printable recipe at the bottom of the post)

  1. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Whisk until combined. 
  2. Grate the frozen butter and shortening into the flour mixture (toss with a fork several times while grating so that it doesn’t all clump together) 
  3. Cut in the butter and shorten using a pastry cutter until it resembles fine crumbs. 
  4. Stir in cold water just until combined and a dough forms.
  5. Place the dough on a floured surface and knead just enough until all the flour is incorporated.
  6. Divide the dough into two equal halves. 
  7. Gently shape the dough into flattened disks. 
  8. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or until chilled. 
  9. When ready to use, roll one of the halves out evenly onto a lightly floured surface using a rolling pin (about 1/4 to 1/8 inch thick) or press it out with your hands. Roll it large enough to fit a 9-inch pie pan. (about 12 inches in diameter)
  10. Place the dough into a pie plate and trim off any excess dough as needed.
  11. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to use according to your pie recipe.
  12. If storing it long-term, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer bag.
Southern pecan pie recipe

How to Blind-Bake (Par-Bake)

BLIND BAKE (Full or Partial Bake)

Blind baking refers to the process of baking a pie crust before filling it. It’s usually done when a pie filling requires little or no cooking time.

  1. Prep Your Crust: First, place your rolled-out crust into your pie dish and shape it according to your recipe or preference. Ensure it’s snug without any air pockets. (You may find it easier to shape the rim once it’s chilled a bit)
  2. Chill It: Place your crust in the fridge for a bit just to get it super cold.  This ensures the pie crust will bake up flaky.  
  3. Line It: Line the bottom and sides of the chilled pie crust with parchment paper. (Crumpling the parchment paper up first will make it easier to line.
  4. Weigh It Down: Fill the lined crust with pie weights, beans, or sugar to prevent it from puffing up or shrinking. Be sure to cover the bottom completely with pie weights. (If using sugar, the sugar will still be good after baking, so don’t discard it)
  5. Bake It: Place your weighted pie shell into a preheated 375°F oven. Bake until the edges are very lightly golden and appear set( about 15 minutes).
  6. Full or Partial Bake: Remove the pie from the oven and lift off the parchment paper. For a partially baked crust, return it to the oven and bake for an additional 7-10 minutes, or until golden.  For a fully baked crust, bake for about 15 minutes. (Timing may vary, so keep an eye on it.) You can also prick the crust before placing it back into the oven, but I usually skip this step.
  7. Cool: Let crust cool before adding filling.  Proceed with the desired pie recipe.
coconut cream pie

How to Freeze Pie Crust

I usually make my homemade pie crust fresh, but I like having a few of these stashed in the freezer for backup. This pie crust recipe freezes like a charm! Here’s how!

  • Flatten it: Flatten the dough into discs. This will make thawing and storing much more efficient.
  • Wrap It Up: Wrap it tightly in several layers of plastic wrap. You want to ensure that no air gets in and dries out the dough or gives it a weird freezer taste.
  • Bag It: Next, place your wrapped dough into a Ziploc bag for extra protection. I also place it in a freezer container.
  • Label It: Don’t forget to label your dough with the date. It will last about three months in the freezer (Truth be told, I’ve used a 6-month-old pie crust, and it tasted just fine!)
  • Freeze It: Now, all that’s left to do is stick your dough in the freezer. 
best homemade pie crust

How to thaw homemade pie crust?

If the pie crust is frozen, place it in the refrigerator overnight to thaw. You may find that you need more time, especially if the pie crust is in a ball or thick disk shape. 

A pie crust that is not frozen will warm up quickly and become pliable just from kneading it a few times.

Common Questions:

Do I have to use pie weights? Pie weights are used for blind-baking a pie to prevent it from puffing up during baking. If your recipe doesn’t require a par-baked crust, you don’t need to use pie weights.

Can I brush my crust with egg? This isn’t necessary. However, it can be beneficial for certain pies. It can create a barrier between the filling and crust to prevent it from becoming soggy, enhance browning, and add a bit of shine to the pie crust if desired.

How many pie crusts does this recipe make? This recipe makes two pie crusts. You’ll have leftover dough, which is perfect for making a thicker trim if desired. Or you can simply cut away the extra dough.

Why do I have to let the pie dough chill before using it?  Letting the pie crust dough chill in the fridge is crucial to this recipe. It allows the gluten in the dough to relax. This makes the pie crust easier to work with and helps prevent a heavy crust.

Can this pie crust be used for savory pies? Absolutely!

Ready to put this pie crust to work? Check out the recipe below!

easy pie crust recipe

Get the Recipe:

The BEST Homemade Pie Crust Recipe

5 from 17 ratings
Flaky, buttery, golden and delicious! The best pie crust ever! And it's so easy to make! This makes two pie crust with extra dough left over. If you only need one pie crust you can half this recipe.
Servings: 2 crusts
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Leave a Review

Ingredients 

  • 3¾ cups all-purpose flour (spoon into measuring cup and level off)
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, frozen
  • ¾ cup butter-flavored shortening, frozen
  • ¾ cup ice water

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Whisk until combined. 
    3¾ cups all-purpose flour, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1½ teaspoon salt
  • Grate the frozen butter and shortening into the flour mixture (toss with a fork several times while grating so that it doesn't all clump together) 
    ¾ cup unsalted butter, frozen, ¾ cup butter-flavored shortening, frozen
  • Cut in the butter and shortening using a pastry cutter until the mixtures resembles small crumbs. 
  • Stir in cold water just until combined and a dough begins to form.
    ¾ cup ice water
  • Place dough on a floured surface (it will be crumbly) and gently knead just enough until all the flour is incorporated and you have soft, uniform dough.
  • Divide the dough into two equal halves. 
  • Gently shape the dough into flattened disks. 
  • Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. 
  • When ready to use, roll one of the halves out evenly onto a lightly floured surface using a rolling pin (about 1/8 inch thick). Roll it large enough to fit a 9-inch pie pan. (about 12 inches in diameter)
  • Place into a pie plate and trim off any excess dough if needed.
  • Chill in the refrigerator until it's ready for filling.
  • If storing long term, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag.

Notes

    1. Use super cold ingredients- Yep, throw all the ingredients into the fridge to chill them before starting. This will ensure that your pie crust is perfectly flaky.
    2. Chill the dough. Letting the dough rest and chill before rolling out and baking will prevent a tough crust.
    3. Use a light touch-  Use a light touch when kneading. Overworking the pie dough can over-activate the gluten, which could lead to a gummy, heavy crust (been there, done that!)

How to Blind-Bake (Full & Partial)

  1. Prep Your Crust: First, place your rolled-out crust into your pie dish and shape it according to your recipe or preference. Ensure it’s snug without any air pockets.
  2. Chill It: Place your crust in the fridge for a bit just to get it super cold.  This ensures the pie crust will bake up flaky.  
  3. Line It: Line the bottom of the chilled pie crust with parchment paper. (Crumpling the parchment paper up first will make it easier to line the crust.
  4. Weigh It Down: Fill the lined crust with pie weights, beans, or sugar to prevent it from puffing up and shrinking. Be sure to cover the bottom completely with pie weights. (If using sugar, the sugar will still be good after baking, so don’t discard it)
  5. Bake It: Place your weighted pie shell into a preheated 375°F oven. Bake until the edges are very lightly golden and appear set, about 15 minutes (may require longer).
  6. Full or Partial Bake: Remove the pie from the oven and lift off the parchment paper. For a partially baked crust, return to the oven and bake for an additional 7-10 minutes or until golden.  For a fully baked crust, bake for about 15 minutes. (Timing may vary, so keep an eye on it.) You can also prick the crust before placing it back into the oven, but I usually skip this step.
  7. Cool: Let crust cool before adding filling.  Proceed with the desired pie recipe.
  1.  
Cuisine: American, southern
Course: Dessert, Main Course
Author: Monique Kilgore
Tried this recipe?Mention @divascancook on Instagram or tag #divascancook.