Make Your Own Pie Crust!
As I talk with friends who love pie but don’t make pies, they complain, “I don’t know how to make pie crust.” Well, I’m happy to say: making pie crust is simple & easy.
You don’t have to make your own crust. You can buy frozen pie crusts that are not bad. But you can make your own—even if you don't think you can.
Water. Butter. Salt. Flour. Four minutes. That's it!
How hard can it be? Watch the video!
Mix the flour and the fat, add the water, make the dough into a ball, then roll it out—that’s it! (Exact quantities vary a bit based on the fat you’re using; check the specific pie-recipe pages for quantities.)
Want to see how it's done? Watch this short video.
Here's all you need to know about the various sorts of pie crust, whether plain or fancy, made with butter or shortening, by hand or in a food processor. I've added pages about variations such as whole wheat crust, graham cracker crust and pie-top meringue.
But there’s a big difference between biting into a light, tasty, homemade crust and a store-bought crust, which will tend to be thicker and tougher.
I guess you can see my bias!
But once in a while, when you want to make a pie in a hurry, sure, buy a frozen crust.
After you’ve made a few pie crusts of your own, however, and discovered how simple, quick and easy it is (and heard the praise from your family and friends!), I guarantee you’ll be getting out the four ingredients next time!
Butter Crust
My husband's favorite because of its rich flavor. You can make it by hand, or using a food processor. More...
Shortening Crust
Not as flavorful as a butter crust, but lighter, flakier, and lactose-free. You can make it by hand, or using a food processor. More...
Whole Wheat Pie Crust
Not as light or flaky, but with a deep, rich flavor well suited to certain pies. More...
Graham Cracker Pie Crust
I'm not surprised: this is the most popular pie crust for visitors to PieChef.com. Luckily, it's among the easiest to make—and the most delicious, perfectly suited to particular pies. And what's even more popular than Graham Cracker Pie Crust? Why, Chocolate Graham Cracker Pie Crust, of course! More...
Baked Pie Crusts
Fruit pies are among the most delicious...and the easiest to make. Usually, you bake the crust by itself, then fill it with fruit to finish. More...
Pie Crust Art
Pies need no fancy finish, but pie-eaters love a nicely decorated top...and it's fun! You can even make one of those wonderful lattice pie crusts. More...