Addicting and easy to handle, this Homemade Pie Crust will be your go-to pie crust recipe. Despite how you use it – hot pies, cold pies, or hand pies – you’ll get a delicate flaky holding vessel every time! If you are interested in an ALL BUTTER Pie Crust, I have that recipe here.
Homemade Pie Crust
This homemade pie crust is a no-fail pie crust that is my go-to crust for everything that needs, well, a crust. It is light and flaky and perfect for anything from apple pies to pot pies to Pop Tarts! The recipe is super simple, and I know you can do it!
Now, I know that everyone has their favorite homemade pie recipe. And yes, mine happens to be with shortening.
Can I Substitute Lard?
Yes! Let me explain. Shortening is 100% fat, which helps pie crusts (like this one) and pastries turn out so flaky and crumbly. And because shortening is all fat, it is hard to make substitutions. If you do have to substitute for shortening, your best bet is lard because it is also 100% fat. If using lard in place of shortening, use 2 tablespoons less of lard for every one cup of shortening.
Can I Use Margarine?
So, can you use butter or margarine in place of shortening or lard? It’s not your best bet in this recipe. Butter is 80% fat, which is close but made of water, which may keep the crust from being light and flaky. Margarine has been used to replace shortening because it is also made with vegetable oil, but it can be as low as 35% fat.
Making any substitutions in recipes can have an effect on the final product.
How to Transfer Rolled Dough to the Pan
There are two methods I use often.
- Once your dough is rolled out on the floured surface, you simply roll it onto the rolling pin and then unroll it into your pie plate. Do not stretch the dough to fit the pie pan, it will shrink from the edge if you do. Just let it naturally fall into the pan and press down gently if needed.
- The second method is folding. With cold hands, fold the top half of the dough over the bottom half, creating two layers of dough. Fold this in half again, this time folding the left half over the right. Transfer to pie pan and place in the bottom (right or left side depending on how you folded) and unfold it into the dough.
Hot Pies
For a hot pie, divide the chilled dough in half and set it on a flour work surface. Roll out half of the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness and then transfer it to a 9-inch pie pan.
If the hot pie is covered, roll the second half of the dough to about a 1/4-inch thickness. Bake the pie as instructed in the recipe. Store any remaining dough by wrapping tightly in plastic and refrigerating.
Cold Pies
To use this homemade pie crust for a cold pie, divide the chilled dough in half and set it on a flour work surface. Roll out half of the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness and then transfer it to a 9-inch pie pan. Continue with the instructions of the cold pie recipe you are using.
Docking a Crust vs. Pie Weights
Before baking the crust, be sure to dock it. To dock the crust simply means to poke holes in the crust with a fork. This will help the crust to cook more evenly and prevent any pockets or bubbles from forming in the crust. If you dock the crust, you do not need to weigh the crust down.
If you choose to use pie weights (as opposed to docking), loosely fit aluminum foil over the pie dish and weigh it down with pie weights, raw rice, or uncooked beans before baking according to the recipe. The only time I prefer using pie weights is when the filling is runny, as when baking a quiche.
Freezing and Thawing Pie Crust
To Freeze: You can absolutely freeze this pie dough. Shape the dough into a disc, roughly 6-inches in diameter. Lightly dust both sides with flour and then wrap it tightly with plastic wrap. Then either place it in a freezer-safe bag or wrap it tightly in aluminum foil. Be sure to label and date. It should last 6 months in the freezer.
To Thaw: When you are ready to use the pie crust, place it in the refrigerator for 24 hours or overnight. When you are ready to start the pie filling, remove the dough from the refrigerator for about 15 minutes, or while you are preparing the filling.
Recipes with Homemade Pie Crust
Homemade Pie Crust
Ingredients
- 4 cups (500 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1½ cups (307.5g) shortening, cubed*
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- ½ cup (118 g) water
Instructions
- In the bowl of a food processor**, pulse together the flour, sugar, and salt until combined. Add the shortening and pulse until pea-sized crumbs form. Transfer the dough to a large bowl and bring the dough together with a wooden spoon.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, vinegar, and water. Pour over the dough and mix until combined (dough will be sticky). Form the dough into a disc shape and wrap securely with plastic wrap. Chill it in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before rolling.
Hot Pie
- For a hot pie (e.g. with a filling that needs to be baked), divide the chilled dough in half on a generously floured work surface.
- Roll half of the dough to ¼-inch thick and transfer to a 9-inch pie dish. Repeat with the second half of the dough if the pie is covered.
- Bake as instructed in the recipe. Wrap any remaining dough in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator.
Cold Pie
- For a cold pie (e.g. with a filling that doesn't need to be baked), divide the chilled dough in half on a generously floured work surface. Roll half of the dough to ¼-inch thick and transfer to a 9-inch pie dish.
- Continue by following the instructions of your cold pie recipe. Wrap any remaining dough in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
Loved your recipe on pie crust and great tips you added. I would love to know how you accomplish the beautiful chain around the edge of your pie shell.
I wanted to confirm that the salt measurement does not change if using regular table salt or sea salt instead of Kosher(?). I ask because in your butter crust recipe you note that the measurement lessens about 50% if using table salt. Maybe that has something to do with the butter however so it doesn’t apply here. Just wanted to make sure.
Yes, the same rule applies. If using table salt, use less.
For a double pie crust do you also decrease shorting, salt, sugar etc
Hi Jean – this is a recipe for a double crust.
What would I change if I need to make this a gluten free crust, other than the flour ?
I just made my first crust! Used it to make little hand pies to use up a can of strawberry pie filling. Found in comments on your apple hand pie recipe how long to bake. Baked, covered icing…perfection! My crust was so flaky and perfect. Thank you!!! Have been putting off making pie crust but trying hard to start making more by scratch. Thank you for this easy awesome recipe!
I was wondering why I can’t print any of your recipes?
You’ll need to open the recipe in a separate browser. So when you open it up from Facebook, click on the link and then open it in chrome or firefox or whatever you use, and you can print from there. It’s a known problem with Facebook. 🙁
I would try this , but my granddaughter r is allergic to eggs ? What would you do ?
I make this pie crust with 4 cups flour 2 cups crisco 1/8 tsp. salt and 3/4 cup water and no sugar. This is great for people that can’t have eggs. Been making it like that for the last 40 years. Turns out perfect and flaky every time. I use this recipe for all my pies.
This is exactly the recipe that my grandmother and mother used! It’s the perfect pie crust and I have shared it with so many people!! Can’t recommend it enough. My mom had it written down in her own hand and titled “Fool-Proof Pie Crust.”
Thank you for sharing and explaining so thoroughly. Have loved your site for years.
Hello 👋
This is probably a super dumb question and I’m so sorry for wasting your time. But if I’m using a crisco like shortening would a plant based or meat by product shortening be better, or make any difference in the overall recipe?
Hello! Is this pie crust supposed to be super soft? It came out flaky and delicious but I was definitely skeptical because of how soft the dough was even after chilling.
It should not be “super” soft after chilling. You can try adding a bit more flour.