Best 6 All American Pie Crust Recipes

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Indulge in the timeless classic of American baking with our comprehensive guide to pie crusts. From the flaky and buttery all-American pie crust to the tender and crumbly graham cracker crust, discover the perfect crust for your next pie-making adventure. This article features a diverse collection of pie crust recipes, each tailored to specific pie fillings and baking techniques. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting your pastry journey, our detailed instructions and helpful tips will guide you towards creating the perfect pie crust that will elevate your pies to new heights of deliciousness.

Let's cook with our recipes!

ALL-AMERICAN PIE



All-American Pie image

With apples, cherries and blueberries, this patriotic slab pie even tastes American. If the day doesn't call for stars and stripes, feel free to use any shaped cookie cutters you like for this awe-inspiring potluck dessert. -James Schend, Editor, Taste of Home

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 2h

Yield 15 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 30

5 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups unsalted butter, cold
2/3 to 1 cup ice water
APPLE PIE FILLING:
6 cups sliced peeled Golden Delicious apples
2/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened apple juice, divided
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
CHERRY PIE FILLING:
1-1/4 cups sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
3/4 cup cherry juice
4 cups fresh or frozen pitted tart cherries, thawed
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
BLUEBERRY PIE FILLING:
4 cups fresh blueberries, divided
3/4 cup water
1 tablespoon butter
3/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Dash salt
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Steps:

  • Combine flour, sugar and salt in a food processor; pulse to combine. Add butter; pulse until crumbly. Transfer mixture to a large bowl. Gradually add ice water, tossing with a fork until dough holds together when pressed. Divide dough in two, making one portion slightly larger. Shape each into a rectangle; wrap and refrigerate 1 hour or overnight., For apple pie filling, in a large saucepan, combine apples, 2/3 cup apple juice, sugar, cinnamon and apple pie spice; bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook and stir until apples soften, about 10 minutes. Combine cornstarch and remaining apple juice; add to saucepan. Return to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in vanilla. Cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally., For cherry pie filling, in a large saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch; gradually stir in cherry juice until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add the cherries, cinnamon, nutmeg and almond extract. Cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally., For blueberry pie filling, in a large saucepan, combine 1 cup blueberries, water and butter; simmer for 4 minutes. Combine the sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and salt; add to saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and remaining blueberries. Cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally., Preheat oven to 425°. For crust, on a lightly floured surface roll out larger portion of dough to a 17x12-inch rectangle. Transfer to a 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Press onto the bottom and up the sides of pan. Line crust with a double thickness of foil. Fill with pie weights, dried beans or uncooked rice. Bake on a lower oven rack until edges are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove foil and weights; bake 6-8 minutes longer or until bottom is golden brown. Cool on a wire rack., Meanwhile, roll out remaining dough to a 15x10-inch rectangle. Using a pastry wheel and star cutouts of varying sizes, cut out stars and stripes for decorative topping of flag pie. Bake at 400° until golden brown, about 15 minutes for stripes and 8 minutes for stars. Cool on a wire rack., To assemble, place blueberry filling in 1/3 of crust; fill remaining portion of crust with "stripes" of cherry and apple fillings. Top pie with star and stripe cutouts.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 632 calories, Fat 26g fat (16g saturated fat), Cholesterol 67mg cholesterol, Sodium 24mg sodium, Carbohydrate 97g carbohydrate (55g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 5g protein.

TRADITIONAL AMERICAN PIE CRUST RECIPE - (4.4/5)



Traditional American Pie Crust Recipe - (4.4/5) image

Provided by Foodiewife

Number Of Ingredients 5

3 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup shortening or cold lard
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter
6 to 9 tablespoons ice water

Steps:

  • 1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Cut or rub in the shortening or lard, until the fat is the size of small peas. 2. Cut in the cold butter, leaving the butter in pieces the size of your thumbnail. 3. Sprinkle the ice water, one tablespoon at a time, over the mixture, tossing the mixture together with fork as you go. Continue until the dough is just moist enough to hold together when pressed. 4. For a 2-crust pie, gather a little more than half of the dough and pat it into a disk; wrap in plastic and chill for an hour (the larger portion will be the bottom crust.) Do the same with the remaining dough for the top crust. If you're making two one-crust pies, divide the dough evenly, wrap and chill before rolling. 5. Roll the crust until it is about 1/8-inch-thick and about 2 inches larger than the diameter of the pie plate. This gives you enough to make a good high rim (single crust shell) or to match with the upper crust (double crust bottom). Fill and bake as your recipe directs. Tips from our bakers When the dough is almost moist enough to hold together, try pouring the shaggy mixture out onto a piece of parchment paper. Use a spray bottle to moisten the dry parts of the dough without waterlogging it. Then fold the dough over on itself, like a business letter. Repeat the process until all the dry bits of dough are evenly moistened. This will create lots of nice layers in the dough (click on the video to see this being done). After rolling out your crust and lining your pan, put it in the refrigerator until you're ready to fill and bake the pie: this will improve the flakiness and texture of the crust. Pie crusts can be made ahead and frozen for up to a month. To keep the bottom crust from getting soggy, try brushing it with egg white and chilling before adding the filling. You can also use melted butter to create a barrier between the fillings moisture and the crust. Lightly grease the pie plate with non-stick spray before putting in the bottom crust; this will make taking the slices out of the pan much easier later.

HOW TO MAKE A PIE CRUST



How to Make a Pie Crust image

Pie is an iconic American dessert, and a satisfying kitchen project. Melissa Clark helps you master the crust.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Number Of Ingredients 0

Steps:

  • You'll need a 9-inch pie pan, a rolling pin and pie weights (or use dried beans).Your butter must be cold; even frozen butter works as long as you cut it into cubes before freezing.Be sure to factor in at least one hour to let your dough chill before rolling it out.
  • Some bakers use lard in their pie crust, while others turn to shortening. But in general, butter is your best bet: it's easy to find, it has fantastic flavor, and it yields a tender, flaky crust. This is an all-butter crust recipe that will empower even the most nervous pie makers, a simple dough of butter and all-purpose flour that is easy to make and dependable as can be. If you plan to make a pie with a top crust, double the recipe; when it's time to chill the dough, divide it in half and shape into two disks to put in the fridge. The dough will also keep for 3 months in the freezer, if you want to stash a few disks there. Defrost in the fridge overnight.
  • Lightly dust flour onto a clean counter and onto a rolling pin. (Alternatively, you can roll the dough out between two sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap; no flour required.) Put the dough on the floured surface and, using the pin, roll away from you, applying pressure evenly. Rotate the dough clockwise as you work so it's uniformly thin and isn't rolled irretrievably into the counter. Lightly dust the counter with flour as you work. But don't overdo it with the flour. Too much flour all at once makes a tough crust. Continue to roll the dough in all directions until you have a 12-inch circle. (If your rolled dough doesn't end up in a neat circle, you can trim it, and use the trimmings to patch up any rips, holes or bald spots.) Transfer crust to a 9-inch pie pan by gently rolling it up onto the pin, then carefully unfurling it into the pan. Fold over any excess dough. If you're not making a top crust, then the crimp edges now. Prick crust all over with a fork, then chill crust for 30 minutes. Your crust is now ready to fill or blind bake.
  • Blind baking is partially baking a pie crust before you add the filling, which helps keep the crust crunchy. After filling it, you return the pie to the oven to finish baking. It's a particularly good method for custard pies, like pumpkin and pecan, that are prone to sogginess. Blind baking can be done up to 24 hours before filling; cover the crust loosely with a dish towel and store it at room temperature.Begin with the chilled, rolled-out dough in the pan. Line the dough with parchment paper or foil. Fill the parchment or foil with pie weights, uncooked rice or dried beans. Transfer to a 425-degree oven. Bake the crust until it firms up, about 15 minutes. It will still be very pale at this point. Remove the parchment or foil and weights, then return crust to the oven to brown slightly. Bake the crust 5 to 7 minutes more, until pale golden brown. Let it cool on a rack before filling.
  • Custard pies don't usually have tops, but fruit pies just about always do, and it's something you can play around with. Start with any fruit filling you like, pile it into your pan, and then choose one of the top crusts, or the crumble, below.To make a lattice top, you'll need to double your pie dough if it's not already a recipe for a double crust. Roll out the chilled dough and cut it into 1-inch thick strips. Place half the dough strips parallel to each other across the top of the filled pie. (Reserve some of the longer strips for when you weave the lattice.) The longest strip should be in the center of the pie. Flip up every other strip on the pie. Place another long strip perpendicular to the others across the center of the pie. Flip those strips back down, then flip up the other strips. Weave in a second strip of dough. Repeat process on one side, and then the other, until you have fully covered the pie with woven strips.Gently press lattice strip edges into the bottom crust, then crimp the edges to seal the top and bottom crusts together. Or, if you've blind baked the bottom crust, simply tuck in the edges of the lattice so the strips don't hang over the side of the pan. Brush lattice all over with milk, cream or an egg wash (a mix of egg and water or milk) to encourage browning. You can sprinkle the top with sugar or cinnamon sugar if you like. To cover the top of the whole pie, you'll need to double your pie dough if it's not already a recipe for a double crust. Roll out the chilled dough, then lay it out over the top of the filled pie.Crimp the edges to seal the top and bottom crusts together. Or, if you've blind baked the bottom crust, simply tuck in the edges of the top crust so it doesn't hang over the side of the pan.Slash the top of the pie with a knife to allow steam to escape. Brush top crust all over with milk, cream or an egg wash (a mix of egg and water or milk) to encourage browning. You can sprinkle it with sugar or cinnamon sugar if you like.To make a top using dough cutouts, you'll need to double your pie dough if it's not already a recipe for a double crust. Roll out the chilled dough and use decorative cookie cutters (circles, leaves, etc.) to cut out shapes from the dough.If you haven't blind baked the crust, use a paring knife or scissors to trim any dough that is hanging over the edge of the pan. The dough should be flush with the edge of the pan.Arrange a ring of cutouts around the outer edge of the filled pie (the cutouts should be touching the crust, coming flush to the edge).Continue adding cutouts to fully cover the top of the pie. You can overlap the cutouts (or not) as you see fit.Brush cutouts all over with milk, cream or an egg wash (a mix of egg and water or milk) to encourage browning. You can sprinkle the cutouts with sugar or cinnamon sugar if you like.To make a simple crumble for a standard 9-inch pie, combine 3/4 cup (90 grams) all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup (100 grams) dark brown sugar, 1 teaspoon (5 grams) cinnamon, a large pinch of salt and 5 tablespoons (71 grams) softened butter in a large bowl.Use your hands to mix the ingredients together, pinching the mixture until large crumbs form. The crumbs should be on the larger side, a bit bigger than a lima bean. Do not make small crumbs.Scatter crumbs over the top of the pie. It is nice, but not necessary, to mound more of the crumbs in the center of the pie and fade them out toward the edges so that some of the filling can show.
  • Always bake a pie on a rimmed baking sheet to contain any overflow. A baking sheet also makes removing the pie from the oven easier.You can freeze a whole, unbaked fruit pie. Then bake it while still frozen, adding about 15 minutes onto the baking time. Do not thaw it first or you could lose flakiness in the crust.For the best-looking crimped crust, or to avoid having your crust shrink in the oven, freeze the unbaked pie dough before filling and baking (or blind baking). The colder your dough when you get it into the oven, the better it holds its shape.You can store your baked pie at room temperature, covered, for up to one day. After that, the crust will become irretrievably soggy.

EASY PIE CRUST



Easy Pie Crust image

Prep now and enjoy wonderful pies all season. Make the crust and topping in advance and keep them in the freezer for up to three months, then defrost fully before using.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Pie & Tarts Recipes

Time 1h40m

Yield Makes 2

Number Of Ingredients 4

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 sticks chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Steps:

  • To make the dough for the pie crust, mix 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon each salt and sugar in a medium-size bowl. Cut 2 sticks chilled unsalted butter into pieces. With a pastry blender, cut in butter, working until mixture resembles coarse meal.
  • Add 4 tablespoons ice water; work with hands until dough comes together. If dough is still crumbly, add more ice water a tablespoon at a time (up to 4 more tablespoons). Do not overwork.
  • Divide dough in half, and flatten halves into disks. Wrap disks separately in plastic; refrigerate at least 1 hour.
  • To form the pie shell, roll the dough on a floured surface into a 14-inch round. Wrap around rolling pin and carefully unroll over a 9-inch pie plate.
  • Fit gently into bottom and side of plate. Use kitchen shears to trim dough to a 1-inch overhang; fold under, and seal to form a rim.
  • Crimp rim with fingertips and knuckle. Repeat with remaining dough; wrap each with plastic, stack, and freeze.

OLD-FASHIONED ALL-AMERICAN APPLE PIE



Old-Fashioned All-American Apple Pie image

Provided by Jasper White

Categories     Fruit     Dessert     Bake     Thanksgiving     Apple     Vegetarian     Pescatarian     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free     Kosher

Yield Makes one nine-inch pie

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 recipe Thin Butter Crust
6 to 8 freshly picked firm and slightly tart apples, such as Rhode Island Greenings, Gravensteins or Granny Smiths (about 3 pounds)
granulated sugar (see Note)
ground cinnamon
about 3 tablespoons sifted all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons butter, cut in small bits

Steps:

  • 1. Prepare the pie dough, divide half and roll out each half no more than 1/4 inch thick. Line a 9-inch pie pan with one. Keep lined pan and top crust chilled.
  • 2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Peel and core the apples and slice them about 1/4 inch thick. Toss with sugar and cinnamon to taste and with the flour. Fill the pie with the apple slices, mounding them somewhat in the center. Dot with butter. Cover loosely with the top crust, using a little water to seal the crusts together. Crimp the edges. Using a fork or the tip of a knife, make several vents in the top crust.
  • 3. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 1 hour or until golden brown. The smell will tell you when it is ready. Serve while still warm.

ALL-AMERICAN PIE CRUST



All-American Pie Crust image

When I was her apprentice, Nathalie Dupree spent hours on my baking and pastry education, patiently showing me again and again how to create perfect pie crusts, homemade breads, puff pastry, and rolls, until I had the techniques down cold. She crafted this recipe for beginners: it's an easy crust for novices because it's made in the food processor and because of the combination of butter and shortening. Shortening does not melt as readily as butter does and makes for a more forgiving dough. As Nathalie knew, a beginner's first taste of sweet success in the pastry kitchen can be inspirational. For a double-crust pie, simply double the amounts and divide the dough before rolling out.

Yield makes one 9-inch pie crust

Number Of Ingredients 5

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 cup solid vegetable shortening, preferably Crisco, chilled and cut into pieces
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into pieces
3 to 8 tablespoons ice water

Steps:

  • In the work bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade, combine the flour and salt, then add the vegetable shortening and butter. Process until the mixture resembles coarse meal, 8 to 10 seconds.
  • With the processor on pulse, add enough of the ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough holds together without being sticky or crumbly. Shape the dough into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill until firm and the moisture has distributed evenly, about 30 minutes.
  • Flour a clean work surface and a rolling pin. (If making a double crust pie or 2 pie shells, work with one disk at a time, keeping the second disk chilled.) Place a dough disk in the center of the floured surface. Starting in the center of the dough, roll to, but not over, the upper edge of the dough. Return to the center, and roll down to, but not over, the lower edge. Lift the dough, give it a quarter turn, and lay it on the work surface. Continue rolling, repeating the quarter turns, until you have a disk about 1/8 inch thick.
  • Ease the pastry into a 9-inch pie plate. Trim 1 inch larger than the diameter of the pie plate; fold the overhanging pastry under itself along the rim of the plate. For a simple decorative edge, press the tines of a fork around the folded pastry. To make a fluted edge, using both your finger and thumb, pinch and crimp the folded dough. Chill until firm, about 30 minutes.
  • To blind bake, see directions on page 64.

Tips:

  • Use a pastry blender or two forks to cut the butter into the flour until it resembles coarse crumbs. This will help create a flaky crust.
  • Add just enough ice water to hold the dough together. Too much water will make the dough tough.
  • Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before rolling it out. This will help prevent the dough from shrinking in the oven.
  • Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface. If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour.
  • Trim the edges of the dough to create a clean, even circle. This will help the pie crust bake evenly.
  • Crimp the edges of the pie crust to seal it. This will help prevent the filling from leaking out.
  • Bake the pie crust according to the recipe instructions. The baking time will vary depending on the type of pie and the filling.

Conclusion:

With these tips, you'll be able to make a perfect pie crust every time. So go ahead and experiment with different recipes and fillings. Pie is the perfect dessert for any occasion!

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