Pie Crust

This guide for making pie crust is recommended for beginners. Make sure to follow the step by step instructions to get the right results.

How to Create Pie Crust

Ingredients

1/2 teaspoon salt
7 tablespoons of ice cold water
Stick of butter (softened)
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup vegetable shortening

Step 1

Combine the salt and flour in a big bowl. Cut in the shortening; do it by crisscrossing knives or employ a pastry cutter. Cut and mix it until the dough turns into small balls.

Step 2

Place 6 tbsp of the dough in another bowl. Pour a bit of the water in it. Mix until they are well blended. When making pie crust, make sure not to overwork the dough.

Step 3

Put the mixture back in the big bowl. Shape the dough into a ball with your hands. Cut it into two.

Step 4

Cover the counter with pastry cloth or waxed paper. If you have a pastry board, spray some flour over it. Put the ball of dough on the board. Flatten the dough until it’s about 1/8” thick.

Step 5

If using waxed paper, remove the tape. If you’re using cloth, bring up one corner. Use it to fold the dough in half. Peel back the cloth. Lift the cloth and fold the dough one more time. You’ll end up with a triangle.

Making sure the cloth is still at the bottom, flip the dough in the pie plate. When making pie crust, ensure the cloth is on top after the flip.

Step 6

Remove the cloth gently. Trim the edges with a knife.

Step 7

Fill the pie and add butter on top of it.

Step 8

Get the other dough half. Make a triangle using the same methods. Dampen the edges of the lower crust with water (use a pastry brush). Put the other crust on top of it. Remove any excesses with a knife.

Step 9

Make slits along the top crust for ventilation.

Step 10

Add the soft butter on top. Bake it according to the recipe instructions.

Tips and Warnings on Making Pie Crust

If the crust is to smooth when baked, it means the dough was handled too much. To avoid a moist bottom, increase the baking temperature and use a dull pan. If the pie crust is too hard, either of three things happened: too much water was used, too much flour was added or it was handled more than necessary.

If the pie crust is way too soft or crumbles, you didn’t use enough water or you put in too little shortening. If the pie is too dry, don’t cut the shortening too much and add a bit more water.

You’ll have to experiment with the amount, as what is too soft or hard is a matter of personal preference. If the dough is a bit crumbly, add a bit more water.

The process of making pie crust isn’t that difficult although there is a bit of experimenting required for getting the texture correct. By adding or reducing some ingredients, you’ll get it right.