• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Stephanie
  • Brownies and Cookie Bars Recipes
  • Cake Recipes
  • Candy Recipes
  • Contact Me
  • Cookie Recipes
  • Cupcake Recipes
  • Dessert Recipes
  • Dessert Recipes and Techniques
  • Disclaimer
  • Dough Recipes
  • Filling and Frosting Recipes
  • My Latest Recipes
  • Pie and Tart Recipes
  • Soufflé and Custard Recipes
  • Terms
menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • YouTube
  • Contact Me
  • About
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • All Recipes
    • YouTube
    • Contact Me
    • About
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » My Latest Recipes

    Flaky Pie Crust Recipe

    Apr 25, 2022 · 9 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    The ultimate crust with butter and shortening

    If you are looking for a buttery, delicious and flaky pie crust recipe, you have come to the right place! You don’t need special equipment or training to create this crust - just follow the tips presented here and you will have a flaky pie crust to delight your guests. This pie dough is strong enough to hold up to heavy fruit fillings, yet still tender and a dream to work with.

    pie crust rolled out on workspace

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please refer to the terms page for more information.

    Jump to:
    • The ultimate crust with butter and shortening
    • Why you will love this recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Add butter and shortening
    • Adding water
    • Rest pie dough
    • Roll dough
    • Flaky Pie Dough Recipe

    Why you will love this recipe

    This recipe uses a combination of shortening and butter for the fats. Shortening has a higher melting temperature than butter and will contribute to a very flaky crust. Butter adds an intense flavor and will also add to the flakiness of the dough.

    pie made with flaky pie dough

    Ingredients

    • Only a few ingredients are needed to make the flaky pie crust: all-purpose flour (unbleached is preferred), sugar (to add a bit of sweetness), salt, vegetable shortening, unsalted butter and ice water.
    • Cut the butter into ¼" cubes. Place in the refrigerator until called for in the recipe. It is important the butter be cold before working it into the dough else it could melt and cause a tough, glutenous dough.
    • Place several ice cubes in a glass of water to chill it.

    Add butter and shortening

    • Begin by adding the flour, sugar and salt into a medium to large bowl. Stir the ingredients to combine.
    • Add the vegetable shortening and cold butter to the bowl and toss to combine (Figure A) .
    • Using your fingers, begin squishing the shortening and butter into the dry ingredients so the fats are elongated and flattened. Continue this process until you have visible pea-sized bits of fat remaining (Figures B and C). You may also use a pastry cutter for this step.
    • If the butter becomes too soft, place the bowl in the refrigerator for 10 or 15 minutes. Continue working the dough once the butter hardens.
    make pie dough
    Figure A
    flaky pie crust process
    Figure B
    how pie crust dough should look
    Figure C

    Adding water

    • Begin by adding 2 tablespoons of ice water to the dough and gently toss the dough. Continue adding 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time. The dough is finished when it forms a loose ball when squeezed.
    • A convenient way to control adding the last measure of water is to use a food-safe spray bottle filled with ice water and add a few squirts to the bottom of the bowl.

    Rest pie dough

    • Form the dough into a disc, wrap well and let rest in the refrigerator for at least an hour. This will accomplish two things: 1) allow the gluten to relax, and 2) ensure the butter does not melt while rolling out the dough.

    Roll dough

    • Generously sprinkle your work surface and rolling pin with flour before beginning to roll the dough. Continue to dust flour on the work surface if the dough begins to stick.
    • Starting with a flattened disc, place your rolling pin in the middle of the dough and roll away from you, place the rolling pin back in the middle of the dough and roll towards you, turn the dough 90° and continue rolling in the same manner. Continue this process until you have reached your desired thickness and the correct size to fit your pie tin. You will see flattened pieces of butter if it was properly incorporated into your dough.
    • To place the dough in your pie tin, lightly flour the dough, wrap it around your rolling pin and transfer to the pie tin.
    • Place the pie tin in the refrigerator while making your pie fillings.
    rolling flaky pie crust
    how to roll flaky pie crust
    • Tips for Using the Flaky Dough with Your Pies:
      • After filling your pie, lightly whip an egg and use a pastry brush to apply a generous coating of egg wash to the crust. This will help prevent the crust from burning. Sprinkle a generous amount of raw sugar over the crust to achieve a rustic look.
      • After assembling your pie, place in the refrigerator or freezer for 10 - 15 minutes. This will help minimize the crust from shrinking.
    assembled pie with flaky pie crust

    I have a multitude of pie recipes which work well with this dough. My all-time favorite is my blueberry pie recipe.

    flaky pie crust recipe

    Flaky Pie Dough Recipe

    If you are looking for a flaky, buttery and delicious pie dough you have come to the right place! You don’t need special equipment or training to create this crust – just follow the tips in this post and you will have a pie crust to delight your guests.
    5 from 68 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Resting 2 hours hrs
    Total Time 2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1 pie top and bottom

    Ingredients
      

    • 375 Grams All-Purpose Flour (3 Cups)
    • 1 teaspoon Salt
    • 2 tablespoon Granulated Sugar
    • 170 Grams Unsalted, Cold Butter, cut into ½" cubes (6 ounces or 1 ½ sticks)
    • 100 Grams Vegetable Shortening (½ Cup)
    • 2 - 6 tablespoon Cold Water

    Instructions
     

    • Place flour, sugar and salt in a bowl. Stir to combine.
    • Add vegetable shortening and cold butter to the bowl and toss to coat with flour.
    • Begin working shortening and butter into the dry ingredients by: 1) using a pastry cutter or 2) your hands. If the butter becomes too soft, place the bowl in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.
    • Continue to work the shortening and butter into the dry ingredients until small pieces of butter remain which are a bit larger than a pea.
    • Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of ice water to the dough and gently toss with a spatula or work in with your hands or pastry cutter.
    • Continue to add water as needed until the dough holds together.
    • Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for 2 hours.
    • Roll dough on a lightly floured work surface.

    Video

    Notes

    Flaky pie crust dough may be frozen for up to three months.
    Keyword apple pie dough, flakey pie dough, flaky pie dough, pie crust recipe, pie dough, pie dough recipe
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    8 Shares
    Pin8
    Tweet
    Yum
    Share

    More Doughs

    • walnut pie crust in pan
      Walnut Pie Crust
    • chocolate pie and tart dough in pie pans
      Easy Chocolate Pie Crust Recipe
    • how to make quick puff pastry
      Easy Rough Puff Pastry Recipe
    • press in peanut butter pie crust recipe
      Peanut Butter Pie Crust Recipe

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kat says

      May 05, 2023 at 12:45 pm

      5 stars
      Your pie dough recipe is amazing! Your step-by-step instructions and tips made it easy to make a flaky and buttery crust. Thanks for sharing your expertise with the world!

      Reply
      • dessertswithstephanie says

        May 05, 2023 at 1:28 pm

        5 stars
        Kat, thank you for your feedback!

        Reply
    2. Beth says

      May 02, 2023 at 5:21 pm

      5 stars
      This is the best pie crust I've ever made! This is the first time I've seen a crust made with both butter and shortening. The texture is perfect!

      Reply
    3. Lana T says

      February 07, 2023 at 7:41 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect pie dough recipe indeed.

      Reply
    4. Sara B says

      October 24, 2022 at 9:23 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is da bomb. I never made pie dough before so the video helped a lot.

      Reply
    5. Tamara says

      October 03, 2022 at 4:26 pm

      5 stars
      If I want to use this for a savory quiche crust, can I just leave out the sugar?

      Reply
      • dessertswithstephanie says

        October 03, 2022 at 6:11 pm

        5 stars
        Hi Tamara, absolutely! It works nicely for savory dishes.

        Reply
    6. Sadie says

      September 21, 2022 at 6:25 pm

      5 stars
      This crust was easy to make after I watched your video! First time my crust turned out well.

      Reply
    7. TaraLynne says

      September 19, 2022 at 3:46 pm

      5 stars
      Made this twice. First time was perfect as was the second. Great tip with the spritzer bottle.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Pastry Chef Stephanie

    Welcome to Desserts With Stephanie. I hope you enjoy your visit. All the recipes and techniques I discuss on this site have been fully tested in my bakery for more than 15 years. Let's have some fun in the kitchen and put a smile on someone's face with a little sweetness.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • gluten free chocolate cookies on a serving platter
      Gluten Free Chocolate Cookies with Walnuts
    • overhead view of an upside down pecan cranberry cake
      Pecan Cranberry Upside Down Cake
    • meringue ghosts filled with chocolate and almonds with a haunted house in background
      Meringue Ghosts with Almond & Chocolate Filling
    • strawberries covered in white chocolate and decorated to look like ghosts
      White Chocolate Strawberry Ghosts

    Looking for Something Special?

    • Disclaimer
    • Terms

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy/Terms
    • Disclaimer

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Brunch Pro on the Feast Plugin