Versatile Pie Crust
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Pie Crust
Store-bought pie crust works in a pinch, but nothing beats a buttery homemade pie crust. Making it from scratch elevates both sweet and savory recipes.
This dough works for savory dishes such as my Chicken Pot Pie and sweet desserts such as my Apple Coconut Pie. For a sweeter crust, I add one extra tablespoon of sugar; for a very sweet filling or savory pie, I use the single tablespoon listed in the recipe.
This easy pie crust is buttery, rich, flaky, and beautifully golden when baked. A food processor makes quick work of the dough, but you can also prepare it by hand.
If you don’t have a food processor, or you prefer to make it by hand, this dough blender will help you cut the butter and blend it perfectly, you just need a little bit of elbow grease.
There is also something wonderfully therapeutic about making dough by hand. When I have the time, I love preparing this homemade pie crust from scratch.
How to Make Homemade Pie Crust
Cut the Cold Butter into the Flour
Mix the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl or food processor.
Add the cubed cold butter and the cream cheese into the mixture.
Tip! Cold butter and cold cream cheese are the key to making this dough flaky and oh so rich!
Use a pastry cutter or food processor to work in the butter and cream cheese until the butter is in pea-size pieces.
Add the Ice Water
Slowly add the ice-cold water, about 1 tablespoon at a time.
Tip! By adding one tablespoon at a time, it allows me to control the amount of moisture added to the mixture. You can always add more water, but you can’t take any away if you add too much. So, always err on the side of caution.
As you add the water, gently press and mix the dough until it begins to hold together.
Tip! The loose flour in the bottom of the bowl is the best place to add the water. It helps you grab the bits and pieces left in the bottom.
Continue mixing with the pastry cutter or food processor until the dough forms a ball. Be careful not to overmix.
Shape and Chill the Pie Dough
Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead it briefly to form a disc. It needs only enough kneading to hold together and chill evenly.
Wrap the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using it.
Recipes to Make with This Pie Crust
Use this versatile dough for my Chicken Pot Pie, Apple Coconut Pie, or Spanakopita Empanadas.
Versatile Pie Crust
Equipment
- Food procesor (optional)
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 2 sticks butter cubed and cold
- 3 onces cream cheese cold
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar *
- 1/4 cup ice cold water
Instructions
- Place the flour, sugar and salt in the food processor. Mix by pulsing them a few times. If you're making it by hand, combine these ingredients in a large bowl.
- Add the butter and the cream cheese and pulse until the butter has been cut into pea-size pieces. If doing it by hand, use the pastry cutter to break apart the butter and cream cheese into the flour until the mixture has pea size specks of butter.
- With the food processor turned on, slowly drizzle the cold water through the feeding tube. Stop the food processor as soon as the dough has formed into one whole ball. Sometimes you'll need a bit more water than the 1/4 cup, sometimes you'll need less. You will know it is ready once it has all come together as one. If mixing by hand, add the cold water one tablespoon at a time. Keep mixing and cutting the mixture until it's moist enough to become one dough ball.
- Turn the mixture onto a floured surface. Knead briefly into a disc and cover with plastic wrap.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using.
Best view i have ever seen !
Thank you! I hope you make it.
I just recently started making my own pies using store bought crusts. This recipe is perfect! My husband wants me to make sweet potato pie for Thanksgiving. I’ve recently baked him a coconut pie and a peach pie for myself. Both were delicious but the crust wasn’t made with butter. Thanks to you I’ve got this!
WOW! I’m so glad to hear this, I’m telling you, this crust basically makes itself especially if you use the food processor. If you don’t, it is still easy enough to make by hand. Quick little tip, make sure all tools and your hands are cool when handling the dough, it keeps it nice and firmer. Good luck with the sweet potato pie, sounds amazing! Happy Thanksgiving!