Looking for a flakey pie crust recipe that’s easy too?

This pie crust recipe has been in our family for generations.  I think it is the easiest recipe in the world and produces the best tasting pie crust I have ever had.  When I was in culinary school, we made pie dough till it was coming out of our heads and while they were all tasty, none compared with the recipe my mom and grandmother always used.  This recipe makes enough for one deep dish pie.

Pie Dough

1 c all-purpose flour

1 stick butter, room temp

3 T ice-cold water

pinch of salt

Put the flour and salt in a medium bowl and give a quick mix.  Add the butter and work the flour into the butter forming small “plates” of butter (it should look rough like the photo).  These “plates” are what make the crust flakey.

When all the flour is incorporated into the butter, add just enough ice water to get it to come together into a ball.  Be sure to mix gently with a fork and only until the dough comes together.  Over mixing will make your crust tough because you will develop the gluten in the flour.

Bring the dough together into a flat disk and wrap in plastic wrap.  Refrigerate for 20 – 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375 degree F.

Lightly flour your work surface (throw the flour at an angle to the counter so it lightly skids across the surface).  Use only enough flour to keep the dough from sticking.  Too much will make the crust tough.

Using a rolling-pin, roll into a circle large enough to cover your pie plate.  Roll in only one direction, again to minimize the formation of gluten.  When you have your dough rolled out large enough to fit your pie plate, carefully roll it onto your rolling-pin and transfer to the pie plate.

Press carefully into place, pinch the rim, and trim off the excess.

Fill your pie shell following your recipe or if you are blind baking (filling after baking), fit a piece of foil into the pie shell and fill with beans to prevent puffing. If you are blind baking, check out the post on how to keep your pie crust from getting soggy.

    see how flakey 

Bake according to your recipes instructions or if blind baking, until golden brown.