How do I make a flaky pie crust?

Unlock the secrets to creating the flakiest and most delicious pie crusts with our easy-to-follow recipe. Trust us, it's totally worth it!

You'll need

Items needed to answer the question, How do I make a flaky pie crust. Items include: All-Purpose Flour Salt Sugar Unsalted Butter Ice Water

All-Purpose Flour 2 ½ cups
Salt 1 teaspoon
Sugar 1 tablespoon
Unsalted Butter 1 cup
Ice Water ¼ to ½ cup

Take note
Beware, this guide may result in immeasurable deliciousness. Proceed with caution if you don't want to become addicted to homemade pie!

1

Gather Your Ingredients

Before diving into pie crust perfection, make sure you have the following ingredients: 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 cup unsalted butter (cut into small cubes), and ¼ to ½ cup ice water.

2

Mix It Up

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and sugar. Add in the cubed butter, and using a pastry cutter or your fingers (if you're feeling adventurous), blend the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles coarse crumbs.

3

Chill Out

Pour in the ice water, starting with ¼ cup, and gently mix everything together until the dough just comes together. Add more ice water, a little at a time, if needed. The dough should hold together when you pinch it, but not be overly wet. Shape the dough into a disc, and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Pop it in the fridge for at least 1 hour (or overnight if you're feeling patient).

4

Roll It Out

When your dough has had its chill time, lightly flour a clean surface and roll it out to fit your pie dish. Make sure it's about 2 inches larger than the diameter of your dish, so it can hang over the edges.

5

Prep for Perfection

Transfer the rolled-out dough to your pie dish, gently pressing it into the bottom and sides. Trim any excess dough, leaving about a ½ inch overhang. Create a decorative edge by folding the overhang under itself and crimping with your fingers or a fork. Finally, prick the bottom of the crust with a fork to prevent any unwanted puffing while it bakes.

6

Chill Again (Optional, but Recommended)

For extra flakiness, pop the pie crust into the fridge for another 15-30 minutes before baking. This will help prevent shrinking and maintain those beautiful flaky layers.

7

Bake and Enjoy

Preheat your oven to the appropriate temperature specified in your pie recipe. If your recipe calls for an unbaked crust, follow the baking instructions in the pie recipe. And if your recipe requires a baked crust, line the pie crust with foil and fill it with pie weights or dried beans to prevent it from bubbling up. Bake the crust according to your recipe, and get ready to enjoy the flakiest crust known to humanity!