Easy Never-Fail Pie Crust Recipe that You Don’t Roll – You Just Pat in the Pan!
September 23, 2011 in Frugal Tips
I have hated making pies my entire life because of one thing: pie crust. Believe me, I have tried all of the “tricks” – which contradict each other, by the way- – - Keep the water ice-cold. Use boiling water. Don’t touch the crust with your hands. No, no – Use your hands to smear the butter into the flour. Whatever you do NEVER use a food processor. NO, no – Whatever you do ALWAYS use a food processor. Use vinegar. Use vodka. Use egg yolks. Use egg whites. Use only butter. Use only lard. Use only shortening. Use only oil. Use a combination. Freeze the fat. Freeze the bowl. Freeze the flour.
Oh. My. Gosh.
No matter what I tried, my crust never turned out. Until now.
I watched America’s Test Kitchen make a pie crust that looks and feels like play-dough and IS NOT rolled, but you just pat it into the pan. Yes, you read that right. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ROLL OUT THIS CRUST! This pie crust works because the large amount of fat plus a little dairy keep the gluten from toughening the crust.
Yes, I know. This is not a low-fat recipe. My advice: IF YOU WANT SOMETHING LOW-FAT, DON’T MAKE PIE. Make a salad or some broccoli. But if you’re going to make pie, put lots of fat in the pie crust and then savor every bite. As The New Cookie Monster says, this is a “sometimes food.”
These days, if you come to my house for the holidays, you must eat a piece of pie. The crust will be perfectly soft, perfectly seasoned and flavorful. If you don’t believe me, come on over to my house. Or, try this crust recipe.
Either way, it will change your life. Or at least your pie making.
As proof that this pie crust is the easiest ever, I invited some 12 and 13 year old girls over to make apple pie with me. They had a blast. Between the talking, giggling, and showing off new cheerleading moves, we managed to roll out several crusts. This crust even survived 12 year old bakers!
PAT-IN-THE-PAN PIE CRUST
Recipe makes 2 pie crusts for a 9 inch pie
1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 ounces (4 tablespoons) cream cheese, at room temperature
In a food processor, process all ingredients until it begins to come together. Dump onto a floured board and pat out into two flat discs, about 1/2 inch thick.
Place in a pie pan and pat out to fit pan.
Bake as directed for your pie.
Other bloggers quests for easy pie crust:
Pie Crust Tutorial by Barbara Bakes
Easy Pie Crust, Savour Fare
EZ Pie Crust, Playing with my Food
Easy Dairy Free Pie Crust, Go Dairy Free
Easy Lattice Pie, Annie’s Eats
East Pie Crust, Brown Eyed Baker
Perfect Pie Crust, The Cooking Photographer
Perfect Pie Crust, My Wooden Spoon
– posted by Donna
This is completely awesome in every way. And I love that it is an all butter crust because I think they taste the best. And also, when did cookie monster start saying things like “sometimes food” when he used to be able to form only slightly coherent, grammatically incorrect sentences like “Me want cookie.” Next thing you know he’ll be going to the gym and taking art history classes.
Jeanie – I was so excited and happy to share this fool-proof crust ~do try it!
Looks like a fun evening! Lucky girls. I want to come make pie at your house too. Thanks for the link love.
Barbara – It’s fun to cook with kids – especially girls this age!
Definitely going to try your crust the next time I “have” to make a pie! I consider myself a wonderful baker, but I avoid pies because I fail in my attempts at crust every time! I can’t bake bread either!!! Have any fail-proof bread recipes?
Hey Michelle – Yes, indeed. It’s completely idiot-proof!
I will also try it, and soon. But you still chose to roll it out?
Chris – Yes, I still roll it most of the way – doesn’t have to be a perfect circle – just to save time, because the rolling pin is faster than my fingers. Either way, this crust turn out great!
Great crust recipe. I’ll bookmark this for my next pie. Thanks
Eva – Please come back and let us know how you liked the recipe!
This is such a fun opportunity for the girls! How fun for you to host a pie-making party :) Love the press-in pie crust.
Thanks Marla! I love cooking with friends – even young ones!
This is very similar to a pie crust I have used for years. It’s a Betty Crocker recipe from, I would guess, the ’60s. The recipe uses oil for the fat and milk for the dairy. I pat it into the pan, I roll it out and, I am happy to say, it works every time, just like yours.
Joan – Thanks for sharing your success!
[...] apple pie to be deceptively difficult to make. Crusts can be tough or bland (please try our foolproof crust recipe and your life will be forever changed!) Filling can be dry or runny, bland or sickeningly sweet. [...]
Yes, “easy” and “apple pie” can now be in the same sentence!