Easy Pie Dough Recipe

J. Kenji López-Alt
Easy Pie Dough Recipe
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  • Yield:Makes 2 single crust or 1 double crusted pie
  • Active time:10 minutes
  • Total time:10 minutes
  • Rated: 4.5

[Photographs: Vicky Wasik]

Note: This makes enough for two single-crust pies or one double crust pie. For a slightly more tender crust, replace up to 6 tablespoons of butter with vegetable shortening. Pie dough can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator before rolling and baking.

Why It Works

The only pie dough recipe you'll ever need.
  • All-butter gives this pie crust extra flavor.
  • Combining the flour and butter in two distinct phases creates a dough that is tender and flaky yet extremely easy to roll out.
This recipe appears in:
How to Blind-Bake a Pie Crust Step-by-Step: How to Make the Best Pie Crust The Science of Pie: 7 Pie Crust Myths That Need to Go Away From the Archives: The Only Pie Dough Recipe You'll Ever Need The Food Lab's Top 9 Tips For Perfect Apple Pie The Food Lab: The Science of Pie Dough

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups (12.5 ounces; 350 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons (25 grams) sugar
  • 1 teaspoon (5 grams) kosher salt
  • 2 1/2 sticks (10 ounces; 280 grams) unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch pats
  • 6 tablespoons (3 ounces; 85 milliliters) cold water

Directions

  1. 1.

    Combine two thirds of flour with sugar and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse twice to incorporate. Spread butter chunks evenly over surface. Pulse until no dry flour remains and dough just begins to collect in clumps, about 25 short pulses. Use a rubber spatula to spread the dough evenly around the bowl of the food processor. Sprinkle with remaining flour and pulse until dough is just barely broken up, about 5 short pulses. Transfer dough to a large bowl.

  2. 2.

    Sprinkle with water then using a rubber spatula, fold and press dough until it comes together into a ball. Divide ball in half. Form each half into a 4-inch disk. Wrap tightly in plastic and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before rolling and baking.

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