3-Ingredient Pie Crust (Foolproof & Super Easy)

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This 3-Ingredient Pie Crust recipe is a super easy and delicious way to make a homemade pie crust without having to spend hours in the kitchen. Made with just butter, flour, and water, this super easy pie crust recipe produces a tender and flaky crust for your homemade pies.

This recipe makes a 9-inch pie crust that can easily be doubled. Just follow these simple steps to make your crust, add in your favorite pie filling, then bake! Pie season could not be easier.

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What are the 3 main ingredients in pastry?

The three main ingredients in pastry are flour, fat, and liquid. In this easy 3-ingredient pie crust recipe, we use all-purpose flour, butter, and cold water.

What You Need to Make 3-Ingredient Pie Crust

• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
• 2-4 Tablespoons iced water

How to Make 3-Ingredient Pie Crust

1. In a food processor, add the flour and butter cubes. Process for 30 seconds, until the dough is well-combined but still crumbly.
2. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl, then mix in 2 tablespoons of ice water with a spatula. If the dough is still too crumbly, add 1 more tablespoon of water at a time until the dough comes together.
3. Transfer the dough to a clean surface, then form into a ball. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
4. Once the hour is up, transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface, then flatten the dough ball using a rolling pin to a disk of your desired pie crust thickness. And that’s it! Your 3-ingredient pie crust is ready to use in your favorite pie recipes!
5. If not using the pie crust immediately, you can also wrap them in plastic wrap and refrigerate them for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. Feel free to double the recipe for a double pie crust, or to make for a rainy day!

What can I use for a pie crust if I don’t have a food processor?

If you don’t have a food processor, you can still make a homemade pie crust manually with the same ingredients: cold butter cubes, flour, and ice water.

To make the crust, add flour into a large bowl, then cut in the butter using a pastry cutter until it resembles a coarse meal. Slowly add the ice water and mix until just combined.

Then follow steps 3-5 as listed below and you’re good to go!

What are 3 tips for making pie crust?

1. Keep ingredients cold: Using cold ingredients, especially butter, is key to creating those flaky layers. Make sure the butter is well-chilled before you start making the crust.
2. Use just enough liquid: Too much liquid will make your dough tough and hard to work with, so add it sparingly to the dry ingredients until the dough just comes together.
3. Roll the dough carefully: Always use a light hand when handling and rolling out the pie dough; overworking it can cause an overly dense and tough crust.

Substitutions & Variations

• If you don’t have enough butter, you can use shortening, refined coconut oil, or a combination. Keep in mind that this will alter the texture, but will still taste delicious!
• If making savory pies, add a pinch of salt to the flour mixture. You can even add garlic powder and other seasonings depending on the pie you are making.
• If you are making a sweet pie crust, add a pinch of granulated sugar to the pie crust dough.
• This easy recipe makes 1 single pie crust for a 9-inch pie plate. If you want to make a double crust pie (one that requires both top crust and bottom crust), feel free to double this simple recipe!

What makes a better pie crust: butter or shortening?

At the end of the day, it really depends on your personal preference and what you’re making.

Generally, a butter pie crust has a flakier texture with a richer flavor. Shortening, however, provides a more crumbly texture with a more neutral taste.

Is pie crust better with butter or oil?

Pie crust is generally better with butter. A butter crust has a rich flavor and the butter helps create a golden, flaky pie crust. Oil has less flavor but is still able to create a tender crust.

What can I use for a pie crust if I don’t have a food processor?

If you don’t have a food processor, you can still make a homemade pie crust manually with the same ingredients: cold butter cubes, flour, and ice water.

To make the crust, add flour into a large bowl, then cut in the butter until it resembles a coarse meal. Slowly add the ice water and mix until just combined.

Then follow steps 3-5 as listed below and you’re good to go!

What happens if you add sugar to pie crust?

If you add sugar to pie crust, it will create a sweeter and richer flavor. The sugar also helps to brown the crust and adds a bit of crunchiness. If you’re making sweet pies, I recommend adding 1 tablespoon sugar.

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If you make this Super Easy 3-Ingredient Pie Crust recipe, please drop a comment below! I’d LOVE to know what you think! Or take a picture and share it on Instagram by tagging @dwellbymichelle!

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