Ready to up your baking skills? Here’s how to make a perfect pie crust that’s full proof and works with a variety of different recipes!
The holidays are practically upon us, which means pie season is also here! Hooray!
There’s nothing in the world that can compare to homemade pie crust. Yes, it is a little bit more effort than say, buying a pre-formed pie crust or even one of those handy refrigerated roll-out crusts, but believe me when I tell you it is totally worth it. a.) it is much cheaper than all of the pre-made options and b.) it tastes so SO much better!
How To Make a Perfect Pie Crust (Our Best Tips + The Easiest Recipes Ever!)
Luckily for all of us, the process of making the flakiest and most delicious pie crust ON. THE. PLANET. is really not that hard. In fact, it only takes a few minutes. The secret is in making sure you have chilled your ingredients ahead of time. Do that and you’re golden.
Here is what you need:
2 1/2 cups flour, chilled
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 sticks butter, chilled
1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water
Step 1: Again, the first thing you want to make sure you do is thoroughly chill all your ingredients! If you don’t store it there already, put your flour in your (very cold) refrigerator for several hours before making your dough. The colder everything is, the flakier (and more delicious) your crust will be!
Step 2: Next, combine your dry ingredients–flour, salt,& sugar–in your food processor and blend well. Cut your very chilled butter into small chunks, then add to flour mixture.
Step 3: Pulse food processor for 5 or so seconds until the mixture “resembles course meal.”
Step 4: Slowly pour in ICE COLD water while food processor is running.
Step 5: As SOON as the dough starts to clump up, STOP pouring in more water. This will happen fast!
Step 6: Separate dough into two equal parts. Flatten into discs & refrigerate for at least one hour or overnight.
Step 7: Once dough has chilled, roll out to desired thickness using heavy rolling pin on a well-floured surface.
Step 8: Place crust in pie plate & fill as desired. For this particular crust, I did a savory Vegetarian Quiche filling, but it works just as well for sweet pies as well! Enjoy!

Perfect Pie Crust
Step-by-step instructions for how to make the flakiest, most delicious, most completely perfect homemade pie crust every single time.
Ingredients
- 2.5 cups flour chill for several hours before using
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 sticks very cold butter
- 1/2 cup ice water
Instructions
Before beginning, make sure your ingredients are well chilled. The colder everything is, the flakier (and more delicious) your crust will be!
Next, combine your dry ingredients–flour, salt,& sugar–in your food processor and blend well. Cut your very chilled butter into small chunks, then add to flour mixture.
Pulse food processor for 5 or so seconds until the mixture resembles course meal.
VERY SLOWLY pour in your ICE COLD water while food processor is running.
As SOON as the dough starts to clump up, STOP pouring in more water. This will happen fast! You do not need to use all the water--you may only end up using half, and this is okay.
Separate dough into two equal parts. Flatten into discs & refrigerate for at least one hour or overnight
Place crust in pie plate & fill as desired.
OUR BEST PIE RECIPES:
- Easy 5 Ingredient Pumpkin Pie
- Salted Chocolate Caramel Pecan Pie
- Oh-So-Easy Caramel Apple Pie
- Quick & Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Oreo Pie
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This has been my favorite “go to” pie crust recipe for years. I started using it in 2000 after getting The MSL Cookbook and I use it for all of my tarts, mini tarts, pies, etc. It’s pretty perfect!
I agree!
This looks so easy! I would prefer to make my own instead of buying them from the store.. But do you have a printable version? I know asking alot here lol But have to ask before preparing it in a document myself lol
Thank you so much for all the inspiration you keep giving us all!!
Do you mean a printable version of this post or the recipe?
the recipe 80)
The Pate Brisee link in the post will bring you to Martha Stewart’s recipe & I think there is a printable version. 🙂
Got it!! Thank you. I feel super dumb now lol. But appreciate you pointing that out to me!
No problem. Don’t feel dumb, it wasn’t obvious. I should’ve linked the word ‘recipe’ too! 🙂
My mother-in-law shared her pie crust recipe with me years ago. It is delicious and simple to make. I have taught all 3 of my kids (9, 13, 15 years old) to make it. My 13 year old son seems to have a knack for making pie crust. He won “Overall Food Demonstrator” in our county 4H show this year. It was his first time ever participating in a food demonstration. He did an awesome job!
Our family favorite pie is my mother-in-law’s Chocolate Chip Pie:)
Chocolate chip pie = YUM!
That’s awesome that you are teaching all your kids to bake. It will serve them well!
I am a sucker for mini pie pans or tart pans. My step dad has quite the green thumb and grows beautiful tomatoes and rhubarb in their yard. I love making mini tomato & fontina tarts, as well as fresh berry rhubarb pie. One thing I have not been able to figure out though since moving to the South from the Northeast is how to keep the KITCHEN cool enough for dough – the ingredients start cold but by the time it’s formed into a ball it’s a sweaty, moisture mess.
Thank you so much for this recipe. I am not a very good pie maker (tried once and was a complete disaster) but I love pecan pie, chocolate pies, and easy cheesecake.
Pecan pie is one of my favorites too! 🙂