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The search for a perfect pie crust recipe can be, well, daunting. It's a finicky pastry, and the last thing you want in a pie is a disappointing crust. On top of that, there's more than one way to make pie crust: all butter, all shortening, a combination of both…the list goes on. So, how do you decide which pie crust recipe to trust? To help you out, we scoured our pie crust recipes to find the best of the best ? each recipe here has a five-star average with hundreds of reviews, making them the most-loved by our passionate community of home cooks. Check out our 15 best pie crust recipes we've ever published and give one a try. You'll be glad you did.
Best Ever Pie Crust
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Photo by Jess Gartner
This recipe's name pretty much says it all: it's super simple, adapts well to doubling or halving, and only requires four ingredients: flour, salt, shortening, and water. It almost seems too good to be true, but it's not — the end result is light and flaky and will pair with any sweet or savory pie.
Pie Crust IV
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This shortening-based pie crust was submitted by Jan Bittner, who said her grandmother supported her family during the Great Depression by baking and this was her recipe. She adds that the key to a light, flaky result is being gentle with the dough. Use an optional egg wash if you want to create a shiny glazed finish as shown.
Graham Cracker Crust I
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Photo by Bonnie Northup
"I used this crust in pumpkin pie this Thanksgiving," says community member JANE183 of this butter-based crust. "Now I really know what a 'rave review' is! My Grandmother called her sister to give her this recipe, the pie vanished, and I got called (several times) to remind me to make it again for Christmas — wow."
Ruth's Grandma's Pie Crust
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This recipe has been around for more than 100 years, so you know Ruth's grandma was doing something right. Shortening and an egg give the crust a tender texture as well a great flavor.
Easy Homemade Pie Crust
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Photo by SparkleKat
Chef John's butter-based pie crust recipe uses a food processor, making the process of cutting the butter into the flour much simpler. A touch of apple cider vinegar makes this crust light and flaky; just how it's supposed to be.
Baker's Secret Pie Crust
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This pie crust requires a lot more ingredients and handling — two types of flour, both butter and shortening, an egg yolk — but it's well worth the results. "OMG! This has to be one of the BEST pie crusts I've ever had on this site! It's so delicious, and so flaky yet easy to roll out that I can see why this person has won County Fair competitions with this recipe," says community member Jillian. The key is to keep your ingredients cold and handle the dough as little as possible to keep gluten from forming and to guarantee a flaky crust.
No-Fail Pie Crust I
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Photo by panda_cook
"I found this recipe years ago, and have not made any other since," says creator Lenn. This shortening-based vinegar pie crust's beauty lies in its simplicity — the dough comes out flaky and tasty, and it keeps well in the fridge and freezer.
Mom's Pie Crust
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If you've never made a pie crust before, this simple, butter-based crust is a great place to start. For best results, keep the ingredients and the crust as cold as possible — one community member even recommends chilling the flour.
Hot Water Pie Crust II
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Photo by Pam Ziegler Lutz
"I've been making ice water pie crust for many years and was pretty skeptical of using hot water," says community member LAGRANGELADY of this shortening-based crust that utilizes vinegar and cornstarch. "Wow, was I wrong! This was so easy and came out of the oven tender and flaky."
Basic Flaky Pie Crust
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Photo by tara3and5
This shortening-based pie crust is exactly what it says it is — approachable, simple, and fantastically flaky. "This dough was so easy to work with," says community member Mollycurls77. "I've always stayed away from making pie crust…but no more!"
Grandma's Secret Pie Crust
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Grandma's secret to a great pie crust is out, and it's actually quite simple. This six-ingredient, shortening-based crust delivers some seriously flaky results. Egg, vinegar, and water moisten the dough, and chilling it leads to best results.
French Pastry Pie Crust
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If you think vinegar and egg can't do much for a pie crust, you need to try this shortening and egg-based recipe and realize you're wrong. For easier cleanup and rolling, place the dough in a gallon freezer bag and let it chill in the freezer for 15 minutes.
Easy Pie Crust
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Photo by Amy Nichols
This foolproof pie crust recipe is proof that you don't need shortening or butter for a tender, flaky crust — that is, as long as you have vegetable oil. It has a crisp, crumbly texture and works with both sweet and savory pies. If you're not a fan of salty foods, however, you may want to decrease the amount of salt used.
No Fail Pie Crust II
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Lard, an egg, and vinegar help make this one tender, flaky pie crust — no shortening or butter required here. "This is the best recipe ever… it is the same one my grandma used to use and I was so glad I found it here," says community member NAN C. "It rolls out beautifully and is almost impossible to goof up! The crust is extremely tender & flaky… many have raved over this!"
Butter Flaky Pie Crust
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Photo by Allrecipes magazine
This pie crust gets its unbeatable texture from chilled, diced butter. "This is the best butter crust I've ever tasted, and the only recipe for such that I have ever enjoyed perfect results and consistent success with," says community member eiskyjente. As an added bonus, this pie dough never loses its shape, making it perfect for more adventurous or intricate designs.
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