Perfect Pie Crust
There's this pie crust that my mom makes. I've never had it anywhere else, and I really love it. It's not flaky, not buttery. It's not sweet or oversugared. It is a simple, understated pie crust that tastes a little bit nutty and molds like play dough.
This recipe makes two crusts.
This recipe makes two crusts.
Ingredients
- 2 cups white flour
- 1/4 cup wheat flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup ice water
- 3/4 cup shortening
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 egg
And a friend who wants to be in your picture in order to get famous on the internet.
Combine Dry Ingredients. Cut in Shortening.
Mix your white flour, wheat flour, sugar, and salt.
Measure out your shortening. You can do this by displacement- fill a 2-cup liquid measure with water up to 1 1/4 cups, then spoon in shortening until the water level is up to 2 cups.
Cut it into the dry ingredients with a pastry cutter or two knives until the little chunks of shortening are no bigger than peas.
Measure out your shortening. You can do this by displacement- fill a 2-cup liquid measure with water up to 1 1/4 cups, then spoon in shortening until the water level is up to 2 cups.
Cut it into the dry ingredients with a pastry cutter or two knives until the little chunks of shortening are no bigger than peas.
Mix Wet Ingredients
Use a fork to combine the water, egg, and almond extract in a separate bowl.
Pour over shortening mixture and mix with your hands.
Separate it into two balls.
Pour over shortening mixture and mix with your hands.
Separate it into two balls.
Roll Out Crust
Roll out your crust with a rolling pin.
I don't have a rolling pin, so mine looks a bit awkward (I used a water glass). But roll it out evenly until it is the right size for your pie pan.
I don't have a rolling pin, so mine looks a bit awkward (I used a water glass). But roll it out evenly until it is the right size for your pie pan.
Press Crust Into Pan
Carefully lift your pie crust into your pan. Press it until it fits the pan. Cut off edges where they are too big.
That's It!
That's the basics.
I made peach pie with mine- and a lattice top. To make a lattice top, roll out the second crust, then cut it into long strips. Weave it on top of your pie.
You can also make apple pie or shepherd's pie with a flat top crust, a quiche and a fresh berry pie (no top crust), or any of your regular pie crust dishes!
You can also make pie crust cookies with your leftover scraps: spread them on a baking pan, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, and put them in the oven for a few minutes. A good snack, as I recall, for kids too impatient to wait for pie to cook and cool!
I made peach pie with mine- and a lattice top. To make a lattice top, roll out the second crust, then cut it into long strips. Weave it on top of your pie.
You can also make apple pie or shepherd's pie with a flat top crust, a quiche and a fresh berry pie (no top crust), or any of your regular pie crust dishes!
You can also make pie crust cookies with your leftover scraps: spread them on a baking pan, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, and put them in the oven for a few minutes. A good snack, as I recall, for kids too impatient to wait for pie to cook and cool!