How to Make an Easy Pie Crust

easy pie crust that is flakey

I love pie crust.  When you find one you really like, it’s just happiness added to a delicious pie.  This is my mama’s easy pie crust recipe.  It is flakey, delicious and perfect with pumpkin pie.  She uses it for all her pies actually, from banana to apple, pumpkin and the like.  You can even use this recipe to make hand pies and pot pies.

This recipes makes enough for 2 pie crusts.

Ingredients:

dry ingredients:
4 cups flour
2 cups shortening
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar

  wet ingredients:
1/2 cup cold water
1 egg
2 Tablespoons vinegar

homemade pie crust

Instructions:

In a large bowl, add the dry ingredients with the shortening and mix with a mixer until the shortening is pea size with the flour mix.

We have found that tipping the bowl slightly helps mix everything well.  Also turning the bowl to get all the ingredients incorporated.

In a separate small bowl, beat an egg with the vinegar and cold water.

Add the wet ingredients into the dry.

Mix well, turning the bowl and tilting it slightly.

The dough will be mixed, but not one piece.

Once it is incorporated, stop mixing and use your hands to press together to make a disc.

Fold together with your hands to ensure it is mixed well.

Flatten into a disc and cut in half.

With plastic wrap, wrap each half and press down to flatten.

Place the dough into the fridge to firm up and chill.

After 1 hour, you can remove and make your pie crust.

Tips:

• Use a overly large bowl to mix the ingredients, it will help with allowing you to tip the bowl without it spilling.
• We keep an ice cup in the water until we are ready to use it.
• You can place the dough in a freezer bag and store longer (remove it from the plastic wrap if you do this).
• Use with your favorite pie recipe