The Flakiest Pie Crust

 

Many people have many opinions on pie crust. Some live by all butter, some are half shortening and half butter. Some are jut shortening. Today, I’ll be sharing with you my grandma’s pie crust recipe—and my personal favourite. This crust is all shortening—all Crisco shortening to be exact, and very flakey. It’s also very simple, you probably have all the ingredients in your house right now.

• Flour
• Crisco vegetable shortening 
• Water
• Salt

See? Nothing too crazy. It’s also very easy! So, without further ado, 

Let’s Cook!

The Flakiest Pie Crust

Time: Prep: 25 minutes, Bake: 60 minutes

Difficulty: Medium 

Yield: 1 Full pie crust (top and bottom)

Ingredients 

• 2 cups AP flour
• 1 cup all-vegetable shortening (I live by Crisco)
• Pinch of salt
• 1/4 cup cold water, approximately 

To make

1. Preheat oven to 400°F
2.  Using a pastry blender,* combine the salt, shortening and flour in a medium bowl. Make sure to get all the flour from the bottom of the ball. Continue to blend until pea-sized lumps form.**
3. Slowly drizzle in water, a little at a time, still stirring from the bottom up using your pastry blender, until a dough is formed. 
4. Generously flour a large cutting board, then place half your dough on the board. Using a well floured rolling pin, roll your dough flat, until it is big enough to fit over your pie plate, with a little excess.
5. Set your pie plate upside-down on the dough, then flip the board, dough and plate over, and set the pie plate down, carefully removing the cutting board. 
6. Press the dough into all the crevices, mending and patching any holes.
7. Poke holes in the bottom of the crust with a fork.***
8. Pour pie filling into your crust.
9. Repeat steps 3 and 4
10. Lay your second crust over top of the filling and bottom crust, and run your knife around the edges, to even them out. 
11. Crimp edges using a fork or your fingers.
12. Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 350°F and bake for 50 minutes more.
13. Cool slightly, then serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.

*a fork also works!

**as pictured above

*** only do steps 7-12 if you are making a baked pie, such as cherry or peach. If you are making an un-baked pie, such as lemon meringue or coconut cream, make half a batch and bake for 20 minutes at 350° and don’t do steps 7-12!

 I hope you enjoy this recipe!

Nancy-Ju