Creating a homemade pie from scratch is a delightful way to fill your home with warmth and comfort. And what’s at the very heart of any delicious pie? A perfectly flaky pie crust! If you’re looking to elevate your pie-making skills, this All Butter Flaky Pie Crust recipe is sure to become a staple in your kitchen. With just a few simple ingredients and a little bit of patience, you can achieve a tender, buttery crust that will take your pies to the next level.
### All Butter Flaky Pie Crust Recipe
**Ingredients:**
– 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
– 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
– 1 teaspoon salt
– 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
– 6-8 tablespoons ice water
**Instructions:**
1. **Prepare the Ingredients:** Start by cutting the unsalted butter into small cubes and placing them in the freezer for about 10-15 minutes. Having cold butter is key to achieving a flaky crust, as it creates steam pockets when baked, resulting in those desired layers.
2. **Mix the Dry Ingredients:** In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, and granulated sugar until well combined.
3. **Incorporate the Butter:** Retrieve the cold butter cubes from the freezer and add them to the flour mixture. Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, work the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some larger pea-sized pieces of butter remaining. This uneven distribution of butter is what will create the flakiness in your crust.
4. **Add Ice Water:** Drizzle 6 tablespoons of ice water over the flour-butter mixture, one tablespoon at a time. Gently stir the dough with a fork after each addition. Add more water as needed until the dough just begins to come together.
5. **Form the Dough:** Turn the dough out onto a clean, floured surface. Gently knead the dough a few times to bring it together into a cohesive ball. Be careful not to overwork the dough, as this can result in a tough crust.
6. **Divide and Chill:** Divide the dough in half and shape each half into a disc. Wrap the discs tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate them for at least 1 hour or overnight. Chilling the dough allows the gluten to relax, making it easier to roll out and preventing shrinkage during baking.
7. **Roll and Assemble:** After chilling, remove one disc of dough from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften slightly. On a floured surface, roll out the dough into a circle about 12 inches in diameter. Carefully transfer the rolled-out dough to a pie dish, gently pressing it into the bottom and sides.
8. **Fill and Top:** Add your desired pie filling to the prepared crust. Roll out the second disc of dough for a double crust pie, or use your favorite lattice or decorative topping. Seal and crimp the edges of the crust as desired.
9. **Bake to Perfection:** Follow the baking instructions for your specific pie recipe. For most double crust pies, bake at the temperature indicated until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
Enjoy the process of creating your own All Butter Flaky Pie Crust from scratch, knowing that the effort you put in will result in a delectably flaky and flavorful pie crust that will impress your family and friends. Whether you’re making a classic apple pie or a savory quiche, this versatile crust will be the perfect foundation for your culinary creations. So roll up your sleeves, dust off your rolling pin, and get ready to bake up a storm!
