Simple Shortening Pie Crust
If you don’t LOVE my all All-Butter Easy Pie Crust Recipe maybe you’re looking for another type of homemade pie crust recipe, like this shortening pie crust?
One thing I’ve learned in hosting my GBBO Bake-Along (shameless plug) is that there are SO many types of crusts out there. Like more than all butter or this easy shortening pie crust. I plan to share a few in the upcoming weeks for all your baking needs.
First up is this EASY Homemade Pie Crust Recipe
An all shortening pie crust recipe. Lower in cholesterol so perfect for anyone watching that. We’re getting to that stage in life, anyone else?? Hands up!
Plus it is so dang easy to make. The hardest part is remembering to chill your shortening. Yeah, that’s not so hard! I wonder if you can store it in the fridge? I’m going to look into that for pie dough season.
Food Processor Pie Crust
You can make this Homemade Pie Crust Recipe one of two ways, and I’ll tell you how to do them both. WITH a food processor it is SO EASY.
- measure dry ingredients into the bowl of the processor
- give it a whirl
- add the shortening
- pulse to chop
- add the water slowly while pulsing to combine
- when it forms a dough stop adding water
- divide dough and chill
No Food Processor? No Problem!
Just because I mention that this is food processor pie crust doesn’t mean you have to have one to make this recipe. In fact, it’s almost as easy to make it without one.
Make the Pie Dough by Hand
- Whisk the dry ingredeints
- drop in the shortening
- use a pastry blender or two knives to work the shortening in unitl it looks like bread crumbs
- slowly add the cold water until a dough is formed
- when it forms a dough stop adding water
The food processor just takes out the handwork element of this crust, otherwise, it’s the same process. I’ll post the alternate directions in the recipe box below as well so if you print it off you’ll have it there for use later on.
And if you’re making pie crust…
why not try a new pie recipe? My Old Fashioned Pecan Pie is made without corn syrup and it’s oh-so-good. Its cousin is the Chocolate Pecan Pie another family favorite. Try one or both of them for some good old fashioned pies!
All Shortening Easy Pie Crust Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 cup vegetable shortening, chilled
- 1/2 cup cold water
Instructions
- put the flour, salt, and sugar, in the bowl of a food processor
- put the top on and give it a whirl-no food processor? find the alternate direction for making this by hand below
- add the cold shortening, pulse to combine until the mix looks like bread crumbs
- drizzle in enough water for the dough to come together in a clump
- with the processor, OFF reach in and feel the dough does it feel dry and crumbly or soft and supple?
- if it's dry and crumbly add small amounts of cold water until it comes together in a soft and pliable dough
- once you've achieved a dough you can work with divide it in half, pat each half into a disk, wrap tightly and refrigerate at least an hour
- to make pies: roll the chilled dough in a circle 2 inches wider than your pie pan, lay in the pie pan, press to fit being careful not to stretch it too much, crimp the edges as desired, bake as needed
Notes
To make this all shortening pie crust by hand:
- Whisk the dry ingredients
- drop in the shortening
- use a pastry blender or two knives to work the shortening in until it looks like bread crumbs
- slowly add the cold water until a dough is formed
- when it forms a dough stop adding water, check to make sure it isn't too crumbly if it is add more water
