Paula’s Perfect Pie Crust

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54321 Based on 28 Reviews

Servings: 2 (9-inch) pie crusts
Prep Time: 50 min
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients Add to grocery list

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
3 tablespoons granulated white sugar
1/4 cup vegetable shortening, cold
12 tablespoons butter, cold and cubed
1/4 cup to 1/2 cup ice water

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, salt and sugar. Add the shortening and break it up with your hands as you start to coat it all up with the flour. Add the cold butter cubes and work it into the flour with your hands or a pastry cutter. Work it quickly, so the butter doesn’t get too soft, until the mixture is crumbly, like very coarse cornmeal. Add the ice water, a little at a time, until the mixture comes together forming a dough. Bring the dough together into a ball.

When it comes together stop working it otherwise the dough will get over-worked and tough. Divide the dough in half and flatten it slightly to form a disk shape. Wrap each disk in plastic and chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. On a floured surface roll each disk out into a 10 to 11-inch circle to make a 9-inch pie.

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Reader Comments:

54321

I have never been able to make pie crust, so tomorrow after work I am going to try. If it doesnt turn out it will be my fault, not your recipe.

By Judy Shaul on November 21, 2011

54321

what degree do you put oven on & how long do yiu bake a pie crust?

By sandra on November 18, 2011

54321

paula, curst was so good, i wish i'ld just made it to eat. thanks

By betty on November 13, 2011

54321

Love everything!! You are a very beautiful SEÑORA! Gracias!

By Bertha on November 08, 2011

54321

i need to know how to make a pumpkin pie that the crust doest get soggie on the bottom for mine is still doughie when i take out fillings done but crust not will you email me back cause i don't get to see you program

By craollee more on November 02, 2011

54321

love u Paula keep up the good work

By Helen on November 01, 2011

54321

I will try this recipe for our Thanksgiving table,it sounds perfectly delicious. I have always used a vinegar and egg recipe that I found in a grainge cookbook years ago and it became my familys favorite. I do not have a food processor so I was glad to see your recipe with instructions when I pulled it up. I like to get my hands into whatever I cook, the feel tells you when it is right, at least I think so. Do you have a recipe for apple pie with orange juice, light brown sugar, dabs of butter and a sprinkling of nutmeg? This was in an old duncan hines cookbook that I lost when we moved, I really miss that recipe. Also, do you have a recipe for potato water dinner yeast rolls? Another recipe I lost when we moved. Thanks for taking the time to read my comment and requests, stay healthy and never lose that beautiful smile! M

By Mary on November 01, 2011

54321

After forming pie dough into discs, how long can it be kept in the frig?

By Janet Ross on November 01, 2011

54321

Hi Paula, Love your "Perfect Pie Crust". Can this be frozen? How long will it keep in the refigerator? Thanks so much, Millie

By Millie on September 04, 2011

54321

Best pie crust ever. Thank You Paula My husband loves pies and I can now make them for him.

By Anonymous on July 17, 2011

54321

Paula I want a recipe for a snack bar that taste great. Will you help me? I want coconut, walnuts, oats, dates and other dried fruit mix and marshmallows. I know that doesn't sound low calorie but I don't care. I also want the top drizzled with caramel. Do you have a candy bar like this one?

By Carol Rockholt on July 11, 2011

54321

I am making individual pies for my grandaughters wedding. I want to put the pie dough into small canning jars and fill with fruit filling. When I bake the dough first, how do I keep the pie dough from falling into the jar. Can I use beans to keep the cost down? I have never used this method before.

By virginia mccary on July 01, 2011

54321

Gonna try it Paula. Last time I made a pie crust was in the 60's.

By Helen White on April 27, 2011

54321

Paula - Love the flavor of store bought pot pie - pie crust, but cannot find a homemade recipe. Can you come up with one?

By sharlotte on March 09, 2011

54321

You did not have how long to bake piecrust. Nor the temp. of oven.

By sharlotte on March 09, 2011

54321

I tried this recipe with my 11 year of daughter Alexa. She wants to be a Chef. We made THE best apple pie we have ever had. The crust is so flaky and moist. I don't think I will be using another crust recipe ever! We used a butter flavoured vegetable shortening instead of the regular and added a small apple sauce in the apple mixture, with no cinnamon. Those were the only change in the recipe. Trust me I could eat the dough before we rolled it out. This recipe make 2 pie crusts and we used the second one for a lattice top. I wasn't perfect, but it was absolutely beautiful after we brushed the top with the egg wash. KUDOS! Paula, we love your show and your food. My daughter says, when we watch your show, 'now mommy, you could see that food season and taste good, hey?' LOL She loves you. When are you doing another cooking expo? We missed one a few years ago in Atlanta. Let me know and we will be there. Thanks, from our kitchen to yours.

By BeckyThatcher on December 05, 2010

54321

OMG I love this pie crust!!! It tastes like a sugar cookie and is perfectly flaky!! Yum-O!! ~SouthShoreChick

By Anonymous on November 25, 2010

32121

I followed the instructions right down to it and for some reason my dough came out flakey and crumbled. What did I do wrong? I will try putting the dry stuff in the food processor next time maybe that will help..

By Anonymous on October 02, 2010

54321

Awsome, flakey, not dry, it was what I had hope to find someday and this is it!

By Anonymous on August 24, 2010

54321

I've been auditioning pie crusts lately. This one wins - it's just what I've been looking for! Thanks Paula

By Anonymous on April 12, 2010

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