Here's everything you need to know about making a classic homemade pie crust. Get the best results every time with these simple ingredients and step-by-step instructions. It's a no-fail recipe with a flaky crust made with shortening, ready to bake for your sweet or savory pies.

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There's something about pie that brings comfort to the mind. It's the basis for a home-cooked meal or dessert that dates back to who knows when! If you've got a tasty flaky pie crust, you've got potential for some good eatin'.

Different Pie Crust Recipes

As a fundraiser, I began making homemade pie crust for The 200 Chicken Pot Pie Dress recipe. Our daughter, Deidra, was in the Miss Arkansas beauty pageant, and we used the earnings from those pies to purchase a Tony Bowles gown. That was right before Tony's dresses started appearing on the red carpet. It'll take more than 200 chicken pot pie sales to gain one of those dresses today.

If you want to see the dress, go to The 200 Chicken Pot Pie Dress post. It's stunning . . . that is, the girl in the dress is!

Another savory pie is this Crawfish Pot Pie, A cajun Delight with a puffed crust. Like the post mentioned above, it too is made with a different pie crust recipe than our recipe below. However, this Classic Homemade Pie Crust is so versatile it can be used for either one of these delicious savory pies I've mentioned.

I'll share more pie recipes with you later.

Why Make Homemade Pie Crust Instead Of A Buying Store-Bought Brand?

Store-bought may be easier, but here are the benefits of making your own:

fresh-tasting, flaky pie crust in no time
convenient, make-ahead pie dough, ready and waiting in the refrigerator or freezer to roll out for baking and filling
getting a pie crust the thickness you desire, thick or thin
knowing the ingredients in your pie, no preservatives, and as organic as you want
satisfying results of making your own crust from scratch

I know that making your own pie dough can be intimidating at first, but it's easy once you get the hang of it! The rewards of rolling one out when there's a need for pie are gratifying. I call it pie-therapy.

Ingredients For This Classic Homemade Pie Crust

Only four easy-to-remember items are needed, and three are kept in the pantry.

all-purpose flour
salt
shortening
ice-cold water

Ingredients of flour, water, and shortening for pie crust making.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Place flour and salt in a large bowl and stir together.
Cut shortening into the flour using a fork or pastry blender cutter until the mixture forms pea-size balls.

A glass bowl of cut pie crust for Classic Homemade Pie Crust.

Stir in small amounts of water with a fork until the dough comes together; you may use more or less than ⅓ cup. Sometimes the dough needs more water if the shortening isn't cut enough into the flour. Too much water makes a gummy pie crust. Too much flour causes the dough to toughen. The key is to slowly stir in the water. When the dough forms into a ball, you can stop adding water.
Knead the dough a few times. Form it into a ball and place it on a flour-dusted countertop to roll out immediately, or wrap it in plastic to put in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Refrigeration lessens the chance of the dough cracking when rolling it out. You can also store the wrapped dough ball in the freezer for several weeks.

A ball of pie dough wrapped in plastic wrap for Classic Homemade Pie Crust.

Sprinkle a thin layer of all-purpose flour onto the countertop so the dough doesn't stick. This is called dusting. Place the dough on the flour and roll it out into a large circle about ⅛-inch thick. Make it large enough to fit into a pie plate; this recipe makes 1 nine-inch pie.

Rolled out circle of pie crust with rolling pin.

Fold dough, by one-thirds, towards the center of the crust to form a square.

A folded pie crust on a flour-dusted counter.

Place dough square into the center of the pie plate (9 inches or smaller) and gently unfold to cover the sides of the pie plate, do not pull on the dough. Stretching the dough activates the gluten and causes shrinkage when baking.
Trim off the dough evenly at the top edge of the pie plate with a knife or kitchen scissors (you can press the dough against the top edge of the pan with a fork to ensure the dough stays in place while baking). Or, leave a 1-inch overhang, then fold the crust, tucking under all around the top of the pan. Tucking edges under gives a thicker crust and helps them not overcook when baking.
Prick the crust with a fork, even up the sides, if you are baking the pie crust before filling it.

Unbaked pie crust in a red fluted pie plate pricked with a fork. — This Emille Henry 9-pie plate has a ruffled edge that needs no folding and tucking under.

Cover the dough with parchment paper and fill the covered pie shell with raw rice, dried beans, or pie weights to keep the crust from bubbling and/or shrinking during baking.

Unbaked pie shell for filled with rice on a parchment paper in How To Make A Pie Crust.

Bake at 450° F for 15 minutes, or use the pie crust for other fill-and-bake pie recipes. Double the recipe for pies topped with crust before baking.

Baked pie crust in how to make pie crust.

Store the baked and cooled pie shell in the freezer for up to 1 month after covering with foil and placing it in a zip-top gallon bag.

More Pie Recipes For This Crust

Use Classic Homemade Pie Crust for these delicious pies.

More Recipes To Go With Pie

Click over to 40 Best Holiday Recipes for dish ideas to serve with pie, whether it's for the holidays or not.