She Strengthens

The Ultimate Pie Crust Recipe: A Simple yet Savory Delight

What Makes This Recipe Stand Out

This 3-2-1 dough recipe is a game-changer for pie enthusiasts. With a simple ratio of 3 parts flour, 2 parts fat, and 1 part water (by weight), you’ll be whipping up a buttery and flaky crust in no time. The added touch of sugar gives it a hint of sweetness, but feel free to omit it for a savory twist.

The Benefits of Homemade Crust

While store-bought crusts can be convenient, making your own from scratch yields a far superior result. The butteriness and texture of homemade crust are unparalleled, and the effort is well worth the end result.

Essential Tools and Ingredients

To ensure success, you’ll need:

• Pie weights or dried beans to prevent the crust from puffing up during baking
• A food processor for quicker prep (optional)
• High-quality ingredients, including cold unsalted butter and ice water

Streamlining the Process

To make the most of your time, consider the following:

• Prepare the dough up to 1 day in advance
• Use a food processor to combine dry ingredients and pulse in the butter
• Drizzle in ice water gradually, adding more as needed to achieve the perfect consistency

The Recipe

Yield: Dough for a 9- to 9-1/2-inch pie plate
Difficulty: Easy
Total Time: 1 hour
Active Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 8 tablespoons cold unsalted butter (1 stick), cut into small pieces
• 4 to 5 tablespoons ice water

Instructions:

1. Combine Dry Ingredients: Stir together flour, salt, and sugar in a large bowl until aerated.
2. Cut in the Butter: Use a pastry blender or your fingers to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until it reaches a pea-size consistency.
3. Add Ice Water: Drizzle in 4 tablespoons of ice water and mix until the dough comes together. Add the last tablespoon if needed, but avoid overworking the dough.
4. Shape and Chill: Form the dough into a flat disk, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using in your desired pie or tart recipe.

With this simple yet effective recipe, you’ll be well on your way to creating mouthwatering pies that will impress friends and family alike.