Recipes for Basic Pie Crusts & How to Fill Them

From Pastry to Pretzel Pie Shells

© Susie Yakowicz

Oct 14, 2009

Anyone who eats pie knows that a great tasting pie isn’t possible without a good crust. While the filling may get the initial raves, it’s the crust that leaves the lasting impression. A good crust will not only compliment the filling, it will actually enhance its flavor. But it doesn’t take a fancy or complicated crust to make a great tasting pie. Below are recipes for Classic Pastry Pie Crust, Chocolate Wafer Pie Crust, Graham Cracker Pie Crust, and Easy Pretzel Pie Crust. They're all simple to make and work well with a variety of fillings. Better yet, they won’t disappoint any pie maker — or eater.

Note: Each of these recipes makes one 9-inch pie crust.

Classic Pastry Pie Crust

Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup shortening
• 1/8 cup cold butter
• 1/8 cup ice water

Directions:

1. Combine flour and salt and mix evenly.
2. Cut in shortening and butter so particles are pea-sized.
3. Sprinkle the mixture with ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until mixture forms a ball.
4. Roll out on floured pastry board.
5. Transfer to 9-inch pie pan. Flute edges if no top crust is needed.
6. If the pie calls for a prebaked crust, poke holes with a fork all along the bottom and sides of the pastry and bake at 425 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until golden as desired. (Some people prefer to line the pastry with parchment paper and fill it with beans or rice before baking to keep the pastry flat.)

Great for: apple, pumpkin, meringue, and chocolate fillings.

Be sure to make pie sticks with the leftover dough. Just roll out the remaining dough and cut into strips. Place strips on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until very lightly browned.

Chocolate Wafer Pie Crust

Ingredients:

• 1 & 1/2 cups chocolate wafer crumbs
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients and mix well.
2. Press into light greased 9-inch pie pan.
3. For a prebaked crust, bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Great for: mousse, banana cream, and raspberry-flavored fillings.

Graham Cracker Pie Crust

Ingredients:

• 1 & 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (optional but recommended)

Directions:

1. Mix graham cracker crumbs with sugar and cinnamon.
2. Add butter and stir until evenly distributed.
3. Press firmly into and up sides of 9-inch pie pan.
4. For a prebaked crust, bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool completely.

Great for: key lime, ice cream, and cream cheese fillings

Easy Pretzel Pie Crust

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup crushed pretzels
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions:

1. Combine the crushed pretzels, sugar, and melted butter.
2. Mix well and press firmly into a 9-inch pie pan, covering the sides as well.
3. For a prebaked crust, bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Great for: peanut butter filling, and as an alternative to a graham cracker crust.

Good Pie Crust Enhances Flavor of Filling

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