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Easiest Pie Crust
Seriously, this is SO easy!!!
I love to make pies. They are so easy. I started with this simple pie crust when I was 15. It's never been bad (although sometimes it is better than others.) So, here you go, the easiest pie crust recipe you'll ever bake.
You can use this pie crust for a one crust, two crust or fancy lattice topped pie, plus keep reading because I'll give you some ideas for our favorite pie crust snacks!
Cook Time
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: Depends on the pie!
Serves: 6-8
Ingredients
- 3 c. flour
- 1 c. shortening
- cool water
- 1/4 c. sugar (optional) - Can substitute Splenda
Instructions
- If you use the optional sugar, mix the sugar and flour
- Add the shortening. (Some folks use butter) Use a fork or unpowered pastry blender to completely mix the flour and shortening.
- Add cool water until the dough all sticks together. Do not make it sticky.
- DO NOT OVERWORK THE DOUGH - ONLY MIX UNTIL ALL THE CRUMBS ARE WET AND STUCK TOGETHER
- Take about 1/3 of the dough and roll on a lightly filled surface. Roll it about four inches larger than the size of your pie plate.
- Do not knead the dough or work it - working the dough will make it tough
- To get the pie crust into the pie plate roll the dough onto the rolling pin and then unroll it onto the pie plate.
- For a cream pie, bake the crust about 15 minutes.For a fruit pie, bake according to the directions for that pie.
What to do with the leftover pie crust?
This is our solution
Whenever I bake a pie, I nearly always have a bit of crust left over.
We roll it into a square, sprinkle sugar on it and bake it for about 15 minutes.Most recently I've taken my raw pie crust square and spread about a teaspoon of butter all over it. Then I sprinkle it with cinnamon sugar (4 parts sugar, 1 part cinnamon)
Next I sprinkle it with Pampered Chef's "Sweet Carmel Sprinkle" Fold it in half and then bake it for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
If you haven't worked the dough too much, they'll be flaky wonderful and quick desserts!(We'll sometimes make 1/3 recipe of pie crust just to make this special treat!)
Perfect Apple Pie - From Better Homes and Gardens (published before 1960)
This is my favorite Apple Pie Recipe. It's really easy and everyone says it's delicious!
The front cover of the recipe book say NEW; however, the pages and the binding definitely tell a different story. This is from my grandmother's cookbook
Bake at 400 degrees
Ingredients
- 6 or 7 tart apples (I like Gala or Jonathan)
- 3/4 to 1 cup Sugar (Baking Splenda is a good Substitute)
- 2 Tablespoons Flour
- 1/2 to 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
- Dash or two of Nutmeg
- Dash of Salt (optional)
- Pie Crust (see above) or buy one
- 2 Tablespoons of Butter
Instructions
- Peal, core and slice apples
- Combine dry ingredients, then mix with apples
- Put Apple mixture in bottom pie crust
- Dot with Butter and Cover with top crust
- Sprinkle with sugar Make vent holes with a knife in top crust
- OPTIONAL: Make it a "red hot pie" by omitting cinnamon and nutmeg and replacing with 3 Tablespoons of red cinnamon candies crushed.
- OPTIONAL: Make it a "red hot pie" by omitting cinnamon and nutmeg and replacing with 3 Tablespoons of red cinnamon candies crushed.