Flaky Pie Crust
This vegetarian builds all-purpose flour, salt and granulated sugar into a fuss-free meal you can have ready in about 60 minutes. Scroll down for the ingredient checklist, a serving scaler and unit converter, and the method broken into 7 steps.
You'll mainly reach for oven and pan. At easy difficulty across 7 steps, it's a good one for a busy evening. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
Diet: vegetarian — no meat or fish, based on every ingredient listed below.
Contains: Gluten Dairy
Allergen labels are informational and may not cover cross-contact; verify every package and consult a qualified professional for medical dietary needs. Diet labels are derived from the ingredient list on this page — how we verify diet and allergen labels.
Food-safety and allergen information is general, not medical advice. Follow current guidance from your local food-safety authority, verify product labels, and seek qualified advice for allergies or health conditions.
How to make it
- Whisk the flour, salt, and sugar together in a large bowl, then place the bowl in the freezer for a few minutes to keep everything cold.
- Cut the cold butter into small cubes and add it to the flour, then work it in with a pastry cutter or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.
- Drizzle in the ice water one tablespoon at a time, tossing gently with a fork, until the dough just holds together when pressed and is not sticky.
- Gather the dough into a ball, flatten it into a disk, wrap it tightly, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to relax the gluten and firm the butter.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough out from the center into a circle about 3 mm thick and roughly 2 inches wider than your pie pan.
- Drape the dough over the rolling pin, transfer it to the pie pan, ease it into the corners without stretching, then trim and crimp the edge.
- Chill the lined crust for 15 minutes before filling or blind baking, which helps it keep its shape and stay flaky in the oven.
You'll use: Oven · Pan · Whisk
Ingredient substitutions
- Butter
- olive oil (¾ the amount) · coconut oil · margarine
Tips & common questions
How long does Flaky Pie Crust take to make?
About 60 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 7 steps and 5 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of butter?
Try olive oil (¾ the amount). See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Flaky Pie Crust vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat, fish or shellfish, so it is suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheese for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Adapted recipe — rewritten in our own wording from an open-licensed community cookbook, not yet independently kitchen-tested by Consomee. How we source, test & correct recipes.
Flaky Pie Crust is adapted by Consomee from the Wikibooks Cookbook, rewritten in our own wording and used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo: Flaky Vegan Pie Crust (4277580052).jpg by Veganbaking.net from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure — how we source recipes.