The Ultimate Pie Crust Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup shortening, cut into small pieces and frozen for 30 minutes
• 0.5 cup ice-cold water, or as needed

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, whisk together flour and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in chilled shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, about the size of peas.
2. Gradually add ice-cold water, starting with 1/4 cup. Use a fork to gently incorporate the flour from the bottom, mixing until just combined. Press down on any large chunks and continue mixing the dough. Add more ice-cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing until the dough is moist enough to form a ball when pressed together. Avoid adding more than 4 tablespoons; you may need less.
3. Gently form the dough into a ball. Divide it in half and flatten each half into a 1-inch-thick disc. Wrap each disc tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. For optimal results, chill for 4 hours or up to 2 days.
4. When ready to bake, roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface, taking care not to overwork it.
5. Carefully transfer the dough into a pie plate. If the dough crumbles or tears, simply pinch and press it back together to reshape it.
6. Use the prepared pie crust according to the directions in your chosen pie recipe.

Nutrition

• Calories: 170 kcal
• Fat Content: 13 g
• Fiber Content: 0 g
• Sodium Content: 146 mg
• Protein Content: 2 g
• Carbohydrate Content: 12 g
• Saturated Fat Content: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat Content: 0 g