Delicious Homemade Pie Crusts

Whether you’re completely new to cooking or you’re already enrolled in online baking courses, you may be looking for opportunities to hone your craft. While having people over for dinner is a great option, making a great dessert is something your guests are sure to remember. Pies are universally loved, given their wide range of fillings and flavors, but few people realize that the crust is what actually makes the dessert so wonderful. Without a perfect, flaky, buttery crust, a pie simply isn’t as good. Next time you step into the kitchen to whip one up, don’t opt for those common store-bought, pre-frozen crusts. Instead, take a look at this simple recipe for delicious homemade pie crusts. Here’s what you’ll need.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of ice water
• 3 tablespoons of granulated white baking sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon of fine salt
• 2 ½ cups of all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup of chilled vegetable shortening
• 12 tablespoons of chilled, cubed butter

Once you’ve got all of your ingredients set out and ready to go, clear and clean a space on your counter so that you can get down to work. You may need a bit more space than you think, as this recipe yields two pie crusts. If you only need one, simply halve the ingredients and follow the same instructions.

Instructions

1. Remove a large mixing bowl to begin. Once you have it in front of you, mix together the flour, salt and sugar. Use a sifting motion so that the three separate ingredients come together to form one even powder.
2. Take the chilled shortening and add it into the mix. Since it is chilled, you’ll need to use your hands in a kneading motion to help break it up. The flour, sugar and salt mixture should cover and stick to the shortening fully before you stop.
3. The cold butter cubes can now be added to the mixture. Again, you’ll want to knead these with your hands until all of the ingredients take on a crumbled composition.
4. Now you can begin to pour in your ice water. Use a pitcher or strainer, so that the ice itself doesn’t enter the mixture, just the cold water. Do this bit by bit, kneading the mixture intermittently until it has become a viscous dough.
5. Next, you’ll want to roll your dough into one large ball. Allow it to sit for a few minutes
6. Divide the dough into two equal portions, each of which you can roll out into a disk shape.
7. Cover each of these two flattened disks of dough with saran wrap. Chill them in the refrigerator for 30 minutes
8. You’re ready to make your pie crust! Take each disk and roll it out with a rolling pin. Angle the edges upward to create the shape of a pie tin.

Once your pie crusts are ready, you can get right down to making your pie or save that task for later. Each of these crusts should keep for 1-2 days if refrigerated.

Recipe taken from www.foodnetwork.com