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Simple Pie Crust Using 4 Easy Ingredients

April 17, 2020 by Missy Rakes 73 Comments

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See how quick and easy it is to make this Simple Homemade Pie Crust that is flaky, tender and full of flavor using only four simple ingredients!

Simple Homemade Pie Crust

I’ve always been kind of intimidated to make my own pie crust. I’ve heard that if you don’t do it just right then it won’t turn out.

But after finding this simple recipe that requires only four ingredients and no rolling I figured it was time for me to give it a whirl.

This is the perfect pie crust recipe to try if you’ve never made it before because it’s so simple and really hard to mess up. It always turns out tender, flaky and delicious!

Traditional homemade pie crust is made with butter, but this one uses vegetable oil, making it easier and quicker to put together. It’s a real winner for beginners.

This is a great recipe because you can choose to roll it out like traditional pie crust if you want or you can just press it into your pie pan for a quick and simple pie crust.

If you need a top layer of pie crust for something like an apple or blueberry pie, then you will need to double this recipe.

It really is a good recipe for beginner bakers or even children. I hope you enjoy the recipe and be sure to leave your best homemade pie baking tips in the comment section below. Happy baking friends!

Disclaimer: This recipe has mixed reviews, lots of people, including myself, love it, but some people say that it doesn’t turn out well for them. I say, give it try and see for yourself if it’s a winner or not!

What Four Ingredients do you Need to Make a Flaky Pie Crust?

  • flour
  • salt
  • vegetable oil (or other fat such as butter, lard or shortening)
  • water

Can I Freeze Homemade Pie Crust?

Yes, you can make your pie dough, wrap it in plastic wrap and freeze it, or you can press it into shape in a disposable pie plate and freeze it like that, just be sure to wrap your pie crust well with plastic and clearly label it before freezing.

Pro Tips for a Tender, Flaky Homemade Pie Crust:

  • If using butter or other solid fat, make sure that it is cold, not room temperature.
  • Use the minimum amount of water needed to create your dough. Too much water could lead to too much gluten development, making it less flaky and tender.
  • Chill your dough at least 30 minutes before rolling or pressing into shape.
  • Make sure you bake your pie crust until golden brown to get the most flakiness from your crust.

How to make a Simple Homemade Pie Crust:

In a medium bowl, combine flour and salt.

Stir in oil and water, mixing until just combined and form dough into a ball.

(Optional) Chill 30 minutes before rolling or pressing into shape.

Place dough into a greased pie pan. (You may also choose to roll your pie crust out with a rolling pin on a floured surface).

Press dough out evenly until it covers entire pie pan including the sides. Make sure you press it thin where the side and bottom meet. Crimp edges if desired.

To Pre-Bake (only if you’re recipe requires it):

Poke with fork and bake at 400 for 10-15 minutes.

Are you looking for some awesome pie recipes? Here are a few of my favorites:

Kentucky Derby Day Pie
Perfect Pecan Pie
Dutch Apple Pie
Butternut Squash Pie

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Note: This recipe was originally published in October 2013, but has been updated for your convenience.

Print Recipe

Simple Pie Crust

Flour, salt, oil and water pressed and rolled out into a pie plate to create a tender, flaky pie crust.
Prep Time10 mins
Chill Time30 mins
Total Time40 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Simple Homemade Pie Crust
Servings: 8
Calories: 217kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 tbsp water

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, combine flour and salt.
  • Stir in oil and water, mixing until just combined and form dough into a ball.
  • (Optional: Chill dough 30 minutes before rolling out or pressing into shape.)
  • Place dough into a greased pie pan. (You may also choose to roll out your pie crust on a floured surface if desired.)
  • Press dough out evenly until it covers entire pie pan including the sides. Make sure you press it thin where the side and bottom meet. Crimp edges if desired.

Notes

To Prebake (only if your pie recipe requires it):
Poke with fork and bake at 400 for 10-15 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 217kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Sodium: 146mg | Potassium: 29mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg

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Filed Under: Cooking Tips & Tricks, Desserts, Easy Recipes

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  1. Elaine Mejia says

    June 24, 2020 at 2:17 am

    This pie crust recipe is very similar to the one I found in a vegetarian cookbook. The main differences are whole wheat pastry flour, canola or safflower oil and ice water. I came here because I misplaced my cookbook! LOL Thank you for posting it - have a good one!!

    5 stars

    Reply
  2. Tanya says

    July 16, 2020 at 9:29 am

    Can you refrigerate dough for the next day?
    Reply
    • Missy Rakes says

      July 16, 2020 at 11:49 am

      Yes!
      Reply
  3. Lela Simco says

    July 21, 2020 at 12:19 am

    What kind of flour? Plain or self rising? Does it matter? Can’t wait to make this recipe. I am 71 years old and have never made a pie crust.
    Reply
    • Missy Rakes says

      July 21, 2020 at 10:20 am

      This recipe uses all-purpose flour. Happy baking!
      Reply
  4. Sandra Pendleton says

    July 26, 2020 at 11:42 am

    Can this recipe be made with gluten free flour .
    Reply
    • Missy Rakes says

      July 27, 2020 at 8:49 am

      I'm not sure, but it's worth a try!
      Reply
  5. Nancy says

    September 1, 2020 at 5:08 pm

    This pie didn't work and was very salted I will not use it again. Thats what I get for taking short cuts
    ★☆☆☆☆

    1 star

    Reply
  6. Phyllis says

    September 10, 2020 at 5:08 pm

    Does this make one cryst or twi? I need a top and bottom crust. Ty!
    ★★★★★
    Reply
    • Missy Rakes says

      September 11, 2020 at 9:33 am

      It only makes one crust.
      Reply
  7. Heather says

    October 27, 2020 at 3:20 pm

    Unable to get to come together enough to roll out. I just tried to press the dough into the pie pan.
    Reply
  8. Jordan says

    December 23, 2020 at 2:36 pm

    I wanted to make a double batch of this to make a pot pie. Followed the recipe and the dough didn’t stay together at all. Was very crumbly. I made it work with the bottom, but the top of the pot pie is a giant crumbly mess. Won’t be using this recipe again.
    ★☆☆☆☆
    Reply
    • yyeager says

      November 27, 2022 at 8:23 pm

      Just add more water - a tablespoon at a time. Do not add more than one tablespoon at a time because you want the dough to just come together & not be soggy.
      Reply
  9. Jillian says

    December 28, 2020 at 4:39 pm

    Awful pie crust recipe DON’T waste your time on this!
    ★☆☆☆☆

    1 star

    Reply
  10. Rebecca Hunter says

    January 21, 2021 at 11:02 pm

    Great recipe! Worked perfect for a quick chicken and veggie pot pie for my family’s dinner this evening.
    ★★★★★

    5 stars

    Reply
    • Aroushka says

      June 22, 2021 at 3:16 am

      Can I make it a sweet dough for dessert? Would you recommend to add sugar ?
      Reply
  11. Savannah says

    April 19, 2021 at 3:13 am

    Quick and easy. My crust was very crumbly and wasn’t dough-y. Any tips??
    ★★☆☆☆

    2 stars

    Reply
    • Missy Rakes says

      April 19, 2021 at 10:06 am

      If it's dry next time, I would try adding a little more water to it.
      Reply
  12. Danielle S. says

    June 22, 2021 at 1:37 pm

    A big NO for me! Had to add water ( dough was crumbling!) tried to roll it: couldn't lift it off the floured board! Ended up doing it by hand, piece by piece...looked terrible! Tasted worse!
    ★☆☆☆☆

    1 star

    Reply
  13. rebecca says

    September 2, 2022 at 7:39 pm

    This pie crust was a crumbly mess! I followed the recipe exactly; there was no way you could roll this mess. I threw it away and used another recipe. I will never use this recipe again.
    Reply
    • yyeager says

      November 27, 2022 at 8:40 pm

      Just add more water - a tablespoon at a time. Do not add more than one tablespoon at a time because you want the dough to just come together & not be soggy. MAKING A PIE CRUST IS DEPENDENT ON HOW HUMID OR LACK OF HUMIDITY IN YOUR KITCHEN, OUTSIDE... IF ITS RAINING OR SNOWING OR A HOT HUMID DAY & IF YOU HAVE A RAINY FOGGY DAY, OR IF YOU GET A RECIPE FROM SOMEONE WHO IS IN A DIFFERENT AREA THAN YOU, ETC., ETC... YOU MAY HAVE TO ADD LESS WATER OR MORE- JUST ADD IT SLOWLY, A LITTLE AT A TIME.UNTIL YOUR DOUGH JUST STICKS TOGETHER. THEN MAKE A BALL OUT OF IT, WRAP WITH PLASTIC & I LET IT SIT AT LEAST 30 MINUTES IN THE REFRIGERATOR. THIS IS A GOOD PIE CRUST & EASY PEASY TO MAKE. BREAD & ALL BAKING & YEAST products that you have to knead to come together & that you add water to make a dough for baking are that way. JUST LIKE EVERYONE'S OVEN TEMPERATURES ARE NOT SET EXACTLY THE SAME. THANK YOU FOR THE GOOD PIE CRUST RECIPE THAT WAS SO EASY.🤗👍😁
      Reply
      • Yvonne Yeager says

        November 27, 2022 at 9:14 pm

        YOU CAN ADD BUTTER OR LARD AS SHE STATED IN HER NOTATION BEFORE GIVING US THE RECIPE. BETTER YET MAKE IT ALL BUTTER OR LARD OR HALF BUTTER & 1/2 CRISCO , MAYBE ADD A BEATTEN EGG?? . (IT TURNED OUT GREAT FOR MY QUICHE & NOT ALL THE WORK OF A REGULAR PIE CRUST RECIPE)... ITS NOT AS EASY AS HER RECIPE & YOU NEED TO KEEP THE BUTTER, WATER, & CRISCO, & THE ALL PURPOSE FLOUR ICE COLD IN THE REFRIGERATOR PRETTY MUCH). IF ITS CRUMBLY BEFORE WORKING DOUGH TOGETHER- ADD SOME MORE WATER, ONE TABLESPOON AT A TIME UNTIL DOUGH COMES TOGETHER & SHAPE INTO A BALL OR DISC. (DO NOT GET TOO WET). 🤗👍🍗
        ★★★★★
        Reply
  14. Amanda says

    November 23, 2022 at 11:22 pm

    Crumbly mess. Was not able to roll it at all. Have not yet tasted, hopefully it’s not too horrible tasting.
    ★☆☆☆☆

    1 star

    Reply
  15. Tiffany says

    November 24, 2022 at 12:51 pm

    I think the crust could be good in certain recipes where it doesn’t matter if the crust crumbles and gets messy. As others have noted, the crust just doesn’t act like a traditional crust. It’s crumbly, not flaky, does not stay together. I’ve actually never eaten a crust like this before. Tastes good, not as nice as a traditional butter pie crust. It’s rather strange in the end due to the soft, crumbled texture. Use if you’re short on time and the finished product doesn’t need to stay together or look nice. Skip if you’re making pie for guests and want to impress them. I will recommend not taking short cuts in general. This crust is meant to be a shortcut crust. A butter crust will turn out far better.
    Reply
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Welcome, I'm Missy and I'd love to help you cook from scratch, save money and live a more simple and abundant life. Click the buttons below to follow along on social media and get to know me better. Have a lovely day!

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