Best 11 Easy No Fail Pastry Crust Recipes

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Crafting the perfect pastry crust can be a daunting task for both novice and experienced bakers alike. The delicate balance of ingredients, the precise techniques, and the unpredictable nature of dough often lead to disappointing results. However, with careful planning, the right tools, and a few simple tips, you can create a flaky, golden brown pastry crust that will elevate any dessert to a new level of deliciousness. This article will guide you through the process of making an easy no-fail pastry crust, providing step-by-step instructions, essential tips, and troubleshooting advice to ensure that your next baking project is a success.

Let's cook with our recipes!

NEVER, NEVER FAIL PIE PASTRY



Never, Never Fail Pie Pastry image

There is no fear of over-kneading this pastry.

Provided by Elaine

Categories     Desserts     Pies     100+ Pie Crust Recipes     Pastry Crusts

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon white sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup lard
⅓ cup cold water
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar

Steps:

  • In a medium bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in lard until mixture resembles coarse meal.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together water, egg yolk, vanilla extract, and vinegar. Stir into flour mixture and knead dough briefly, just until smooth. Allow to rest 15 minutes before rolling out. Pastry is easier to work with when chilled. Can be stored in refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 355.4 calories, Carbohydrate 24.7 g, Cholesterol 49.9 mg, Fat 26.5 g, Fiber 0.8 g, Protein 3.6 g, SaturatedFat 10.3 g, Sodium 135.3 mg, Sugar 0.7 g

NO FAIL PIE CRUST I



No Fail Pie Crust I image

I found this recipe years ago, and have not made any other since. This dough freezes very well.

Provided by Lenn

Categories     Desserts     Pies     100+ Pie Crust Recipes     Pastry Crusts

Time 10m

Yield 24

Number Of Ingredients 6

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup shortening
¼ teaspoon salt
1 egg
¼ cup cold water
1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar

Steps:

  • Combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Cut in shortening until it resembles coarse crumbs.
  • Mix egg, water, and vinegar together in a separate bowl. Pour into flour all at once and blend with a fork until dough forms into a ball. Divide into 3 equal-sized rounds.
  • Wrap with plastic and chill in a refrigerator until ready to prepare.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 125.9 calories, Carbohydrate 10 g, Cholesterol 7.8 mg, Fat 8.9 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 1.6 g, SaturatedFat 2.2 g, Sodium 27.5 mg, Sugar 0.1 g

PERFECT , NEVER FAIL PASTRY CRUST



Perfect , Never Fail Pastry Crust image

I used to call my MIL the "Queen of Pies" as she would serve 2 different pies EVERY night for dinner. So...when I married her son and felt that I had to make pies... I was quite intimidated by trying to keep up to her standards. This recipe gave me enough confidence that even she gave me the "nod"!!! Obviously with practice, I have got better over the years....but this recipe was very forgiving to me when I first started out making pies!!!!

Provided by Abby Girl

Categories     Dessert

Time 20m

Yield 3 small 2 crust pies or 2 large pie, 1 pie shell

Number Of Ingredients 8

5 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 lb shortening, chilled (Tenderflake)
1 egg
1 tablespoon vinegar
ice cold water

Steps:

  • Mix flour, baking powder and salt together. Cut in the Tenderflake.
  • Mix the egg in a one cup measuring cup. Add the vinegar and fill with the ice water to 1 cup.
  • Add the liquid mixture to the flour mixture and incorporate into a ball -- trying to handle the dough as little as possible.
  • Chill for 1 to 2 hours in a fridge.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 2137.3, Fat 154.9, SaturatedFat 38.6, Cholesterol 70.5, Sodium 923.8, Carbohydrate 163.7, Fiber 5.6, Sugar 4.9, Protein 23.6

EASY, NO FAIL PASTRY CRUST



Easy, No Fail Pastry Crust image

I never made pies before this recipe because it never came out right, and I always had a hard time rolling it out. I was watching Martha Stewart one day, and decided to try her recipe with a few of her tricks and it works!! I haven't had any trouble since.

Provided by KillerTasteBuds

Categories     Dessert

Time 1h15m

Yield 2 9 inch pie crusts

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
16 tablespoons unsalted butter (really cold or frozen)
1/4-1/2 cup ice water

Steps:

  • Measure the flour, salt, and sugar into a food processor.
  • Add a few 1 Tbsp butter piece at a time, and pulse until coarsely chopped.
  • Repeat until all butter has been incorporated. Don't pulse too much in between.
  • Add a couple of tablespoons of water and pulse. Repeat until the dough is just forming little balls, and falls from the sides.
  • Place half the mixture on a sheet of plastic wrap and squish the particles together until you form nice disc. Wrap the disc in the plastic wrap and refrigerate.
  • KEY: Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before rolling out.
  • Repeat with remaining dough.
  • This recipe freezes well, so if you only need one 9in pie crust, you can save the other for next time. Just allow time for it to defrost naturally. Don't put in microwave.

MOST INCREDIBLE NO FAIL PIE CRUST



Most Incredible No Fail Pie Crust image

This is absolutely the best pie crust I have ever used. It never fails me and always comes out flaky and perfect. This recipe is enough for 2 - 9" crusts.

Provided by Karen..

Categories     Pie

Time 10m

Yield 2 9-inch pie crusts, 8-16 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 6

3 cups flour
1 cup shortening
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, beaten
5 tablespoons cold water
1 teaspoon vinegar

Steps:

  • Cut together flour, shortening and salt until it resembles small peas.
  • Combine the egg, water and vinegar and gradually add to flour mixture.
  • Stir just until moistened and a soft dough forms.
  • Divide into 2 disks.
  • Wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.
  • Roll out and use with your favorite pie recipe!

PASTRY DOUGH (MADAM BENOIT'S NO FAIL LEMON TANG PASTRY)



Pastry Dough (Madam Benoit's No Fail Lemon Tang Pastry) image

(September 2010 update below) This recipe was passed to me as an easy to work with no fail pastry that has made doing pastry easy and fun. Originally from a segment on Madam Benoit's cooking show - a recipe that wowed and was quickly passed around. She is right - it is a wonderful no fail pastry that makes for great tasting pies, as well as being freezer friendly. Recipe POSTED April 2004 - UPDATE Sept. 26, 2010 - am very familiar with the no fail recipe using vinegar and egg which was one often made by my mom - and one of Madame Benoits. It is also found on the back of the Tenderflake box. Another of her pastry recipes is her LEMON TANG PASTRY- and yes it does call for three tablespoons of Lemon juice. I am a Madame Benoit fan and this Lemon Tang Pastry is not mine - it is hers - and in my books an absolute winner ( Madame Benoit was a great cooking show host from way back - a Canadian cooking Institution by herself. She attended the Cordon Bleu in Paris and went on to become the famous Madame Benoit) It's a big recipe and if you are only making one pie, taking a few extra minutes to roll out shells for the freezer makes for having those pastry shells on hand for those unexpected moments when needing a special dessert. Works for me! Easily halved as well as very freezer friendly.

Provided by Gerry

Categories     Dessert

Time 10m

Yield 3-4 pies

Number Of Ingredients 6

5 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 lb lard, brand of your choice
1 whole egg
3 tablespoons lemon juice, and add enough water to make for one cup of liquid (I use Realemon)

Steps:

  • A LARGE MIXING BOWL: 5 cups flour 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon soda Use a whisk to mix.
  • Cut in one pound of lard.
  • Mix to resemble coarse crumbs.
  • IN A ONE CUP MEASURING CUP: Add 1 whole egg 3 tablespoons lemon juice Mix with a fork and add enough water to fill the one cup measuring cup.
  • Add the cup of liquid to the dry ingredients and mix until dough forms into a ball.
  • (at this point I form into balls using approximate amount for the size pie plate I'm using and place into a plastic bag until ready to roll.) NOTE: Rolling the dough between two sheets of wax paper makes for a nice even sheet of pastry.
  • This will make 3-4 double pies-- depending on what size pie pans you are using.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 2155, Fat 155.4, SaturatedFat 60.3, Cholesterol 214.6, Sodium 1012.6, Carbohydrate 160.4, Fiber 5.7, Sugar 1.1, Protein 23.7

NO FAIL PIE CRUST II



No Fail Pie Crust II image

This recipe is both tender and flaky, due to the addition of vinegar and lard.

Provided by Molly

Categories     Desserts     Pies     Pie Crusts     Pastry Crusts

Yield 32

Number Of Ingredients 7

4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons salt
1 ⅔ cups lard
½ cup water
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in lard until mixture resembles coarse meal.
  • In a small bowl, mix together water, egg, and vinegar. Pour into lard mixture and stir until dough is thoroughly moistened and forms a ball. Divide into 4 portions and wrap tightly. Use dough within three days or freeze.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 155.5 calories, Carbohydrate 12 g, Cholesterol 16 mg, Fat 11 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 1.8 g, SaturatedFat 4.3 g, Sodium 163.1 mg, Sugar 0.1 g

NO FAIL PIE CRUST III



No Fail Pie Crust III image

A wonderful pie crust which you just can't mess up on! This recipe makes enough for 4 single crusts.

Provided by Becky

Categories     Desserts     Pies     100+ Pie Crust Recipes     Pastry Crusts

Time P1DT40m

Yield 24

Number Of Ingredients 6

4 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups butter
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 fluid ounces cold water

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, stir together the flour and salt. Cut in the butter to pea sized chunks.
  • Place the egg and vinegar in a measuring cup and add cold water to measure 1/2 cup of total liquid. Pour this into the flour mixture and mix just until the dough can be made into a large ball.
  • Divide dough into four equal portions. Wrap in plastic and store in the refrigerator. Dough may be refrigerated for up to three days or frozen for up to three months.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 214.4 calories, Carbohydrate 15.9 g, Cholesterol 48.4 mg, Fat 15.8 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 2.6 g, SaturatedFat 9.8 g, Sodium 160.7 mg, Sugar 0.1 g

THE BEST PASTRY CRUST



The Best Pastry Crust image

This is hands-down the best pastry crust you will ever make. Forget the shortening; this recipe calls for 14 tablespoons of butter for a light, flaky, buttery taste. This pastry crust is perfect for all your fruit and custard tarts and pies. I also use it for empanadas and pot pies.

Provided by IrishMountainGirl

Categories     Desserts     Pies     100+ Pie Crust Recipes     Pastry Crusts

Time 15m

Yield 16

Number Of Ingredients 4

2 ¼ cups sifted all-purpose flour, or more as needed
¼ teaspoon salt
14 tablespoons butter
¼ cup chilled water, or more as needed

Steps:

  • Mix flour and salt together in a large bowl. Cut in butter using a pastry blender until the mixture resembles fine cornmeal. Pour in water slowly; knead dough into a firm ball.
  • Pour in additional water as needed if dough is too dry or additional flour if too moist. Divide batter into equal halves. Roll out dough halves into rounds on a lightly floured work surface using a lightly floured rolling pin to desired thickness.
  • Press one round into the bottom of a 9-inch pie pan. Use the other round as a top crust or for a separate bottom crust. Bake according to desired filling instructions.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 153.1 calories, Carbohydrate 13.4 g, Cholesterol 26.7 mg, Fat 10.3 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 1.9 g, SaturatedFat 6.4 g, Sodium 108.4 mg, Sugar 0.1 g

NEVER-FAIL PIE CRUST



Never-Fail Pie Crust image

Even novice bakers who normally shy away from homemade pie pastry can't go wrong with this recipe. It's so easy to roll out and produces a tender, flaky crust every time.-Ruth Gritter, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 15m

Yield 2 (9-inch crusts).

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup shortening
1/3 cup milk
1 tablespoon white vinegar

Steps:

  • Combine flour and salt in a bowl. Cut in shortening. Add milk and vinegar. Shape dough into a ball. Chill for 30 minutes. Divide dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each half to fit a 9-in. pie pan.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 133 calories, Fat 8g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 1mg cholesterol, Sodium 150mg sodium, Carbohydrate 12g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 2g protein.

NO-FAIL PIE CRUST



No-Fail Pie Crust image

I found this recipe in a woman's magazine back in the seventies and have used it ever since. It has never failed ME, at any rate. No matter how much this dough is handled it is always flaky and tender even if scraps need to be re-rolled. Be sure to use exact measures, levelling off with a knife. Dough can be left in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It remains soft and can be taken out and rolled at once, or it can be frozen until ready to use (thaw until soft enough to roll). For a filled pie, bake at temperature indicated in recipe you are using. For unfilled pie, bake at 450 degrees Fahrenheit as directed below. Note that it is suggested you bake a filled pie versus a pie shell on different racks of the oven. The recipe makes five 9-inch pie shells or one shell plus two 2-crust pies. Preparation time includes minimum chilling time of 1/2 hour. Cooking time is for unfilled pie crust only.

Provided by echo echo

Categories     Pie

Time 1h5m

Yield 5 crusts

Number Of Ingredients 7

4 cups flour
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1 3/4 cups shortening (NOT refrigerated, don't use oil, lard, margarine or butter)
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon white vinegar or 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 large egg

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar and salt with a fork.
  • Cut in the shortening with a fork until crumbly.
  • In a small bowl, beat together the water, vinegar and egg; add to the flour mixture.
  • Stir until all ingredients are moistened.
  • Divide dough into 5 portions and, with hands, shape each into a flat round patty ready for rolling.
  • Wrap each patty in plastic or waxed paper and chill at least 1/2 hour.
  • When you are ready to use the pie crust, lightly flour both sides of the patty and roll out on a lightly floured board or pastry cloth.
  • Keeping the pastry round, roll, from the center, to a 1/8-inch thickness into a circle 2 inches larger than the top of the pie pan.
  • Fold in halves or quarters, transfer to the pie pan, unfold and fit in loosely.
  • Press with fingers to remove air pockets.
  • Fill the crust.
  • Place the other crust on top; flute edges with a fork and place decorative slits in top of crust to allow steam to escape.
  • Bake as directed in the pie recipe you are following.
  • Bake pie on the LOWEST rack in oven to prevent bottom crust becoming soggy.
  • FOR A PRE-BAKED UNFILLED PIE SHELL:.
  • Prick the bottom and sides of a pastry lined pie pan with a fork.
  • Bake on the CENTER rack in a preheated 450 degree Fahrenheit oven 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown (a metal pan will take longer than glass).
  • Cool on a wire rack (the shell will shrink and edges pull away from pan).
  • Fill as desired.

Tips:

  • Use cold ingredients: This will help to keep the butter from melting into the flour, which will make the dough tough.
  • Work quickly: The more you handle the dough, the warmer it will become. This will also make it tough.
  • Roll out the dough evenly: This will help to ensure that the pastry bakes evenly.
  • Chill the dough before baking: This will help to prevent the dough from shrinking in the oven.
  • Bake the pastry until it is golden brown: This will ensure that the pastry is cooked through.

Conclusion:

Making pie crust from scratch can seem like a daunting task, but it's actually quite easy with a little practice. By following these tips, you can make a delicious, flaky pie crust that will impress your friends and family.

So next time you're in the mood for a homemade pie, don't be afraid to give this easy no-fail pastry crust recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!

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