Sourdough pie crust is buttery, flaky and tender. Made with your sourdough discard, this homemade pie crust can be used for both sweet or savory pie fillings.
It's amazing what you can make with your sourdough starter. This recipe for pie crust is just one of many!
Whether you want to make an old fashioned peanut butter pie, blueberry pie or sourdough pop tarts, you'll love how easily this dough comes together.
This recipe makes 1 pie crust for a 9" pie. Make sure to double the ingredients if your recipe calls for a top and bottom crust.
Step by step instructions
The first step in making a flaky, buttery pie crust, is to cut the butter into the flour. I find it easy to achieve this with a cheese grater and a bench scraper.
Grate the cold butter into a large mixing bowl and add the flour, salt and sugar. Toss the ingredients with a fork and then use the bench scraper to cut the butter into the flour until large crumbles form. (photo 1)
Add the sourdough starter and vinegar to the mixture and use a fork to combine the wet and dry ingredients. The mixture will be clumpy. (photo 2)
Use your hands to press the dough together until there are no more dry bits in the bowl. If the dough is too dry, add 1 teaspoon of ice water to help hydrate it. (photo 3)
Quickly form the dough into a rough disk shape. (photo 4)
Place the disk onto a piece of plastic wrap and use the plastic to help shape the dough. This will allow less transfer of heat from your hands and help to keep the butter as cold as possible. (photos 5 and 6)
After the dough is wrapped in plastic, use a rolling pin to flatten the disk which will help to smooth the edges. (photo 7)
Chill the dough for at least 2 hours or up to 4 days.
How to roll pie crust dough
When you are ready to bake your pie, remove the disk from the fridge and let rest on the counter at room temperature for 10 minutes. This will make the dough easier to roll out.
Place the dough on a floured work surface and use a floured rolling pin to roll the dough into a circle with a â…›" thickness.
It's best to start rolling the dough from the center, outwards, turning the pie crust 90° on the work surface after each roll.
Don't be afraid to use enough flour as needed to help prevent sticking.
Use the rolling pin to help lift the dough onto the pie plate.
Use your hands to press the dough into the pie plate and then follow your pie recipes directions for baking.
Some pie recipes call for only a bottom crust and others call for a top and bottom crust.
If your recipe calls for a top and bottom crust, you will need to double the ingredients in this recipe.
How to store and freeze pie crust
Store the unbaked pie crust in the fridge, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap for up to 4 days.
This sourdough pie crust can be made ahead of time and kept frozen for up to 3 months. Make sure to individually wrap each disk of dough tightly in plastic wrap. To help prevent freezer-burn, insert the wrapped dough into a freezer safe bag before freezing.
Tips for success
The sourdough starter used in this recipe is a 100% hydration starter. That means it is made of equal parts flour and water and is reflected in the ratios of dry to wet ingredients in the pie crust recipe.
This is why some people might find they need to add a little ice water when bringing the dough together.
When making pie crust, it's important to use cold ingredients to make sure the butter stays in pieces within the dough.
These little bits of butter scattered through out the pie crust dough will burst while baking, producing a tender, flaky crust!
More easy dessert recipes
Sourdough Pie Crust Recipe
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup + 1 teaspoon (125 g) all-purpose flour
- 8 tablespoons (113 g) butter (cold)
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) white vinegar
- ½ cup (125 g) sourdough starter discard (cold)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Use a cheese grater to grate the cold butter into a large mixing bowl. Add the flour, salt and sugar and use a fork to toss the ingredients together, making sure the butter is coated and separated. Use a bench scraper or a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the flour mixture, until it forms large crumbles.
- Add the sourdough discard and vinegar to the bowl and then use a fork to incorporate them into the mixture. Switch to your hands and press the dough together until there are no dry bits left in the bowl. (If the dough is too dry, add a teaspoon of ice water.)
- Form the dough into a disk shape and wrap in plastic wrap. Use a rolling pin to flatten the disk. (This will help smooth the edges.) Chill for at least 2 hours or up to 4 days.
- Proceed with your pie recipe directions.
Molly says
Just like all of your sourdough recipes, this one is truly a 10/10. I've used it so many times in a pinch and it has never let me down. It's perfectly buttery and flaky and light. It comes together so quickly and effortlessly, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. I've used it on regular sized pie dishes, but tonight was able to roll it thinner to fit a 12' cast iron with ease. I was also only able to refrigerate it for an hour, but it came out picture perfect. The only pie crust recipe you'll ever need for sweet or savory! Thank you so much for this!!
Juliana says
I've never had success with pie dough. This recipe turned out great! I used it for empanadas. Very crispy and tender almost like a puff pastry. Very pleased.
T says
Sounds delicious! If making for a chicken pot pie (double crust), would you recommend blind baking the bottom crust at all?
Amy says
Hi Danny! So glad you enjoyed the recipe so much 🙂 To blind bake the pie crust: Preheat your oven to 350°F and place the pie crust into the pie plate and trim the edges. Cover the pie crust with a piece of parchment paper and fill the center with pie weights or dry beans. Press them down and make sure there are enough to keep the bottom and sides weighted down.
Bake the crust for 20 minutes, remove the weights and paper and bake an additional 15 minutes. Remove the crust from the oven, mix the pot pit ingredients and bake according to the pot pie directions.
Laura E says
I do not blind bake mine. Cool at 425F for 35 min and the bottom and top crust crisp perfectly.