Sourdough Pie Crust

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 ⅛" 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

• easy apple pie
• sourdough chocolate chip cookies
• old fashioned peanut butter pie
• blueberry pie filling