No-Fail Gluten Free Pie Crust Recipe (flaky + easy!) (2024)

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Your search for the perfect gluten free pie crust recipe ends here! This no-fail recipe is surprisingly easy to make and makes a perfectly flaky pie crust. Works with most gluten-free flour blends so you don’t have to buy anything special.

Updated 8.15.2023

Pie crust is an ever-elusive art, and finding a gluten-free pie crust that even comes close to flaky can be a daunting task!

For the past seven years, I’ve been attempting to crack the code, and I’m happy to announce that this recipe is not only gluten free, it’s also one of the flakiest pie crusts I’ve ever had!

I have to admit I’m a bit of a pie snob…

I spent a lot of Thanksgivings at my aunt’s house where she made more pies than there were people.

Of course, my aunt made regular pie crust with wheat flour, so I watched and listened to her techniques in order to apply them to a gf pie crust recipe to make one that is flaky, tender, and, well, perfect.

I am so excited to share everything I’ve learned with you!

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Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

I know that once you make this recipe, you’ll never go back to any other. Here’s what makes this the best gluten-free pie crust:

  1. No pastry cutter or grating the butter. Yep, you read that right! You can use a stand mixer or a food processor which means less time and effort on your part (high five!)
  2. Simple ingredients and works with pretty much any gluten-free all purpose flour blend so you don’t have to go out and buy anything crazy or spend time mixing flours (unless you want to)
  3. Easy for everyone. Whether this is your first time making pie crust or you’re a pie connoisseur, this recipe will work for you!

Tips for Making FLAKY Gluten-Free Pie Crust

There are a few simple tips that will help you make a flaky pie crust every time:

  • Don’t over-mix. You should have bits of butter in varying sizes throughout the dough. This is what creates pockets of air and makes the gluten free pie crust flaky.
  • Use cold butter. Starting with cold butter means the butter will melt while baking, creating that tender and flaky crust you’re going for!
  • refrigerate the dough. This keeps the butter cold right up until the pie crust goes in the oven.
  • Get a pie crust bag. This is one of my favorite kitchen tools! It makes it so easy to roll out pie crust without all the mess and hassle or overworking the dough. I also use my pie crust bag for making gluten free crescent rolls. You can also use parchment paper or plastic wrap.
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Ingredients in Gluten Free Pie Crust

This recipe uses just a few simple ingredients. Amounts and full instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

salted butter – it should be fresh out of the fridge to make those flaky layers
shortening – I like using butter flavored shortening for a richer flavor
sugar
baking powder – this is a bit unusual, but it’s a tip from pastry chef Nick Malgieri that helps the pie crust expand in the pan instead of creeping down the sides.
salt
Instant powdered milk – gluten-free flours don’t brown as well, so powdered milk gives the crust a golden appearance and also helps provide a richer flavor.
gluten-free flour blend – Just about any blend will work, but see below for my recommendations
ice-cold water – temp is key! You want your water to be nice and cold to help with a flaky texture.
egg – this is not mixed into the dough, so it can be left out if you’re egg free. I always do an egg wash because it makes a beautiful, golden brown crust!

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Best Gluten-Free Flour for Pie Crust

Gluten-free flour blends vary widely in their performance so it’s important to select the right one when making a gluten-free pie crust recipe. Cup4Cup and Better Batter all purpose flour blends tend to work best in pie crust recipes, providing a flaky texture without grittiness.

That being said, this is a versatile recipe that I’ve tested successfully with many gluten-free flour blends. Here are a few tips to ensure your success:

  1. Use an all purpose flour blend, not a single gluten-free flour such as rice or almond flour.
  2. While I prefer Cup4Cup or Better Batter, I’ve also used gfJules, Bob’s Red Mill 1:1, and King Arthur Measure for Measure with great results.
  3. Always use the stir, scoop, and level method when measuring your flour to ensure you’re adding the correct amount. Too much flour in pie crust makes it tough and, for gluten-free, gritty.
  4. If you’re making your own flour blend or using one without xanthan gum, add 3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum to this recipe

How to Make Gluten-Free Pie Crust

I love this easy gluten-free pie crust recipe because you don’t have to mix the ingredients with a pastry blender or by hand – you can use your stand mixer or food processor!

Here’s how you make homemade gluten-free pie crust (see the corresponding pictures below)

Briefly cream the fats together – you’ll want to have pieces of cold butter throughout so don’t over mix. (see left photo)

Add dry ingredients: salt, instant dry milk, sugar, baking powder, and part of the flour. Use the lowest setting of your stand mixer to stir it together. (see middle photo)

Add remaining flour and ice cold water, and stir together just until combined. You can see from the picture on the right that the pie crust dough will be a little chunky and not a smooth and uniform like cookie dough. It should be fairly sticky.

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Divide the pie dough in half being careful not to overwork the dough

Place a piece of plastic wrap on the counter and set half of the dough on top. It will be loose instead of a solid dough ball and that’s how you want it. Just gently press it together enough for it to form a disc and seal all the way around with the plastic wrap.

As you can see, the gluten-free pie dough is still kind of chunky and not smooth and cohesive. That’s what makes the flaky layers!

Refrigerate dough for 30-60 minutes.

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Preheat your oven, and roll out the pie crust – I love using a pie crust bag for this step They are inexpensive and make it so much easier to make gluten-free pie crusts!

Only take out one dough disc at a time, keeping the other one cold in the fridge.

You can use a pie crust bag, or place the pie dough between 2 pieces of parchment paper or plastic wrap. Dust it lightly with gluten free flour before rolling into a circle with a rolling pin.

PRO TIP: If using a wooden rolling pin, be sure it’s never come into contact with gluten as wood is porous

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To easily transfer your dough to the pie pan, invert pie pan on top of the rolled out dough, gently slide a hand underneath, and quickly flip it over.

Be careful not to stretch the dough as you fit it in the pan, as this will lead to shrinkage and/or holes in your crust.

Can you spot the chunks of butter in the finished crust?

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Make a Single or Double-Crust Pie

This recipe makes a 2 pie crusts, enough for 2 single-crust pies or 1 double-crust pie.

This pie crust works great for savory pies, apple pie, pumpkin pie, or with your other favorite pie filling!

To make a single gluten-free crust:

  1. Invert a single dough disc into a pie dish.
  2. Trim the edges and crimp using your fingers or a fork.
  3. Prick with a fork 2-3 times.
  4. Brush with egg wash or heavy cream.
  5. Use pie weights to prevent your crust from shrinking as it bakes.
  6. Blind bake for 14-17 minutes. It will not brown as much as a double-crust pie.

To make a double crust pie:

  1. Roll out bottom crust and invert onto a pie plate.
  2. Fill with desired pie filling
  3. Roll out second disc and invert onto top of pie.
  4. Seal and flute the edges using your fingers or a fork.
  5. Cut a few slits in the top crust to release steam, then brush with an egg wash or heavy cream.
  6. Sprinkle with sparkling sugar or regular white sugar, and bake according to recipe directions, usually 50-60 minutes.

Pro Tips for Pies

  1. Level up a chocolate cream pie by sprinkling a handful of milk chocolate chips on the crust as soon as it comes out of the oven. Once they’ve melted, use a pastry brush to spread it in a thin layer over the crust.

    Cool completely and allow the chocolate to harden before filling with chocolate pudding – this will create a barrier that will keep the crust from getting soggy, and add another element of flavor and texture to your pie!

    I recommend milk chocolate chips because a darker variety will make chocolate layer harder to cut through.

  2. Always use an egg wash for single or double-crusted pies. Brushing the dough with an egg wash before baking gives it a beautiful golden brown hue and adds to the flakiness. If you can’t do eggs, you can substitute heavy cream.
  3. Sprinkle sparkling sugar on top of a double-crusted pie before baking to give it a beautiful finish and delightful crunch
  4. Always allow the pie to cool completely before serving. I know, I know, it’s hard to wait! But the crust and filling will be at their best when cool.
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Can I Make this Gluten Free Pie Crust Recipe Dairy Free?

Using 3 different types of fat in the recipe is what gives this crust lift and flakiness so I definitely recommend sticking to the original recipe if you can.

If you need a dairy-free option, you can use only shortening or a combination of vegan shortening and vegan butter. Be sure to use dairy-free butter in stick form-my favorite for taste and texture is Melt brand.

If you’re looking for more dairy free pies, this gluten free pecan pie is a great recipe!

MAKING THIS RECIPE??? We would love to see what you create with pie crust! Snap a photo, and tag @LifeAfterWheat on social media – we love seeing what you make!

Favorite Pie Recipes

Check out my fun, quick, and EASY Gluten Free Ice Cream Pies!

No-Fail Gluten Free Pie Crust Recipe (flaky + easy!) (10)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Pie

Move over apple pie! This ice cream pie features a unique peanut butter crust and is filled with chocolate peanut butter ice cream and peanut butter cups.

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Easy Raspberry Ice Cream Pie

Creamy ice cream and tart raspberries all wrapped in a crunchy graham cracker crust to make a beautiful (and EASY!) dessert! It really doesn’t get any easier than this ice cream pie. Top with whipped cream just before serving for a show-stopping dessert everyone will love. Perfect to make ahead for Thanksgiving!

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Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Pie

If you like chocolate, then you’re going to loooove this cool and refreshing version of a chocolate cream pie! It’s a show-stopping dessert that takes less than 20 minutes to make, but will have everyone asking for seconds.

Gluten Free Pie Crust Recipe

Here’s the printable recipe, I hope you enjoy it! If you have any questions along the way, you can leave a comment on this post or reach out to @LifeAfterWheat on social media.

Happy baking!

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Yield: 2 Pie Crusts

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Additional Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

FINALLY, a gluten free pie crust that is Tender, Flaky, & doesn't fall apart! I'll walk you through this easy, fail-proof recipe for the perfect pie crust!

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. In bowl of stand mixer (see notes for other options), combine cold butter and shortenings. Mix on medium speed for 30 seconds. It should be fairly creamy with pieces of butter throughout.
  2. Add sugar, baking powder, salt, dry milk, and 1 1/2 cups flour (see notes for measuring tips!) and stir (I use stir speed on Kitchen Aid stand mixer) for 10 seconds.
  3. Add remaining 1 1/4 cups gluten free flour and 2/3 cup ice cold water (see notes) and mix just until combined. Don't expect the dough to be smooth and solid like cookie dough, it should be a little choppy because you don't want to over-mix it. See the step-by-step pictures in the post for reference. If the dough seems too dry, add a tablespoon of water.
  4. Lay out a sheet of plastic wrap and pat half the dough together into a ball, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Repeat with the other half and refrigerate the dough for 30-60 minutes.
  5. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  6. Remove one disc of dough and roll it out into a circle larger than your pie plate (I use a 14" pie crust bag for this) You'll want to dust your surface with gluten free flour, but just a little - 1 tablespoon ought to do.
  7. Invert pie crust onto pie plate and poke with a fork 2-3 times.
  8. Whisk egg and brush onto pie crust. You won't need much of the egg, but brushing a little on will give your crust a beautiful, golden color and crispy edges.
  9. Bake single pie crust for 14-17 minutes.
  10. For double-crust pie, fill with desired filling, roll out second disc and invert onto top of pie. Seal and flute the edges, cut a few slits to release steam, then brush the top with egg wash. Sprinkle with sparkling sugar or regular white sugar, and bake according to recipe directions, usually 50-60 minutes.

Notes

  • Flour matters. Gluten free flour blends are all different, so I suggest using a high-quality blend that you have had success with in other finicky recipes like cookies or rolls. I prefer Better Batter all-purpose gluten free flour when making this recipe, but Bob's Red Mill 1:1 (not the bean-based) works great as well!
  • To measure flour: Stir the flour, scoop into measuring cup, and level off with the flat side of a knife. This will ensure you aren't adding too much flour to the recipe.
  • Don't over-mix. You should have bits of butter in varying sizes throughout the dough. This is what creates pockets of air and makes the pie crust flaky.
  • Use cold butter and refrigerate the dough. Starting with cold butter means the butter will melt while baking, creating that tender and flaky crust you're going for! You only need to refrigerate the dough for 30-60 minutes.
  • Get a pie crust bag. This is one of my favorite kitchen tools! It makes it so easy to roll out pie crust without all the mess and hassle. I also use my pie crust bag for making gluten free crescent rolls.
  • You can make pie crust ahead of time. To make pie crust ahead of time, prepare the dough as directed and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Store in the fridge up to 2 days, and let sit at room temp for 10-20 minutes before rolling out so it will be easier to handle.
  • If you don't have a stand mixer, you can use a large bowl and hand mixer. You can also use a wooden spoon (or other sturdy spoon) to cream the butter and the do the rest by hand.
  • Use ice water. Add a handful of ice cubes to about a cup of water, let it sit for a few minutes so the water gets nice and cold, then measure your 2/3 cup from there.
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 795Total Fat: 82gSaturated Fat: 51gTrans Fat: 3gUnsaturated Fat: 25gCholesterol: 260mgSodium: 691mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 0gSugar: 2gProtein: 4g

Did you make this recipe?

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No-Fail Gluten Free Pie Crust Recipe (flaky + easy!) (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret of flaky crust? ›

Cold butter is the key to flaky crusts. Do not skip this step. You must put your butter in the freezer to get it nice and cold. Many people do not like working with frozen butter, but it makes all the difference in the world when you create your pie dough.

Why is my gluten-free pie crust falling apart? ›

Common reasons why gluten-free pie crust fall apart include choice of flour and hydration levels. Using suitable GF flours and following the proper techniques listed above will help create a more stable crust.

What is the best flour to use in flaky pie crust? ›

What kind of flour makes the best pie crust? Well, not high-protein bread flour! Use that for your chewy bagels. What you want for pie is flour that yields a tender, flaky crust, which means medium-protein all-purpose flour or low-protein pastry flour.

What are the six ways to ensure a tender flaky pie crust? ›

7 pie crust tips for tender, flaky results every time
  1. 1Keep the dough ingredients cool.
  2. 2Use a light touch.
  3. 3Hydrate the dough (but not too much)
  4. 4Chill the dough.
  5. 5Keep the dough from sticking.
  6. 6Roll the dough out evenly.
  7. 7Relax.
Nov 4, 2022

Which makes a flakier pie crust butter or shortening? ›

Shortening is better at crumbly crust, butter is better at flaky. But you can get either from both. There are obvious differences in flavor, and butter can give you a very nice chewiness in a crust while still being tender.

Which is the best fat to use when making a flaky pie crust? ›

The pros: Butter has the best flavor. A butter pie crust forms light, lofty, flaky layers while it bakes. The flakiness comes partially from the water content of butter, which evaporates as the pie bakes and turns to steam, separating and puffing up the layers in dough.

How do you keep gluten free pastry from crumbling? ›

Add xanthan gum to gluten-free flour. It enhances elastic qualities that gluten-free flours lack, making it easier to work with and less likely to crumble. Add plenty of water to the gluten-free flour to prevent the pastry from becoming too dry when rolling out.

How do you make gluten-free baking less crumbly? ›

Add extra liquid: Gluten-free flours tend to absorb more liquid than regular flour, so you may need to add more liquid to your recipes to compensate. This can help to keep your baked goods moist and prevent them from becoming dry and crumbly.

Does gluten-free crust rise? ›

While the yeast does give the gluten free dough a bit of a rise before baking (and the all-important flavour of a yeasted dough), the baking powder ensures that the pizza dough gets an extra boost while in the oven. The result? Nothing more and nothing less than pizza crust perfection.

How do you keep the bottom of a pie crust flaky? ›

Crust dust is a 1:1 mixture of flour and granulated sugar. When baking a pie, especially a fruit pie, a couple of teaspoons of crust dust sprinkled into the bottom of the crust will help prevent the crust from becoming saturated with juicy filling as it bakes.

Is it better to put milk or water in pie crust? ›

Fat equals flavour, and also helps keep crust light and flaky. To up my fat content, I use cream (or whole fat milk) instead of water in my pie crust. Also, don't allow too much gluten to form. Gluten causes pie crusts to become tough and dense, and that is definitely the opposite of what we're going for here!

What brand of flour is best for pie crust? ›

Low-Protein Flour and American Butter Are Key

My old-fashioned flaky pie dough works best with all-purpose flours with a protein content around 10% (brands like Gold Medal, Pillsbury, and Immaculate) and no-frills, American-style butter.

What is one thing you should not do when making pie crust? ›

The Most Common Pie Crust Mistakes (And Ways To Avoid Them)
  1. The ingredients are too warm. ...
  2. The pie dough is overworked from excessive mixing or rolling. ...
  3. The pie dough isn't given enough time to relax and chill. ...
  4. The pie dough is shrinking down the sides of the pan.
Oct 18, 2022

What is one technique for achieving a flaky pastry crust? ›

By lightly handling the dough and keeping the butter in cold, small chunks, it disperses throughout the dough and creates flaky pockets once baked. Smearing the butter into flour creates these supremely flaky layers.

What is the science behind flaky pastry? ›

The beauty of puff pastry is the glorious rise and air pockets that give it that light and flaky texture. The rise comes from layers of fat sandwiched between layers of dough. In the oven, the butter melts and releases moisture, which evaporates, causing air pockets in between the now buttery layers of pastry.

What causes flaky crust? ›

First, you have to understand what makes a pie crust—or any dough for that matter—flaky. Pieces of fat (like butter) get trapped between layers of starch in a dough, then melt rapidly in the oven heat, creating steam and little pockets of air in the dough where the butter chunks used to be.

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