Perfect Vegan Pie Crust (2 Ways!)

⭐️ Why You Should Try It

• Versatile. I believe everyone should have a good pie crust recipe on hand! It can be used to make savory tarts like this Zucchini Tart or Mushroom Tart, but also for sweet tarts like fruit or Chocolate Tart!
• It tastes better and is healthier than store-bought. After trying this crust, you will never want to buy it at the store again. It has a rich buttery flavor and the perfect flakiness!
• Super easy to make. If you have flour, butter, salt, and 15 minutes, you can make this pie crust at home. It can be prepared in a bowl by hand or using a stand mixer to save time.

🧈 Ingredient Notes

Pie crust only requires pantry staples everyone has at home. Here is what you will need:

• Flour – The good old-fashioned all-purpose flour works great here.
• Butter – You can use store-bought vegan butter or homemade vegan butter.
• Salt – To enhance the flavor of the crust. Even if you are making a sweet crust, do not omit the salt.
• Cold water – You will need cold water to help the dough come together.
• Sugar – Optional. Only use it if you are making a sweet pie crust. You can use powdered sugar, granulated white sugar, or light brown sugar. I do not recommend using coconut sugar as it will darken the dough and will not get incorporated well.

📙 Types of Crusts

Before starting, let’s take a look at two different types of French pastry.

• Shortcrust Pastry: Called “pâte brisée” in French, this version of the crust is best used to make savory tarts. It has a crunchy and slightly crumbly texture. While it’s usually unsweetened, it’s possible to add sugar if needed. The process of making this pastry consists of first creaming softened butter and then combining it with the flour.
• Sweet Crust Pastry: Called “pâte sablée” in French, this pastry has a more flaky and sandy texture and is sweetened. It’s best used in desserts like chocolate or fruit tarts. The process of making this pastry consists of sanding cold butter with the flour, allowing the butter to coat the flour, creating a sandy texture.

🥧 How to Make It

Prepare the dough

The process of making vegan pie crust requires just one bowl and can be done in less than 10 minutes (even less if you are using a stand mixer!). Here is how to make the dough:

1. Mix the dry ingredients. Add the flour, salt, and sugar (if using) to a bowl.
2. Add the butter and cut it in. Using a pastry cutter or the beater attachment of your mixer, sand the cold butter with the flour. If you don’t have any of those, simply use your hands, it works as well.
3. Mix. Once the texture looks like a fine semolina/sand, add 1-2 tablespoons of cold water and mix the dough. If the dough appears too dry, add one more tablespoon of water at a time until it comes together. The dough should be soft but not sticky. If it’s sticky, add a bit more flour.

At this point, you can flatten the dough or shape it into a thick disc and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Let it rest on the counter for about 10 minutes before rolling it out.

Roll out

To roll out the dough:

1. Flour your working surface. Lightly flour your kitchen counter and rolling pin.
2. Roll it out. Place the disc of dough on your surface and roll it out into a 1/4-inch thickness.

Next, transfer the dough to your pie plate and cut off the excess dough, leaving about a 1/2-inch overhang. Gently press the dough into the sides.

If there is still excess dough, trim it using a pair of scissors or run the rolling pin on the edges of the plate to cut it off.

Bake

Finally, it’s time to bake! You have two options depending on what you are making: bake with the filling or blind bake:

1. Preheat your oven to 355°F (180°C).
2. Prick the bottom of the dough with a fork. This will allow the steam to escape and prevent the crust from puffing up.
3. If you are baking with a filling: Add your filling and bake according to the recipe’s instructions.
4. If you are blind baking: Cover the bottom of your pie crust with a round piece of parchment paper. Top with pie weights or dry beans. Bake for about 15 minutes or until the sides are slightly golden brown. Next, remove the weights and the parchment paper and bake for another 12-15 minutes.

📔 Tips

• Do not overmix. Especially if you are making sweet crust pastry. Stop mixing as soon as the dough comes together. Otherwise, it will result in a chewy texture.
• Adjust the amount of water. Depending on the brand of flour used, you might have to use more or less water. Start with 2 tablespoons and add more as needed.
• Use a stand mixer. If you want to save time, you can prepare the dough in a stand mixer fitter with a flat beater attachment. It works perfectly and keeps your hands clean!
• Adjust the thickness. Depending on your preference and the type of tart/pie you plan to make, feel free to roll out the dough thinner. I personally like more rustic tarts with a thick crust, but that is totally up to you.
• Flavor the dough. Feel free to add fresh or dried herbs if preparing a savory tart, or cinnamon, lemon zest, cinnamon, or vanilla for a sweet pie!

💬 FAQ

🌿 More Basic Vegan Recipes

Homemade Vegan Butter (Cultured!)

Homemade Sandwich Bread (Super Tender!)

How to Make Vegan Pastry Cream

Homemade Egg Roll Wrappers

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