Ree Drummond, the beloved Pioneer Woman, has captivated home cooks for years with her approachable recipes and heartwarming stories of ranch life. Among her many culinary gifts, her pie crust recipe stands out as a true masterpiece. If you’ve been searching for a foolproof way to achieve flaky, tender pie crusts every time, look no further than the Pioneer Woman’s perfect blend of Crisco and butter.
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays cookbook cover, featuring Ree Drummond's holiday recipes for delicious homemade meals.
This isn’t just any pie crust recipe; it’s a game-changer. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting your pie-making journey, the Pioneer Woman’s recipe, featured in her cookbook The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays, will guide you to pie crust perfection. Say goodbye to tough, crumbly crusts and hello to golden, flaky layers that melt in your mouth.
Why This Pioneer Woman Pie Crust Recipe Works Wonders
The secret to this exceptional pie crust lies in the combination of vegetable shortening (Crisco) and butter. This dynamic duo creates the ideal texture:
- Crisco for Flakiness: Vegetable shortening, like Crisco, has a higher melting point than butter. This means it stays solid for longer during mixing, creating small pockets of fat within the dough. As the pie bakes, these fat pockets melt and release steam, resulting in incredibly flaky layers.
- Butter for Flavor and Tenderness: Butter contributes rich flavor and tenderness to the crust. Its lower melting point helps create a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture. The combination of butter and shortening provides the best of both worlds.
Key Ingredients for Pioneer Woman Pie Crust Success
Let’s dive into what you’ll need to create this amazing pie crust:
- All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of our crust. Ensure you measure it correctly, lightly spooning it into your measuring cup and leveling it off.
- Salt: Enhances the flavors and balances the sweetness of pie fillings.
- Vegetable Shortening (Crisco): The key to flakiness! Make sure it’s chilled and cut into small pieces.
- Butter: Use unsalted butter, also chilled and cut into small pieces. Cold fats are crucial for a flaky crust.
- Egg: Adds richness and helps bind the dough.
- Distilled White Vinegar: A secret ingredient that tenderizes the dough and inhibits gluten development, resulting in a more tender crust.
- Cold Water: Brings the dough together. Ice water is ideal to keep the fats cold.
Step-by-Step Guide to Pioneer Woman’s Perfect Pie Crust
Follow these simple steps to create your own Pioneer Woman-inspired pie crust:
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Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt.
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Incorporate Fats: Add the chilled vegetable shortening and butter pieces to the flour mixture.
Step-by-step photo instructions for The Pioneer Woman pie crust recipe from "The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays" cookbook. -
Cut in the Fat: Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, cut the fats into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining. Don’t overmix!
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Wet Ingredients: In a separate small bowl, lightly beat the egg with a fork. Add the distilled white vinegar to the egg.
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Add Wet to Dry: Pour the egg and vinegar mixture over the flour mixture. Then, add the cold water, one tablespoon at a time, stirring gently after each addition.
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Bring Dough Together: Stir until the dough just comes together. Be careful not to overwork the dough. If needed, add an extra tablespoon or two of cold water if the dough is too dry.
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Form Dough Balls: Divide the dough in half and form each half into a ball.
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Chill Dough: Wrap each dough ball tightly in plastic wrap and flatten them slightly into discs. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 days. Chilling allows the gluten to relax, making the dough easier to roll out.
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Roll and Bake: Remove one dough disc from the refrigerator about 15 minutes before rolling. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to your desired thickness and use it to line your pie dish. Crimp the edges as desired and bake according to your pie recipe.
Tips for Pie Crust Perfection
- Keep Ingredients Cold: Cold ingredients are key to flaky pie crust. Make sure your shortening, butter, egg, and water are all well-chilled.
- Don’t Overmix: Overmixing develops gluten, which leads to a tough crust. Mix just until the dough comes together.
- Chill the Dough: Chilling the dough is crucial for relaxing the gluten and making it easier to handle.
- Use Cold Water: Ice water helps keep the fats cold and prevents the gluten from overdeveloping.
- Handle Dough Gently: Be gentle when rolling and transferring the dough to avoid tearing or stretching it.
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays – More Than Just Pie Crust
This fantastic pie crust recipe comes from Ree Drummond’s cookbook, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays. This cookbook is a treasure trove of recipes perfect for every holiday occasion, from Thanksgiving and Christmas to Easter and everything in between. Beyond the recipes, the book is filled with Ree’s signature step-by-step photos and charming stories of life on her Oklahoma ranch, making it a joy to read and cook from.
Whether you’re making a classic apple pie, a savory quiche, or any pie in between, the Pioneer Woman’s pie crust recipe is your secret weapon for baking success. Embrace the simplicity and deliciousness of this recipe, and get ready to impress your family and friends with your homemade pie creations!
