Super Simple Vegan Pie Crust Recipe (Buttery + Flaky) (2024)

Updated: by Vera Morgan · This post may contain affiliate links · 6 Comments

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Super Simple Vegan Pie Crust made in food processor in minutes! Buttery tender flaky shortcrust pastry perfect for sweet or savoury pies! Tried and true recipe! Easily doubled for double crust pie (top + bottom) Free from lard and no animal products!

Super Simple Vegan Pie Crust Recipe (Buttery + Flaky) (1)

Ok lets talk pie crust! Who’s looking for an easy homemade from scratch vegan pie crust recipe! Well you found it!…and I'll teach you how to make it!😊

This vegan pie crust is fool proof! It’s buttery flaky with just five ingredients made in the food processor (or by hand)! Vegan butter, flour, salt, sugar and my secret ingredient baking powder! And you don’t need to chill dough before rolling! It's the best!

I’ve been using this classic pie crust recipe for years and to make it vegan I just swapped out dairy butter for healthier plant based butter and that’s it!

Works for any pie whether your making a pumpkin pie, blueberry, apple pie or savoury one like vegan pot pie or breakfast quiche! I’ve got you covered! So don’t bother with a store bought refrigerated or frozen pie crust make your own! Easy Peasy!

Oh and it’s awesome for no bake pies too just blind bake the crust add your filling and chill!

- and have you seen how many ingredients are in the Pillsbury pie crust- Yikes! Too many, thank you very much. Mine is healthy in comparison!

I don’t use vegetable shortnening or coconut oil and definitely not lard-eeew! this is an all butter vegan pie crust made without animal products!

How to make a vegan pie crust in the food processor:

For full recipe ingredients and instructions see recipe card at bottom of this post

  1. First cube the butter into approximately 1 inch cubes or so, and set in fridge until needed (if using spreadable vegan butter in the tub see notes in recipe card*)Super Simple Vegan Pie Crust Recipe (Buttery + Flaky) (2)
  2. Add flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder to the food processor pulse a few times to mix. Evenly drop butter over the flour. Pulse until the butter is the size of peas or a little bigger. I pulse 14 times😊
  3. Remove lid and pour water evenly over the top. Pulse until dough starts to come together. I pulse around 14-16 times. Should hold together when squeezed with your fingers. If not add another tablespoon or two of water.
  4. Dump dough on counter and form into a disk, don't overwork dough. Place dough on a lightly floured piece of parchment paper, lightly flour the top of dough and roll out to 12-13 inches in diameter (a couple inches bigger than your pie plate) add more flour if necessary if dough is sticking to rolling pin.Super Simple Vegan Pie Crust Recipe (Buttery + Flaky) (3)
  5. Gently flip dough onto pie plate and remove parchment. Mold into the pie plate fixing any holes with extra dough from edges if needed. Trim edges with a knife or kitchen scissors leaving a ½ inch or so overhang. Tuck and fold excess dough edges under dough ( that's what I do). Flute or crimp edges for a more decorative effect if you like.Super Simple Vegan Pie Crust Recipe (Buttery + Flaky) (4)
  6. Chill unbaked pie shell uncovered in freezer for 25 minutes. Now your pie crust is ready for your recipewhether that’s baked with a filling or blind baked without a filling. Double recipe for top and bottom crust. Enjoy!
Super Simple Vegan Pie Crust Recipe (Buttery + Flaky) (5)

Pro tips for perfect vegan pie crust:

  • use parchment paper for easy rolling!
  • don't overwork dough you want to keep those little pockets of fat for a tender and flaky crust
  • use cold butter prevents it from melting before baking and makes for a flakier crust
  • icy cold water helps keep dough/butter cold when mixing
  • don't chill dough before rolling-much easier to roll then chill! (bakes better straight from freezer)
  • chill pie shell in freezer before baking- it sets the dough so it is less likely to fall/droop during baking

Frequently asked questions for pie crust:

Can you freeze the dough?

  • Yes wrap the dough disk in plastic wrap and then a freezer bag or freeze the unbaked pie shell for up to 3 months

Why is my pie dough falling apart?

  • If dough seems crumbly it means you need to add more water!

Why is my pastry hard and tough?

  • It means there is too much flour and not enough fat, which won't happen in my recipe as I add plenty of butter!

This vegan pie crust is:

so EASY!!

tender, flaky and buttery

all purpose pie shell for sweet dessert pies or savoury pies!

great for baked or unbaked pies

lovely for holiday baking

easily doubled for double crust pie!

a much healthier option than store bought!

Enjoy you guys! Happy Day! Please feel free to comment below and give this recipe a rating. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

Follow me on PINTEREST and INSTAGRAM for more tasty Plant Based & Vegan Recipes❤️

Check out some veganbaking (and no bake)recipes here:

  • Vegan Pumpkin Bread – Better Than Starbucks!
  • Best Vegan Chocolate Banana Bread Ever! (Easy Recipe)
  • Best Vegan Banana Bread (Easy 1 Bowl Recipe!)
  • Strawberry Rhubarb Upside Down Cake (Vegan, 1 Bowl)
  • 1 Bowl Vegan Lemon Loaf with Lemon Drizzle (Starbucks Copycat)
  • Vegan Chocolate Pie with Salted Caramel (No Bake)
  • Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake (Easy No Bake Recipe)

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Super Simple Vegan Pie Crust Recipe (Buttery + Flaky) (6)

Super Simple Vegan Pie Crust Recipe (Buttery + Flaky)

★★★★★5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Verna
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

Super Simple Vegan Pie Crust made in food processor in minutes! Buttery tender flaky shortcrust pastry perfect for sweet or savoury pies! Tried and true recipe! Easily doubled for double crust pie (top + bottom) Free from lard and no animal products!

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 and ½ cups all purpose flour
  • ¼-½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 to 3 teaspoons sugar (more for sweet less for savory pies)
  • ¾ cups cold vegan butter, I usually use Earth Balance buttery sticks (if using spreadable butter in the tub see notes*)
  • 3 tablespoons to ¼ cup ice water, I always use ¼ cup

Instructions

  1. First cube the butter into approximately 1 inch cubes or so, and set in fridge until needed (if using spreadable vegan butter in the tub see notes in recipe card*)
  2. Add flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder to thefood processor pulse a few times to mix. Evenly drop butter over the flour. Pulse until the butter is the size of peas or a little bigger. I pulse 14 times
  3. Remove lid and pour water evenly over the top. Pulse until dough starts to come together. I pulse around 14-16 times. Should hold together when squeezed with your fingers. If not add another tablespoon or two of water.
  4. Dump dough on counter and form into a disk, don't overwork dough. Place dough on a lightly floured piece of parchment paper, lightly flour the top of dough and roll out to 12-13 inches in diameter (a couple inches bigger than your pie plate) add more flour if necessary if dough is sticking torolling pin.
  5. Gently flip dough onto pie plate and remove parchment. Mold into thepie platefixing any holes with extra dough from edges if needed. Trim edges with a knife or kitchen scissors leaving a ½ inch or so overhang. Tuck and fold excess dough edges under dough. Flute or crimp edges for a more decorative effect if you like.
  6. Chill unbaked pie shell uncovered in fridge until needed (or in freezer for 25 minutes if blind baking). Now your pie crust is ready for your recipe whether that's baked with a filling or blind baked without a filling. Double recipe for top and bottom crust. Enjoy! (To blind bake shell see notes*)-For step by step photos see above post🔼
  7. To make dough by hand (without food processor): whisk together flour, salt, sugar, baking powder in a large mixing bowl. Drop cubed butter over the top and cut in with a pastry cutter or fork. Pour the ice water evenly over top. Stir with a fork until the dough comes together. Continue from step 4.

Notes

  • If using spreadable vegan butter (I've only tested with earth balance), measure out butter, add to a bowl and refrigerate until needed. Pull off pieces of butter with fingers and drop on top of flour mix (work quickly you don't want it to get to melty). Continue from step 2 of recipe 👍 This works great if you can't find the sticks in your grocery store!
  • To store and freeze: Wrap the dough disk in plastic wrap and then a freezer bag or freeze the unbaked pie shell for up to 3 months
  • To blind bake pie shell:Preheat oven to 425° dock the bottoms and sides of chilled pie shell. Line with a piece of parchment paper or tin foil make sure it's big enough to to go up the sides. Fill with pie weights or dried beans or dried rice. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove pie weights and liner. Reduce oven to 350° and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes until crust is golden brown.
  • For a treat use Miyoko vegan butter!! really good!
  • For tips and frequently asked questions see above post🔼
  • Prep Time: 15 Minutes
  • Category: Sweets,
  • Method: food processor
  • Cuisine: American, Canadian

Keywords: vegan pie crust, vegan pie shell, vegan butter pie crust, easy vegan pie crust, vegan short crust pastry,

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Morgan

    An excellent pie crust recipe I have made this many times. I use it for all my pies both savory and sweet. I know it by memory now. Just wanted to say a big thank you 🙂

    Reply

    • Verna

      Awesome! I am so happy to hear this thank you for your review 🙂

      Reply

  2. Belinda

    Great pie crust recipe. I found the instructions easy to follow and the dough was perfect. thank you! looking forward to exploring your vegan recipes.

    Reply

    • Verna

      Thank you so much! Appreciate your kind words!

      Reply

  3. Wayne Vetrone

    is there a way to make this oil free to comply with Forks over Knives

    Reply

    • Verna

      Hi Wayne, no this is not an oil free recipe. But I'm sure they have one on their website. Hope that helps have a great day!

      Reply

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Super Simple Vegan Pie Crust Recipe (Buttery + Flaky) (2024)

FAQs

What is a good substitute for butter in pie crust? ›

Vegetable shortening (like Crisco) has a higher melting point than butter. This means pie crust made with shortening will hold its shape better than an all-butter crust.

Does butter or shortening make a flakier crust? ›

Butter for flakiness and flavor, and shortening for its high melting point and ability to help the crust hold shape. You can use butter-flavor shortening if desired. If you want to skip the shortening, feel free to try this all-butter pie crust instead.

How does a pie crust get its flaky texture? ›

While butter, shortening, or lard make equally light and tender crusts, an all-butter crust will be flakier due to butter's higher water content: as the crust bakes the butter melts and its water turns to steam, creating thin, crisp layers (flakes).

How to make a flaky bottom pie crust? ›

Brush the Bottom with Corn Syrup or Egg White

Adding a layer of corn syrup or a slightly beaten egg white before pouring in the filling will form a seal between the pie dough and the filling and will help make the crust crisp and flaky.

What is a vegan substitute for butter in pie? ›

Olive oil is great when used for crusts for vegan pot pies, biscuits and herb breads. If your recipe calls for 1 cup of butter, use ¾ cups of olive oil.

Can you substitute oil for butter in crust? ›

What about substituting oil for butter? Depending on the type of oil, it can add complex flavor and welcome moisture to your baked goods. A good rule of thumb is to replace about 3/4 of the butter in a recipe with olive, canola, or vegetable oil. (If the recipe calls for 1 cup butter, use ¾ cup oil.)

Which fat makes the flakiest pie crust? ›

This time, though, there was one very clear victor. Butter made a tastier, flakier, sturdier crust by far.

Which fat makes the most flaky pastry? ›

Vegetable Shortening

As shortening is able to withstand higher temperatures and does not melt easily, it creates flaky and crisp yet tender pie crusts when used alone or in combination with butter.

What is flaky crust called? ›

In baking, a flaky pastry (also known as a "quick puff pastry" or "blitz puff pastry") is a light, flaky, unleavened pastry, similar to a puff pastry.

What is the secret of flaky pie 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.

What does adding vinegar to your pie crust do? ›

Apple cider vinegar is added to relax the gluten proteins in your dough and tenderize it. You can also substitute it with an equal amount of white vinegar. Cold Water: For pie crusts that are flaky, cold water is a must. Adding warm liquid would melt the shortening that we carefully cut into our flour for flakiness.

What does adding an egg to pie crust do? ›

Sugar: Not all pie crusts have sugar, but those that do will be more tender since sugar interferes with gluten development. In our experience, sugar can also make the pie dough so tender that it's hard to roll out and transfer to your pan without breaking. Egg: This makes the dough more pliable and easy to roll out.

What is flaky pie dough made of? ›

Pie Crust Ingredients

Flour: This flaky pie crust recipe starts with all-purpose flour. Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the flavor and promotes a tender, moist crust. Butter: Cold butter adds rich flavor and creates steam as it melts, ensuring a perfectly flaky finished product.

Should I bake the bottom pie crust first? ›

You do not need to pre-bake a pie crust for an apple pie or any baked fruit pie really, but we do freeze the dough to help it stay put. Pre-baking the pie crust is only required when making a custard pie OR when making a fresh fruit pie. you should probably get: Pie weights are super helpful to have for pre-baking.

Should you poke holes in the bottom of pie crust? ›

With docking, the holes allow steam to escape, so the crust should stay flat against the baking dish when it isn't held down by pie weights or a filling. Otherwise the crust can puff up, not only impacting appearance but also leaving you with less space for whatever filling you have planned.

Is pie crust better with butter or oil? ›

Butter pie crust has the most flavor out of the three fats. This pie crust bakes up nice and golden brown, with plenty of flaky layers. Butter pie crust is the most sturdy and will support the weight of your favorite pie fillings.

Do I need to butter my pie crust? ›

The dough is relatively easy to work with and roll out, and it holds its shape in the oven. The secret lies in using a combination of butter and shortening; butter not only imparts a rich flavor but also contributes to the crust's flakiness, while shortening ensures it maintains its shape and enhances the texture.

Why use shortening instead of butter for pie crust? ›

The pros: Shortening has a higher melting point than lard or butter, so it's easy to incorporate into pie dough and roll out.

How do you substitute butter for pastry? ›

The Best Butter Substitutes
  1. Margarine. Replacement ratio: 1:1. ...
  2. Cream cheese. Replacement ratio: 1:1. ...
  3. Unsweetened full-fat natural yoghurt. Replacement ratio: 250g or less, 1:1. ...
  4. Full-fat mayonnaise. Replacement ratio: 1:1. ...
  5. Olive oil or vegetable oil. Replacement ratio: 1:1. ...
  6. Unsweetened apple sauce. ...
  7. Mashed banana. ...
  8. Nut butter.

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