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This is a simple pie crust, made completely by hand. You can use it for sweet or savory pies. This recipe makes approximately two 9-inch bottom crusts.

Supplies Needed:

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 2 ½ cups flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• Ice water (you will be using about 5-8 tablespoons making your crust)

Also, keep on hand large mixing bowl, measuring cups, measuring spoons, pastry cutter and foil.

Step 1: In Advance, Chill Your Butter

When making pie crust, you must make sure all your wet ingredients are very cold. This is important because you don’t want your butter to melt at all during the crust-making process. To help ensure this, you should also chill your butter. You can it into ½ inch cubes and place it into the freezer, at least 1 hour before starting your crust.

Step 2: Combine Your Ingredients

After your butter is sufficiently chilled, you can take it out of the freezer and place it in a large mixing bowl. Add 2 ½ cups of flour as well.

Using a pastry cutter, mix the butter and flour. You can also do this process in a food processor, using the pulse mode if you prefer.

Combine until it resembles coarse meal.

Now you can start adding the water, a tablespoon at each time, until dough starts to stick together. Keep using your pastry cutter (or food processor on pulse mode) until it’s ready.

Once the dough starts to stick together, form it into two round mounds.

Finally, wrap your dough in foil or plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for at least one hour before using it.