This Herb Pie Crust is an all-butter crust that bakes up light and flaky, with a crispy bottom. It's so easy and fast with using a food processor and it's my go-to crust for any savory pies or tarts. It literally pulls together in about 5 minutes, then into the refrigerator to chill a few hours to let the dough rest.
The result is incredibly easy to roll out, won't crack, and bakes up flaky, and light. The herbs are a delight, so bright and fresh, perfect to eat the crust all on its own.
Pie Tips
Chilling the dough after each step is the key to lots of light layers.
This Herb Pie Crust recipe is enough for a double crust for deep 9' round pies and also an absolutely perfect fit for a small slab pie size of about 9x13. I've transitioned into making small slab pies over the last few years. They're easier to slice and serve, and everyone loves a square. I find the quantity perfect for our family, serving everyone a generous slice and allowing for 2 servings of left-overs.
Try this herb crust for everything from veggies, cheeses, breakfast quiche fillings, tomato tarts, potato pies, chicken pot pies, seafood, and cornish pies. The list goes on and on.
Other recipes to use this savory herb crust:
New on the blog recipes!
Quick video showing how easy this is:
Herb Pie Crust
Equipment
- food processor
Ingredients
- 1 C butter - unsalted 2 sticks = 16 Tbs
- 3 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs your favorites
- 2 ¾ flour all-purpose
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ C water cold ice water
Instructions
- Cut the cold butter into cubes. Place in the freezer for 20 minutes.
- Chop herbs of your choice, enough for 2 Tbsp. Depending what I have on hand it might be parsley, basil, lavender, summer savory, oregano, thyme, chives.
- Measure or weigh the flour in a food processor. I just place the processor directly on the scale and avoid getting a measuring cup dirty.
- Add salt and pepper, then the frozen butter. Pulse 10-20 times until the mixture is crumbly and light. The flour will completely work into the butter and the mix feels almost powdery. This is what helps the crust be light & flaky.
- Add the ice water. I place the food processor bowl back on the scale and weigh it. Blend the mix until it thoroughly comes together in the bowl, it will clump and the processor almost sounds like it's thunking around in there. When it almost forms a ball, it's done.
- Add the herbs and roughly work them into the dough. Turn the dough out onto plastic wrap or a re-usable wrap (I like Bee's Wrap). Fold it tightly and whack it a few times with a rolling pin to compress the dough into a tighter mass. Try to avoid handling it too much because your hands will warm the dough quite quickly and that sacrifices flakiness. Quickly shape it into a disc for a round pie (6" disc) or a rectangle (6x4) for a slab pie.
- Place the dough into the refrigerator to rest at least 2-3 hours or preferably overnight. The resting time will allow the flour to fully hydrate and rolling the dough will be silky without cracking.
- When ready to roll it out, cut it in half (this recipe makes a double crust). Liberally flour the board and roll the dough into the shape you need. Refrigerate the section of dough not being worked. Turn the dough, flip, and flour with handling. Try not to touch the dough too much, you want it to stay cold. Roll it large enough to have at least 2 full inches larger than the size of your pie plate or slab sheet. Account for the space you'll need to layer it into the pie plate without stretching it to fit. Stretching the dough will cause it to shrink when baking. Once the dough is lowered into the bottom and edges of the pie plate edges, you'll need an inch of over-hang for crimping. I prefer 1.5". Refrigerate 15-20 minutes or until it firms a bit.
- Once rolled out, dust a little flour on the surface and carefully fold into thirds, then refrigerate 15 or so minutes to re-chill it.
- If you're doing a double crust, roll out the top crust and chill.
- Layer your chilled bottom crust into your pie plate or slab pan. Brush off the excess flour with a dry pastry brush. If you're using just a single crust, crimp the edges and flute or apply your favorite edge application. Refrigerate a few minutes to re-chill, then fill per your recipe. If you're doing a double crust, fill your chilled bottom crust per your recipe, apply the chilled rolled out top crust, press the edges together to create a seam, then apply your favorite edge.
- Before baking, I brush my crusts with an egg wash so it browns evenly.
- This also freezes great! You can freeze it as a disc or rolled out in the pan.
Nutrition
Did you know that I bake at 'high altitude'? I really should say I bake at high elevation' because after all, I'm not baking on an airplane. If you have questions about high elevation baking I would recommend you check out the links below. One is our local Ag Extension at Colorado State University and the other is King Arthur Flour for their guide on baking at elevation.
King Arthur Flour https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/learn/resources/high-altitude-baking
Colorado State University https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/nutrition-food-safety-health/high-altitude-food-preparation-p41/#3k
Ruth
Was just reading the amount of pie crust. 9' (feet) is a REALLY big pie crust. I am sure you meant 9" (inches). Gave me a chuckle anyway.
Callie
haha thanks Ruth! That was a silly typo! ?