I basically use just three pie crust recipes - one is super easy, firm and great for tarts and custard pies (ATK All-Butter Tart Dough). The second is a super flaky crust that is wonderful for fruit pies; the crust is so full of butter and puffs up so much it isn't good for cutout shapes or detail; the fluted edge will need support (Serious Eats Easy Flaky Pie Dough). The third falls somewhere in the middle and is a fantastic all-around crust for sweet pies with its subtle spices (Land O'Lakes Pie Crust). BTW, a sturdy blade-type pastry cutter is an awesome tool for cutting and cubing sticks of butter for dough. Remember to make extra batches of dough to keep on hand in the freezer; pie crust freezes beautifully and keeps for months!
ATK ALL-BUTTER PRESS-IN TART DOUGH
adapted from America's Test Kitchen Family Baking Book
Makes 1 crust for 9" tart or pie
1-1/2 cups (6.25 oz) all-purpose flour
1 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
8 tbsp (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
3-4 tbsp ice water
Process the flour, sugar, and salt together in a food processor until combined. Scatter the butter pieces on top and pulse until small bits of butter remain. Add 3 tablespoons of the ice water and pulse. If the dough doesn't clump together after about 10 pulses, add the remaining tablespoon of ice water and pulse to incorporate, then keep pulsing until dough starts to come together. Press the dough into a tart pan. (Note: I flatten into a disk, wrap tightly with plastic wrap and chill for at least several hours before rolling out for pie crust).
SERIOUS EATS EASY FLAKY PIE DOUGH
from Serious Eats / J. Kenji Lopez-Alt (my gram conversions)
Makes 2 generously-sized crusts
12-1/2 oz. all-purpose flour (236g/118g)
2 tbsp sugar (25g)
1 tsp kosher salt
2-1/2 sticks unsalted butter, cut into 1/4 inch pats (284g)
6 tbsp cold water (88g)
Combine 8-1/2 oz. of the flour, all of the sugar and salt in food processor. Pulse twice to incorporate. Spread butter chunks evenly over surface. Pulse until no dry flour remains and dough just begins to collect in clumps, about 25 short pulses. Use a rubber spatula to spread the dough evenly around the bowl of the food processor. Sprinkle with remaining 4 oz. flour and pulse until dough is just barely broken up, about 5 short pulses. Transfer dough to large bowl. Sprinkle with water then using a rubber spatula, fold and press dough until it comes together into a ball. Divide ball in half. Form each half into a 4-inch disk. Wrap tightly in plastic and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before rolling and baking.
LAND O' LAKES PIE CRUST
adapted from Blue Ribbon Apple Pie, Land O'Lakes Treasury of Country Recipes
Makes 2 crusts for 9" pie
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/3 cup butter or margarine (2.7 oz)
1/3 cup shortening
4-5 tbsp ice water
In a food processor, pulse ogether the flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add the butter and shortening and pulse until crumbly. Dribble ice water into the bowl and pulse until dough comes together. Divide dough in half; shape into 2 balls, flatten into two fat disks, wrap tightly with plastic wrap and chill for at least two hours before rolling and baking.
