This easy vegan pie crust has been my go-to recipe for decades. It is flaky, flavorful and so easy to work with that it will change your mind about making your own crust.
This Vegan Pie Crust Started in Yankee Magazine
I found the non-vegan version of this recipe in the New England Cook’s section of Yankee magazine in 1982. I was newly married that year and was cooking for the holidays, so I decided to make pies. What sold me on the recipe was the last sentence. “This is foolproof.” Let me tell you, it is. It is the only recipe I have ever used.
Don’t Be Afraid of Crust!
I had no idea that so many people are afraid of crust! I remember a conversation with my Aunt Barbara, one of the best cooks ever, about her pies. She winked at me and said she always bought prepared crusts. I almost fell over! I was brand new to baking pies, and I thought that the crust was the easiest part, all because of this recipe.
Making Vegan Pie Crust Yourself Is Best
Now, to be real, pie crust is not health food, and it is not intended to be. However, making your own with organic ingredients is cheaper and avoids the additives, preservatives, and packaging in commercially available pie crusts. This makes it a bit healthier for you and definitely for the planet.
Making This Foolproof Vegan Pie Crust Is Easy
The recipe is super simple. It’s a short list of ingredients and just a few steps. One of them is rolling the crust in between waxed paper which was my brainstorm soon after I started making crust, and a method I have used for decades since then. I highly recommend it and will demonstrate it in the video below. Trust me, you will never again be pulling your crust off your work surface with the rolling pin.
Whether you are making pies, tarts, or quiche, this recipe will also be your go-to. The recipe below is a two-crust (top and bottom) recipe. So, if you only need one crust, like for a quiche, you can wrap half of it tightly and freeze it for later use.
Watch Georgia Demonstrate Making Vegan Pie Crust, Step-By-Step
This easy vegan pie crust has been my go-to recipe for decades. It is flaky, flavorful and so easy to work with that it will change your mind about making your own crust.
Ingredients
UnitsScale
2cups all-purpose flour, preferably organic
1 tsp salt
2/3cup vegan shortening (I use Nutiva or Spectrum)
2 Tbs vegan butter (Earth Balance sticks), melted
5 Tbs cold water
1 Tbs vinegar (white or apple cider vinegar)
Instructions
Mix the flour and salt.
Cut in the shortening and melted butter and combine until the mixture is like coarse crumbs.
Combine the water and vinegar and then add to the mixture.
Form into a ball and chill.
Roll out to form 2 crusts. (check out my technique on the video)
This is foolproof. 🙂
Notes
Efficiency Tip: this crust freezes well. I often make a batch, separate it into two balls, wrap and place them in the freezer – ready for pie-making. Thaw overnight in the fridge or a few hours on the counter.
This is the perfect crust to use for our delicious pies and quiches like:
Georgia is an unpretentious foodie who, at 50, transitioned from a vegetarian diet to a whole foods plant based diet and is loving it. She works as a nurse, plays as a quilter, loves to run, hates to race.
She thinks dogs are actually angels (in dog suits).
Vegan Pad Thai that is just the way you like it. It's better than take-out!…
Comments (5)
[…] pre-made, and a good crust can really enhance the pie experience. For this pie, I usually use my Flaky and Foolproof Vegan Pie Crust (with step-by-step video!)—it’s an classic flaky crust and not very difficult to make (even […]
Hi Nora,
Do you mean what would be equivalent products? You can try ordering the Nutiva shortening from their website, but I’m not sure if they ship to Europe. I think that, in the UK, vegetable shortening is sold under the brand names Trex, Flora White or Cookeen. You may be able to find those products where you live. The key, of course, is finding it vegetable-based, as opposed to lard (which is an animal product). I hope this helps!
Thanks for visiting the blog and let us know how you like the pie crust!
[…] pre-made, and a good crust can really enhance the pie experience. For this pie, I usually use my Flaky and Foolproof Vegan Pie Crust (with step-by-step video!)—it’s an classic flaky crust and not very difficult to make (even […]
Hi, looks great. Would you know what is the European equivalent to shortening please? Thank you 😊
Hi Nora,
Do you mean what would be equivalent products? You can try ordering the Nutiva shortening from their website, but I’m not sure if they ship to Europe. I think that, in the UK, vegetable shortening is sold under the brand names Trex, Flora White or Cookeen. You may be able to find those products where you live. The key, of course, is finding it vegetable-based, as opposed to lard (which is an animal product). I hope this helps!
Thanks for visiting the blog and let us know how you like the pie crust!
OMG!! This looks fabulous, my kids are gonna love it. Thank you soo much!!
Hi Amy!
Thank you SO much! Let us know how your kids like it (and you, too, of course, lol).