Late Summer Letters — the journal

She’s the Goose

The Basic Series · No. I · The Foundation

The Pie Crust

One bowl, cold butter, a little patience. The foundation under every pie that follows.

15 min + 1 hr chillMakes two 9-inch crustsBy hand

Keep everything cold — the butter, the water, your hands if you can. Cold is what makes a crust flake.

Ingredients

Double crust for a 9-inch pie

  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 Tbsp sugar
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cubed
  • 6–8 Tbsp ice water

Method

  1. 01

    Whisk together the flour, salt, and sugar.

  2. 02

    Cut in the cold butter until only pea-sized pieces remain.

  3. 03

    Add the ice water one tablespoon at a time, just until the dough comes together — no more.

  4. 04

    Divide into two discs.

  5. 05

    Wrap and chill at least one hour before rolling.

Notes

Make the crust the day before. A rested dough rolls softer, and the work of a pie feels lighter when the hardest part is already done.