Pat In the Pan Pie Crust (Gluten-free Option)

Does the thought of rolling out a pie crust cause you more stress than having your pickiest relatives over for dinner? Never fear.

This Easy Pat in the Pan Pie Crust is such an amazingly easy gluten-free pie crust, I guarantee it will cure your pie-making fears for good!

Eating healthy takes time, but there are so many ways to make it easier!

Some of the basic recipes that help me save time putting whole foods on our table are Easiest Coconut Milk, Easiest Almond Milk, Easy Homemade Sauerkraut, and Quick and Easy Meals. If you're a pie lover, you know how hard pie crusts can be, but this Easy Pie Crust Recipe will change all of that for you.

Think an easy pie crust recipe is an oxymoron?  No more.

What You Will LOVE About This Crust

I've already said it, but this recipe is so simple.

It also tastes great.

AND it's flexible. I've made this crust using so many different types of flour and it's always turned out great. Kamut was one of our favorites, but we've also made it with whole wheat, spelt, and all kinds of gluten-free flours as well.

Also, any type of fat works too: coconut oil, olive oil, butter. It's all good.

No rolling. And no super careful, walking-on-eggshell lifting of the oh-so-delicate pastry.

It's a klutzy pie-lover's dream.

Joy of Cooking explains that flaky pastry depends upon developing the gluten in an expert fashion, but pressing the crust doesn't develop the gluten. This pressed and not rolled crust is not really flaky, but that's OK with me.

The Origin of this Easy Pie Crust

Though I was always kind of in love with baking, I always steered away from pies and such.

The thought of rolling the crust perfectly thin and then getting it into the pie pan without it breaking all over kept me away from pies.

Well, that all changed when I found this super-easy pie crust recipe in Joy of Cooking years ago.

I've gotten quite a few good recipes out of that book. They typically need some kind of whole foodie or allergy tweak to work for us, but this recipe was just what I needed to be able to make pies. Pies without fear, and even gluten-free pie crusts without fear.

Ingredients

• flour
• avocado oil (or alternative)
• salt
• milk (or milk alternative, cold)

Recipe Notes

• Pre-baking your crust with a wash on top is best, but when I'm in a rush (like all the time) I do none of it and just deal with things not being perfect.  Our last pumpkin pie crust didn't stick to the pie plate much at all, even without pre-baking.
• This crust is perfect for a 9-inch crust. However, I've used it to make smaller and larger crusts. Any leftover crust can easily be used to make a lattice or other design on top of your pie.
• Though this crust doesn't easily lend itself to making the top of a double crust pie, or a lattice-top (though you could try and it might work kind of), I've rolled it out and made little leaf shapes to decorate the top of a pumpkin pie and it has turned out pretty well.
• If filling the crust and baking further, brush the crust with a wash of egg yolk, or at least some milk or dairy-free alternative before baking.  This prevents the crust from soaking up the filling and sticking to the bottom of the pie plate.  I typically don't do this as I'm too busy, and greasing the pie plate should take care of this issue.
• Flour Options: In our gluten-eating days I used white whole wheat or freshly-ground kamut flour. Kamut makes for a buttery-tasting crust. Since going gluten-free, I typically use my stand-by “undefined gluten-free blend”. I use about 1/2 sweet brown rice, and then add in whatever I happen to have on hand.  I like to mix in millet, buckwheat, maybe another rice, and some amaranth. See my Gluten-Free Baking Tips for more info.
  For AIP, use cassava flour and make the recipe as indicated.
• Crust–forming Tip: When forming the crust, spread out the crust as evenly as you can on the bottom of the pie pan. Then spread it out with your hands, working it up the sides of the pan. After it's spread out, form the “fluted” edges if desired.
• Oil Options: Using a light oil will result in a neutral crust flavor. Light olive oil, refined coconut oil, or avocado oil are great choices.

I hope this easy pie crust recipe helps you make whole-grain pie crusts with more ease.

And make sure to check out Joy of Cooking. I have learned a TON from this book.  It's definitely one of those keepers.

If you try this crust, I would love to hear what you think!