Buttermilk Pie Crust

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Hi Bold Bakers!

WHAT YOU GET: Buttery and flaky Buttermilk Pie Crust Recipe. My Homemade Buttermilk Pie Crust Recipe is an upgrade to all store-bought pie crusts. Whip this up in an hour, and you’ll have enough pie crust to last you the whole holiday season!

There’s nothing better than slicing into a warm pie during the holidays. As an experienced baker, I’ve learned that making homemade pie crust is the first step to elevating your pie and tart game. 

That’s why I have created this lovely Buttermilk Pie Crust recipe for bakers of all experience levels. Though store-bought versions may be a quick fix to your baking needs, you’ll take away even better-tasting pie crusts with this homemade version.

It’s also so simple to make! With just 4 tools and 4 ingredients, you’ll have a beautiful pie crust to use immediately for your favorite pies and tarts. 

Difference Between Regular Pie Crust And Buttermilk Pie Crust

You may be wondering what’s the difference between a regular pie crust and a Buttermilk Pie Crust. To answer your question, it’s simply a difference in substituting water for buttermilk. 

Making the switch not only makes this pie crust ten times more flakey and tender but also amplifies the crust’s flavor. Most of the time, the pie crust is just a base to your pie and tart filling, but with my Buttermilk Pie Crust recipe, you are making the crust its own delicious component.

No need to go out and buy a carton of buttermilk. Make your own buttermilk substitute with my simple recipe!

All About Butter

In my opinion, butter is the most important ingredient in any delicious pie crust. Butter is the fat made from cows’ milk and wins by a landslide when it comes to quality and taste.

Though you can use shortening as a substitute, using butter will give you a sturdier, tastier, and flakier crust. In Ireland, I never used shortening and it tends to be of cheaper and lower quality since it’s made from oil.

The best way to get a flaky pie crust is to use cold butter. It needs to be solid so that when you are working the dough it disperses the bits of cold butter. After the crust bakes, the cold butter will melt and cause small steam pockets to form inside the dough. That’s the goal here to create those distinct, flaky layers!

Tools To Make Buttermilk Pie Crust:

• Measuring cups and spoons
• Large bowl
• Spoon
• Plastic wrap
• Optional: Pastry blender

Pie Crust Techniques

As I mentioned before, making homemade pie crusts is an important skill to learn as a baker. This recipe may give you the basic outline, but I have plenty of other pie crust techniques that you can learn from. Here are a few: ‘How To Blind Bake A Pie Crust’, ‘How To Make Pate Brisee (French Pie Crust Technique)’, and ‘5 Impressive & Easy Pie Design Techniques’.

Especially if you are baking pies with wetter fillings, try blind baking your Buttermilk Pie Crust. Baking your crust just slightly before the actual bake with the filling will prevent a soggy pie crust and leave you with a flakier and crispier pastry in the end.

How To Store Buttermilk Pie Crust

To keep your Buttermilk Pie Crust for longer, freeze your crust in plastic wrap or an air-tight container for up to 2 months. When you want to use your crust, defrost it overnight in the refrigerator.

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips For Making The Best Buttermilk Pie Crust:

• Always make sure that all of your ingredients are cold before you begin.
• Work quickly and handle the dough as little as possible for the most tender and flaky crust.
• If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make your own. Measure out ¼ cup (2 fl oz/60 ml) of milk. Remove 1 teaspoon of milk and stir in 1 teaspoon of white vinegar. Let sit for five minutes.
• If I’m making a pie crust, sometimes I make a few at a time. I wrap what I don’t need and freeze it for my next pie.
• You can make this crust in a food processor (especially if you are making more than one). Pulse the flour and salt a few times to combine. Pulse in the butter until the flour resembles coarse crumbs. Pulse in the buttermilk about 5-10 times until some of it just starts to come together. Transfer to a bowl and press into a flattened disc.
• You can use this crust for any of the Pies and Tarts on my website that calls for my Best Ever Pie Crust.

Check Out More Pie Crust Recipes:

• 5-Minute No-Roll Pie Crust (No Equipment)
• Make The Flakiest, Buttery Pie Crust Recipe Every Time
• How To Make A Cookie Pie Crust
• The Flakiest Gluten-Free Pie Crust
• How To Make A Perfectly Flaky Savory Pie Crust

Try These Recipes!

Pâte Sucrée Recipe (French Sweet Shortcrust Pastry)

How To Make Quiche (With Homemade Buttermilk Pie Crust!)

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Cranberry Orange Crumb Tart