America's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated LogoAmerica's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated Logo

All-Butter Pie Dough for 6-Inch Pie

By Camila Chaparro

Published on May 21, 2025

Time

25 minutes, plus 2 hours chilling

Yield

Makes 2 dough disks

All-Butter Pie Dough for 6-Inch Pie

Ingredients

9 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled, divided1¼ cups (6¼ ounces) all-purpose flour, divided1 tablespoon sugar ½ teaspoon table salt ¼ cup ice water

Before You Begin

This recipe makes enough dough for two 6-inch single-crust pies or one 6-inch double-crust pie.

Instructions

  1. Grate 2 tablespoons butter on large holes of box grater and place in freezer. Cut remaining 7 tablespoons butter into ½-inch cubes.
  2. Pulse ¾ cup flour, sugar, and salt in food processor until ­combined, 2 pulses. Add cubed butter and process until homogeneous paste forms, about 30 seconds. Using your hands, carefully break paste into 2-inch chunks and redistribute evenly around processor blade.
  3. Add remaining ½ cup flour and pulse until mixture is broken into pieces no larger than 1 inch (most pieces will be much smaller), 4 or 5 pulses. Transfer mixture to medium bowl. Add grated butter and toss until butter pieces are separated and coated with flour.
  4. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons ice water over mixture. Toss with rubber spatula until mixture is evenly moistened. Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons ice water over mixture and toss to combine. Press dough with spatula until dough sticks together. Using spatula, divide dough into 2 equal pieces. Transfer each portion to sheet of plastic wrap. Working with 1 portion at a time, draw edges of plastic over dough and press firmly on sides and top to form compact, fissure-free mass. Wrap in plastic and flatten to form 4-inch disk. Refrigerate dough for at least 2 hours or up to 2 days. Let chilled dough sit on counter to soften slightly, about 10 minutes, before rolling. (Wrapped dough can be frozen for up to 1 month. If frozen, let dough thaw completely on counter before rolling.)
All-Butter Pie Dough for 6-Inch Pie
Photography by Daniel J. van Ackere.

All-Butter Pie Dough for 6-Inch Pie

Headshot of Camila Chaparro
By Camila Chaparro

Published on May 21, 2025

Save

Time

25 minutes, plus 2 hours chilling

Yield

Makes 2 dough disks

Ingredients

9 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled, divided
1¼ cups (6¼ ounces) all-purpose flour, divided
1 tablespoon sugar
½ teaspoon table salt
¼ cup ice water

Ingredients

9 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled, divided
1¼ cups (6¼ ounces) all-purpose flour, divided
1 tablespoon sugar
½ teaspoon table salt
¼ cup ice water

Ingredients

9 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled, divided
1¼ cups (6¼ ounces) all-purpose flour, divided
1 tablespoon sugar
½ teaspoon table salt
¼ cup ice water

Why This Recipe Works

This recipe’s two-step process protects much of the flour from coming in contact with the water, which limits the gluten formation that makes crust tough. This dough starts out very moist, but as it chills it becomes supple.

Before You Begin

This recipe makes enough dough for two 6-inch single-crust pies or one 6-inch double-crust pie.

Instructions

  1. Grate 2 tablespoons butter on large holes of box grater and place in freezer. Cut remaining 7 tablespoons butter into ½-inch cubes.
  2. Pulse ¾ cup flour, sugar, and salt in food processor until ­combined, 2 pulses. Add cubed butter and process until homogeneous paste forms, about 30 seconds. Using your hands, carefully break paste into 2-inch chunks and redistribute evenly around processor blade.
  3. Add remaining ½ cup flour and pulse until mixture is broken into pieces no larger than 1 inch (most pieces will be much smaller), 4 or 5 pulses. Transfer mixture to medium bowl. Add grated butter and toss until butter pieces are separated and coated with flour.
  4. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons ice water over mixture. Toss with rubber spatula until mixture is evenly moistened. Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons ice water over mixture and toss to combine. Press dough with spatula until dough sticks together. Using spatula, divide dough into 2 equal pieces. Transfer each portion to sheet of plastic wrap. Working with 1 portion at a time, draw edges of plastic over dough and press firmly on sides and top to form compact, fissure-free mass. Wrap in plastic and flatten to form 4-inch disk. Refrigerate dough for at least 2 hours or up to 2 days. Let chilled dough sit on counter to soften slightly, about 10 minutes, before rolling. (Wrapped dough can be frozen for up to 1 month. If frozen, let dough thaw completely on counter before rolling.)

Gift This Recipe

Enjoyed this dish? Let others know by sharing it as a gift recipe.

This is a members' feature.