Gluten Free Pie Crust

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My flaky gluten-free pie crust is easy to make with simple ingredients and it pairs well with many different types of pie filling. Best of all, you only need a handful of simple ingredients to make it!

Gluten free pie crust in a 9-inch glass pie dish.

Before I went gluten free, I made an amazing traditional pie crust with wheat flour, butter and tallow. I spent a long time perfecting that recipe, so I hoped that I could make a gluten-free pie dough that worked just as well.

The first time I tried, it burnt and crumbled, but I stuck with it. After many attempts, I came up with an easy gluten-free pie crust recipe that works great for the bottom crust of a 9-inch pie plate.

I hope your family enjoys my simple crust recipe as much as mine does! With a little effort, you can also use it as a top crust for a double-crust pie, but I most often make single-crust pies for my family like pumpkin or buttermilk.

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cups of Cup4Cup gluten free flour
  • ¼ teaspoon of sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar
  • ½ cup of cold unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup of ice-cold filtered water

Equipment

  • Mixing bowl
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • 9-inch pie pan
  • Pastry cutter
  • Large piece of plastic wrap

By the Numbers: How to Make a Gluten Free Pie Crust

Follow these simple step-by-step instructions to learn how to make the best gluten free pie crust.

Step 1: Combine Flour, Salt and Sugar

The first thing you want to do is add 1 ¼ cups of gluten free flour, ¼ teaspoon of sea salt and 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar to a mixing bowl, then stir to combine.

Gluten free flour, sea salt and white sugar in a large glass mixing bowl.

Step 2: Add Butter

Once that’s well mixed, add ½ cup of cold cubed butter to the bowl with the dry ingredients. Use your pastry blender / cutter to work the butter into the flour mixture until everything is well combined and has an almost crumbly texture to it.

Butter cut into the gluten free flour mixture with a pastry blender.

Step 3: Add Cold Water

After it’s well combined, add the ice water, one tablespoon at a time, until you’re able to form a ball from the dough. Don’t add all of the water at once or it may be too much.

Water added to the gluten free pie crust mixture in a glass mixing bowl.

Step 4: Wrap Dough Ball in Plastic Wrap

Next, take your dough and roll it into a ball, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then refrigerate for about an hour (but not much longer than that or it’ll dry out and become more difficult to work with).

Gluten free pie crust rolled into a ball and wrapped in plastic wrap.

Step 5: Use Chilled Pie Dough

After it’s done chilling, remove the dough from the refrigerator, then roll it out and press it into your pie pan. You may need to use your hands to smooth and even it out throughout the pan.

Use your gluten free crust following the directions of the pie you want to make. Some recipes may ask you to dust the bottom of the crust with flour, some may ask you to blind bake, some may call for an egg wash and others call for it to be used raw.

Gluten free pie crust pressed into a glass pie dish.

Tips for Making this Gluten-Free Pie Crust Recipe

Answers to all of your questions about making a homemade gluten-free pie crust, including tips and substitution ideas.

Dairy-free option

In my experience, palm shortening works best for a dairy free, vegan option. It’s not hydrogenated like vegetable shortening, so you don’t have to worry about that. I don’t find that coconut oil works as well as palm shortening and I haven’t tested vegan butter.

Best gluten-free flour blend

While I most often use Cup4Cup, you can use any blend that has xanthan gum. I’ve also used Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1. It absorbs less water than Cup4Cup, so one thing to keep in mind when using any other flour is that you may need more or less water.

Does this recipe work for savory pies?

While I most often bake sweet pies, all you have to do to make a savory pie or quiche crust is omit the sugar. I also have a great chicken pot pie recipe you could use it with.

Why cold ingredients

If you want an extra flaky crust, your ingredients need to be cold. Warm butter spreads too easily when baked, so if you use room temperature ingredients, you won’t have a flaky pie crust.

How to make a double crust pie

You can still press the bottom crust into the pans. However, for the top crust, you’ll want to lightly flour your work surface then use a rolling pin (also floured) to roll out the top crust.

It won’t be as pliable as a regular pie crust made with wheat flour, but you should be able to roll it out. If it’s sticking too much, you can put it between 2 pieces of wax paper, then roll it out.

Gluten free pie recipes

Here are some of my favorite pie recipes that use this crust:

Secrets to Gluten Free Baking

If you’re new to gluten free baking, sign up to learn my 7 secrets to gluten-free baking by adding your name and email address to this form so I can email them to you.

7 Secrets to Gluten Free Baking

3 slices of homemade gluten free bread on cutting board.

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Overhead view of a gluten free pie crust pressed into a glass pie pan.

Gluten Free Pie Crust Recipe

This GF pie crust recipe is easy to make and works great for many gluten free pies. The best thing is that it only uses simple ingredients for the perfect pie crust.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Recipe Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cups Cup4Cup gluten free flour
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • ½ cup cold butter
  • ¼ cup ice-cold filtered water

Equipment

  • Mixing bowl
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • 9-inch pie pan
  • Pastry cutter
  • Large piece of plastic wrap

Instructions

  • Add the flour, salt and sugar to a large bowl, then stir to combine.
    Gluten free flour, sea salt and white sugar in a large glass mixing bowl.
  • Add cold cubed butter to the bowl. Combine using a dough blender.
    Butter cut into the gluten free flour mixture with a pastry blender.
  • Once it’s well combined, add the ice cold water, one tablespoon at a time, until you’re able to form a ball from the dough.
    Water added to the gluten free pie crust mixture in a glass mixing bowl.
  • Roll the pie crust dough into a ball and wrap with plastic wrap, then refrigerate for an hour.
    Gluten free pie crust rolled into a ball and wrapped in plastic wrap.
  • Remove the dough from the refrigerator, then roll it out and press it into your pie pan. You may need to use your hands to smooth and even it out throughout the pan. Dust lightly with gluten free flour if your pie recipe calls for it.
    Gluten free pie crust pressed into a glass pie dish.

Nutrition Information Per Serving

Calories: 170kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 164mg | Potassium: 3mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 355IU | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg

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7 Secrets to Gluten Free Baking

Everything you need to know to get started with gluten free baking.

3 slices of homemade gluten free bread on cutting board.

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