The last traditional pie crust I made from scratch was over twenty years ago, when I was trying to impress my future in-laws with a homemade pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. It looked gorgeous when it came out of the oven, but right after snapping a photo of it, it slipped out of the pan and hit the floor.
The crust didn’t crack. In fact, not a speck crumbled from it, because it was hard as a rock.
That’s why I was happy to discover that if you’re crust-challenged like me, there are a lot of super-easy alternatives out there that help you turn out a delicious pie without having to stress over a homemade dough crust.
These crusts, made out of unexpected ingredients like leftover rice and cookie dough, are going to help me save face, save time and maybe even save some of my precious floor tiles.
Cookie Crumb Pie Crust Making crusts from cookie crumbs is a classic baking hack. In her post How To Make a Cookie Crumb Crust, Jennifer at Bake or Break offers a lot of tips for making a basic cookie crust using everything from graham crackers to shortbread cookies to Oreos. I think it’s a smart, creative crust idea to try with your leftover cookies — if you ever have such a thing.
Phyllo Dough Pie Crust Store-bought phyllo dough seems like such a logical substitute for pie crust, I don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner! This recipe for Flaky Strawberry Cream Pie at Canadian Living offers detailed instructions for the crust assembly, then suggests using fresh strawberries and homemade whipped cream to fill it up. So easy, and hey, you might even have a box of phyllo in your freezer right now that you can experiment with. In the name of pie-science, of course.
Rice Pie Crusts This is the most interesting option for creative pie crust ideas that I’ve seen. I always have leftover rice, and now I know what I’m going to do with it. (Besides making fried rice.) Turns out, if you mix cooked rice with butter and bake it, it makes a great gluten-free crust for savory dishes like this Zucchini Quiche With Rice Crust at Live Lighter. Doesn’t that look gorgeous? I’ll bet a rice-based pie crust would also make a clever bowl for serving some stir-fry at a party, too.
Saltine Pie Crust I’ve never heard of making a crust out of Saltines, but I’m going to have to try this creative pie crust idea myself, since I’m a huge fan of the salty/sweet combo. I learned that there’s something called an Atlantic Beach Pie that requires a Saltine crust, and this recipe for it at Certified Pastry Aficionado looks amazing, from top to lemon meringe-filled bottom. She offers tons of helpful tips too, so be sure to click through. Saltines – not just for morning sickness!
Cookie Dough Pie Crust If you don’t mind a little extra sugar with your pie (and really, who does?) using store-bought refrigerated cookie dough for a crust seems like a brilliant idea. Just press the dough into a pie pan, bake and then fill. Here’s a recipe for Peanut Butter Pie With a Sugar Cookie Crust at The Domestic Kitchen that I think is a wonderful way to get you started. You may never use that cookie dough for cookies ever again.
Store-Bought Pie Crust There is no shame in buying a ready-made pie crust from the store. In fact, if I had done that many years ago, we could have enjoyed a delicious pie that Thanksgiving instead of eating the filling out of bowls. Even cookbook authors and pro chefs often tell you to skip the effort of rolling your own (so to speak). So I looked up a few “best store-bought pie crust” lists and the two names that kept popping up are Oronoque Orchards Deep Dish Pie Crusts (our editor Liz’s own favorite) and Trader Joe’s Pie Crust. I’ve used the crusts from Trader Joe’s to make pot pies, and they were delicious – and easy – even for the crust-challenged like me.
Crispy Rice Cereal. A little peanut butter is all it takes to morph crunchy cereal into a moldable mix for a playful pie crust. … Waffle Cones. Scooping ice cream cones for a crowd might leave you wiping sweat (and ice cream drippings) off your brow. … Brownies. … Butter Crackers. … Shredded Coconut. … Puff Pastry.
-
Crispy Rice Cereal. A little peanut butter is all it takes to morph crunchy cereal into a moldable mix for a playful pie crust. …
-
Waffle Cones. Scooping ice cream cones for a crowd might leave you wiping sweat (and ice cream drippings) off your brow. …
-
Brownies. …
-
Butter Crackers. …
-
Shredded Coconut. …
-
Puff Pastry.
Phyllo Dough Pie Crust Store-bought phyllo dough seems like such a logical substitute for pie crust, I don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner! This recipe for Flaky Strawberry Cream Pie at Canadian Living offers detailed instructions for the crust assembly, then suggests using fresh strawberries and homemade whipped cream to fill it up. So easy, and hey, you might even have a box of phyllo in your freezer right now that you can experiment with. In the name of pie-science, of course.
Cookie Dough Pie Crust If you don’t mind a little extra sugar with your pie (and really, who does?) using store-bought refrigerated cookie dough for a crust seems like a brilliant idea. Just press the dough into a pie pan, bake and then fill. Here’s a recipe for Peanut Butter Pie With a Sugar Cookie Crust at The Domestic Kitchen that I think is a wonderful way to get you started. You may never use that cookie dough for cookies ever again.
These crusts, made out of unexpected ingredients like leftover rice and cookie dough, are going to help me save face, save time and maybe even save some of my precious floor tiles.
The crust didn’t crack. In fact, not a speck crumbled from it, because it was hard as a rock.
That’s why I was happy to discover that if you’re crust-challenged like me, there are a lot of super-easy alternatives out there that help you turn out a delicious pie without having to stress over a homemade dough crust.
Trim the phyllo into squares that are about 3/4 to 1 inch larger than your pie plate. Working on a clean, flat surface, brush one piece of phyllo generously with butter, then top it with a second piece, placing it slightly askew so that the edges dont match up. Repeat this process until you’ve layered 8 to 10 pieces of dough, and the corners have come full circle. For bonus points, sprinkle baking spices over each layer of melted butter as you layer your phyllo sheets.
To make one, simply mix cooled, leftover steamed rice with egg whites and grated cheese, and press the mixture into a pie plate. Par-bake the crust to help it set before filling and baking it. Watch your crust carefully to see how it browns — you may need to lower the temperature from 425° F to 375° F if it browns too much in the early stages of baking. This crust works especially well for quiches.
We should all have a solid command of the ABCs of baking. Thankfully, Food52s Test Kitchen Manager Erin McDowell — alongside photographer Sarah Stone, who both blog at The Shutter Oven — is here, with tips and tricks to help you master the most essential desserts and the simplest breads.
Today: If pie still scares you, skip the traditional crust and try one of these six easy alternatives instead. Shop the Story
6 large eggs1/2 cup half-and-half1 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper4 tomatoes, thickly sliced1/2 bunch kale, roughly torn
5-Minute Pie Crust (No Rolling, No Equipment)
FAQ
What can you use as a substitute for pie crust?
What is a substitute for puff pastry in pie crust?
Can you substitute pizza dough for pie crust?
What can I substitute for shortening in pie crust?
How to substitute: Replace shortening in your pie crust recipe in a 1:1 ratio with cold butter or ghee. Leaf lard might seem like a blast from the past, but this ingredient still works wonders as a substitute for shortening in pie crusts (although it’s sadly not vegetarian friendly).
What is a substitution for cornstarch?
Flour is used as a thickener in many of the same recipes that cornstarch is used. Another option would be rice flour that is made from milled rice. It has a consistency similar to wheat flour which makes it a great alternative as a thickener where wheat flour also works well. Among other options, such as: tapioca, potato starch, mandica flour, linseed flour. The choice will depend a lot on the type of preparation.
What is a good substitute for sugar in a pie crust?
Just note that this swap is a little messier than the others, as the sugar can easily spill out onto your crust (which is not necessarily a bad thing). Dried beans are the perfect size and shape to weigh down your pie crust—this is probably the most common sub for pie weights.
What is a rice pie crust alternative?
Rice pie crust is such an interesting and unique idea for a pie crust alternative. Better yet, it is made using leftover rice! If you’re wanting to try out a rice crust, all you have to do is mix some leftover steamed rice ( that has been cooled) with some egg whites and grated cheese. After that, you simply press the mixture into your pie pan.