Easy, flaky Wham Bam Pie Crust recipe (2024)

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Wham Bam Pie Crust is the easiest pie crust ever! No rolling pins, no cold butter and no fuss but you still get a tender and flaky pie crust!

THE EASIEST AND FLAKIEST PIE CRUST

I like frozen pie crusts.Many of them are really good these days since many companies have really stepped up the quality of ingredients. But sometimes I want to use my own pie pans instead of the one that comes with the frozen crusts. And sometimes, that rustic look of a totally homemade pie just does something to me. I love the look of an imperfect, golden, flaky crust that has been crimped by my fingers

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NO ROLLING PIN, NO COLD BUTTER, NO TRICKS

But I need that crust to be easy to make. This crust is perfect for any one-crust pie.Like my Brown Sugar Pumpkin Pie, Southern Pecan Pie or Strawberry Pie.Or even for savory pies like Country Tomato Bacon Pie. It’s called Wham Bam because you don’t have to worry about cutting in cold butter orshortening like you do normal pie crusts or add in super cold ice water.

TIPS FOR MAKING THE EASIEST PIE CRUST

There is no rolling out of the dough (unless you really want to.) You stir it together and push it around with your fingers into the pie pan. It takes just a bit of time to spread it all around.But keep in mind, it’s the bottom part of your pie crust, it doesn’t have to be showcase beautiful. It’s very forgiving. But it’s also tender and flaky and bakes up to a beautiful golden color. Also, if you can find it, use White Lily brand flour. It is amazing in baked goods!

Easy, flaky Wham Bam Pie Crust recipe (2)

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)

  • all-purpose flour – I prefer White Lily brand flour – it will always be my favorite but I know it’s not easy to find outside of the the southern United States so just go with your personal favorite here – also, you cannot use self-rising flour in this recipe
  • salt – this gives it a bit of flavor without tasting salty and works well with sweet pies
  • vegetable oil – it seems like a strange ingredient in pie crust, you’d expect butter or shortening right? But trust me, it absolutely works! I have not used other oils but you want to use an oil with a neutral flavor because you don’t want to taste the oil in the pie crust
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HOW TO MAKE WHAM BAM PIE CRUST:

In a medium bowl, combine flour and salt.Stir in oil and water.

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Mix until combined.Then form it into a ball.

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Spray your pie pan with nonstick cooking spray.It’s not really necessary butI just want to doubly make sure there is no sticking and it makes this dough just a bit easier to spread in the dish.

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Now, start pushing down on your ball of dough and begin spreading it towards the sides.

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Do as best as you can to evenly pull it up the sides.You’ll want plenty of dough up the sides too so you can crimp it at the top edge.

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You can even get in there with your knuckles if you need to.

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This is very forgiving dough.See that little tear there where I pulled the dough a little too hard?

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Just smush around the dough with your thumb or fingers.It’ll seal right back up.

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Make sure you also press down into the bottom rim of the pan too to spread out the dough and so it’s not too thick.

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And then you can start to go around and crimp the top edges of the crust.

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Now, this does not have to be perfect.I don’t know about you, but I like those little imperfections in baking.

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It lets folks know you made this all yourself.It’s rustic and it’s homemade. It should look that way. It bakes up beautifully golden and tender and flaky.It makes the perfect base for any of your one crust pies.And even the least-experienced of bakers can manage this easy and forgiving crust.

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TO PRE-BAKE:Poke crust with a fork, all over the inside of the crust (so it doesn’t puff up too much while baking). Or if you have beans, you can line your crust on top with foil and then put beans inside to weigh it down to keep it from puffing up. Then bake at 400F degrees for about 10-15 minutes (maybe a tad longer). It should be golden in color.

CRAVING MORE RECIPES?

  • Butter Crumble Apple Pie
  • Grammie’s Swedish Apple Pie
  • Apple Slab Pie
  • Blueberry Pie
  • Crock Pot Pecan Pie

Originally published: September 2012
Updated & republished: October 2019

Easy, flaky Wham Bam Pie Crust recipe (16)

Wham Bam Pie Crust (+Video)

Wham Bam Pie Crust is the easiest pie crust ever! No rolling pins, no cold butter and no fuss but you still get a tender and flaky pie crust!

4.93 from 71 votes

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Author: Brandie @ The Country Cook

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, combine flour and salt.

  • Stir in oil and water. Mix until combined.

  • Then form it into a ball. It will be thick.

  • Spray a standard pie pan with nonstick cooking spray. Put the ball of dough in the middle of your pie dish.

  • Start pushing down on the dough ball and begin spreading it towards the sides. Do as best as you can to evenly pull it up the sides. This will take a few minutes

  • You'll want plenty of dough up the sides too so you can crimp it at the top edge. You can even get in there with your knuckles if you need to.

  • Make sure you also press down into the bottom rim of the pan too to spread out the dough and so it’s not too thick.

  • Then you can start to go around and crimp the top edges of the crust.

  • Once it’s ready, fill with your favorite filling and bake according to your pie recipe directions.

Video

Easy, flaky Wham Bam Pie Crust recipe (17)

Notes

  • If you are using this crust in a recipe that calls for a pre-baked pie crust. Before baking, just make sure you use a fork and prick lots of little holes all over the crust. This will keep the crust from puffing up too much while baking.
  • Remember, this does not have to be perfect. It’s a bottom-only pie crust.
    It’s rustic and it’s homemade. It should look that way.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 289kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 18g | Sodium: 194mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

Did you make this recipe?Share it on Instagram @thecountrycook and mention us #thecountrycook!

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Easy, flaky Wham Bam Pie Crust recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do I make my bottom pie crust flaky? ›

Put the Pie on a Hot Cookie Sheet

As pie crust heats up, the butter in the crust melts and the water in the butter turns to steam, creating the flaky layers we know and love. Before you start assembling the pie, put a cookie sheet in the oven and preheat it at whatever temperature you plan to bake the pie.

What is the best flour to use in a flaky pie crust? ›

What kind of flour makes the best pie crust? Well, not high-protein bread flour! Use that for your chewy bagels. What you want for pie is flour that yields a tender, flaky crust, which means medium-protein all-purpose flour or low-protein pastry flour.

What are the six ways to ensure a tender flaky pie crust? ›

7 pie crust tips for tender, flaky results every time
  1. 1Keep the dough ingredients cool.
  2. 2Use a light touch.
  3. 3Hydrate the dough (but not too much)
  4. 4Chill the dough.
  5. 5Keep the dough from sticking.
  6. 6Roll the dough out evenly.
  7. 7Relax.
Nov 4, 2022

What is one thing you should not do when making pie crust? ›

In pie crust, you don't want gluten to form so you don't want to mix too much and overwork the dough. For a flaky crust, cut the butter so that chunks of butter about the size of walnut halves remain.

What does adding vinegar to your pie crust do? ›

Apple cider vinegar is added to relax the gluten proteins in your dough and tenderize it. You can also substitute it with an equal amount of white vinegar. Cold Water: For pie crusts that are flaky, cold water is a must.

Should I bake the bottom pie crust first? ›

You do not need to pre-bake a pie crust for an apple pie or any baked fruit pie really, but we do freeze the dough to help it stay put. Pre-baking the pie crust is only required when making a custard pie OR when making a fresh fruit pie. you should probably get: Pie weights are super helpful to have for pre-baking.

What is the secret to crispy bottom pie crust? ›

Getting a brown, flaky/crispy bottom crust on your pie is all about quick and effective heat transfer. That's why aluminum or aluminum/steel pans — rather than glass or stoneware — are your best choice for baking pie. Metal, especially aluminum, transfers heat quickly and efficiently from oven to pie crust.

Should you poke holes in bottom of pie crust? ›

With docking, the holes allow steam to escape, so the crust should stay flat against the baking dish when it isn't held down by pie weights or a filling. Otherwise the crust can puff up, not only impacting appearance but also leaving you with less space for whatever filling you have planned.

Which makes a flakier pie crust butter or shortening? ›

Shortening is better at crumbly crust, butter is better at flaky. But you can get either from both. There are obvious differences in flavor, and butter can give you a very nice chewiness in a crust while still being tender.

Can you put flaky pastry on the bottom of a pie? ›

I make individual chicken pot pies using fresh puff pastry I made myself. Although it's not absolutely required, I always blind bake the crust bottoms. It makes for a more consistently crispy and flake crust too and bottom, and since I make individual pot pies, the bottom is what people see on their plate when serving.

What does baking powder do to pie crust? ›

Add some baking powder to the dough.

The leavener helps lift and aerate the crust, allowing it to expand into the dish while it bakes.

How long should you chill pie dough before rolling out? ›

Right: The same dough after it's been gently rolled over with a pin.
  1. I always roll out my dough between two sheets of lightly floured plastic wrap. ...
  2. I always chill my dough for at least 2 hours before rolling out, and then chill again for at least 1 hour after shaping in the pie pan.
Nov 21, 2023

What is the secret to a great pie crust? ›

Start with chilled ingredients

Butter creates a sturdy, crisp pie crust. For this, it is important to keep all ingredients cold which will inhibit the development of gluten in the flour. Use butter right out of the refrigerator and add ice-cold water to make the dough.

Why isn't my pie crust flaky? ›

Work Quickly to Keep the Ingredients Cool

Warm butter will be absorbed by the flour instead of coating it, resulting in a tougher, less flaky crust. Once you take the butter out of the fridge, work quickly to make the pie crust. Refrigerate the dough between each step.

How do I stop the bottom of my pie being soggy? ›

5 Ways to Prevent Soggy Pie Crust
  1. Blind Bake. The most common way to ward off a soggy pie crust is by a process called blind baking. ...
  2. Brush With Egg. ...
  3. Brush With Chocolate. ...
  4. Bake on a Hot Baking Sheet. ...
  5. Keep Moisture Out.
May 1, 2019

Why does the bottom of my pie crust not cook? ›

Caused by too much liquid in the pie or not enough heat, for long enough, at the bottom. As for how to rescue such a pie, I'd use a pre-baked pie crust, and just “transplant” the rest of the pie into it. This will work better in a pie with no top crust.

Should I egg wash the bottom pie crust? ›

You've spent time and effort putting the pastry together, so don't sell yourself short by skipping the final step—the egg wash for the pie crust. The truth is that cream and egg washes are a simple but vital step to improving the appearance and flavor of pies and other baked goods.

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