Ridiculously tender and flavorful, the 3-Ingredient Pie Crust recipe uses a secret ingredient that makes the best pastry. This sour cream crust works well with both sweet and savory pies.
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Hands down, this is the absolute best-tasting pie crust on this website. Incorporating extra fat in the form of sour cream not only enhances the taste but also contributes to the texture of the pie crust. It's so tender and has a really amazing, buttery slightly tangy flavor. It practically melts in your mouth.
Adding sour cream also makes the dough easier to work with, especially when it comes time to roll it out. You'll find the dough slightly softer than an all-butter crust because sour cheese has more liquid in it than butter does (this is also the case with Cream Cheese Pie Crust, too). If you struggle to roll out traditional flaky pie crust, then this one might just be the perfect one for you.
Plus, it requires only three ingredients and is made by hand (with the assistance of a hand-held metal pastry blender), so you don't need to clean a food processor afterward.
So, let's get to making it, shall we? The article below is jam packed full of useful information. You can jump around using the menu below, or skip to the end of the article for the full recipe.
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Pie Crust Ingredients
With only three ingredients making up this pie crust, I tend to splurge on better quality ingredients, such as European butter.
- All-Purpose Flour (as always, I recommend using a high-quality flour brand....I like King Arthur Flour or Bob's Red Mill)
- Salted Butter (much like the flour, using a high-quality european butter for this recipes makes a bit difference in the final outcome...my go-to is Kerrygold for this recipe)
- Full Fat Sour Cream (you know how sometimes sour cream has a little bit of liquid on top of it...don't discard it for this recipe, you'll want just to mix it right back in and use it like that)
Why Sour Cream?
At its heart, good pie dough is a balance of three key ingredients: flour, butter, and water. However, in this recipe, sour cream replaces the water.
Sour cream consists of butterfat and water (also known as cream) that has been fermented by good bacteria which produces a lactic acid that makes the cream thick and tangy.
By replacing water with sour cream in a pie crust, additional fat is introduced to the pastry dough, resulting in a more flavorful and tender pie crust. The crust is more tender because the fat coats the flour, inhibiting the formation of excess gluten, at least compared to if you were using just water. It's more flavorful simply because fat creates the flavor.
Best Kitchen Tools to Make this Crust
There are tons of ways to make pie crust. You could use the bulkiest tool of all, a food processor or a stand-mixer, or you could use the tool you always have available: your hands! There are also many other tools you can use in between those two ends of the spectrum. Depending on what pie crust you make, each tool has its place.
For this pie recipe, I recommend using a hand-held pastry blender. A pastry blender is a metal hand tool with 4-6 thin metal strips or wires attached to a handle. It helps cut the butter into the flour without using your hands. I find it makes quick work of the task of cutting the butter into the flour, especially for this recipe, which I tend to use a higher quality European butter for. That type of butter is usually a bit softer, and I find the pastry blender is the perfect tool for making this recipe quickly without softening up the butter too much.
Step-By-Step Recipe Overview
This is a quick visual overview of the steps needed to make this recipe, and not intended to be the full recipe. The full recipe is located towards the bottom, keep scrolling!
Step 1: Mix together the flour and the cold butter chunks. Make sure the butter chunks are well distributed and coated with flour.
Step 2: Cut the butter in the flour using a pastry blender (or your hands). Some larger pieces can remain, up to the size of a marble. Continue this until the dough looks shaggy.
Step 3: Add in the sour cream. Combine it into the flour with a rubber spatula, making sure to really work it into the flour to hydrate it.
Step 4: Using your hands, knead the dough a few times to help blend the sour cream into the flour, until it just comes together as one large ball.
Step 5: Gather the dough together.
Step 6: Divide in half and wrap tightly in plastic. Let it rest, ideally overnight.
Troubleshooting
Traditionally, a pie crust recipe would never call for "kneading" the dough. That is because it will become overworked and result in a tough-to-roll-out and almost rubbery crust. But remember, this sour cream pie crust is different. No water is added, which helps prevent the formation of gluten buildup. And kneading it doesn't mean like bread; it just means bringing it together until it's a cohesive ball. It will continue to hydrate as it rests.
If your dough feels too dry (which could possibly happen depending on the type of flour brand you use), you can add a few drops of water until the dough comes together. Remember, pie dough is a balance of adding enough hydration so your pastry comes together but not adding too much to cause it to be sticky.
If it feels too sticky, wrap it and let it rest overnight. It should be okay to roll out the next day.
Kelli's Best Tips for Success
- If your sour cream has any exuded liquid at the top, make sure to stir it back in (do not discard it).
- Weigh your ingredients! An electronic kitchen scale is not a huge investment. You can get one for around $25. I can't recommend enough that if you want to get good at baking, get a scale. See this post for more of my pie baking tools.
- Knead it just enough to bring it together.
- Let the dough rest. I never advise making dough the same day you plan to bake it. It's essential for the dough to hydrate properly and so the dough should rest at least overnight. If you absolutely need to, you can make the dough and bake it all in the same day, but you must let it rest at least 2 hours before you roll it out.
- If your kitchen is hotter than 70 degrees, you'll need to move quickly! Melted butter is the enemy here. If the kitchen is hot, utilize the freezer or refrigerator during the dough-making process to ensure the butter doesn't turn soft.
Storing It
Pie dough keeps really well either in the refrigerator or the freezer. But first, you need to wrap it well!
Wrap the pie dough as tightly as you can with plastic wrap, and then use a rolling pin to roll it out into a disk and flatten it so it fills any empty space and essentially makes an airtight seal with the plastic wrap. This helps prevent it from oxidizing (or turning a muddled gray color).
You can store it in the refrigerator for 2-3 days or the freezer for up to 3 months. If you plan to store it for an extended period of time then wrap it up twice.
Best Pies to Use with this Pie Crust
This pie is perfect for classic fruit pies or savory pies that will be served at room temperature or warm. This is a highly opinionated piece of advice, but this pie dough is not ideal for any pie that is to be served cold, like a cream pie. If you are looking for a pie crust that is good for a pie that is to be served cold, check out this Pâte Sucrée (Sweet Pie Crust) or Pâte Sablée (Sweet Tart Dough) recipe.
Here are some amazing pies to make with this pie crust:
- Chicken Pot Pie
- Lentil Pot Pie
- Sweet Cherry Pie
- Apple Crumble Pie
- Butterscotch Pear Pie
- Quiche Lorraine
How to Bake a Pie Crust with Sour Cream
Almost as important as how you prepare pie pastry is how you bake it. There is one main rule to remember when it comes to baking a butter-based pie dough: very cold dough should be put in a very hot oven. All butter pie pastry should be thoroughly chilled before baking, and baked at a high temperature, ideally around 400ºF-425ºF.
One of the most common problems bakers ask me about is why their pie crust melted or lost its shape, or sank in the pie pan. And the most common reason for this is because the crust was too warm, or the oven wasn't at the right temperature.
So make sure to chill your pie crust and fully pre-heat your oven!
However, not all pie fillings can be baked at that high of a temperature, which means that sometimes the pie crust will need to be partially or fully blind baked. On this website, each pie recipe indicates how the pie crust should be baked, so reference those directions for pies using this flaky pie crust.
Additional Pie Crust Resources:
- How to Blind Bake Pie Crust
- How to Make Pie Crust By Hand
- How to Make a Lattice Pie Crust
- How to Make (and Use) an Egg Wash
- How to Bake a Double Crust Pie
- How to Bake a Frozen Pie
Watch the Video
I am so honored when you make a recipe from my site! If you make this Sour Cream Pie Crust, please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating with your experience! If you have any questions about this recipe, feel free to comment here, and tag me on Instagram!
Full Recipe
3-Ingredient Sour Cream Pie Crust
Ridiculously tender and so flavorful, this easy 3-Ingredient Pie Crust uses a secret ingredient to make for the best pie pastry. This sour cream pie crust recipe works equally well with sweet fruit pies as it does savory pies.
- Total Time10 minutes
- Yield2 Pie Crusts
Ingredients
- 2-½ cups (300 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (226 grams) cold salted butter, diced
- ¾ cup (180 grams) full-fat sour cream
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the flour and diced butter. Use the pastry blender to sweep through the bowl, mixing the butter to coat with flour.
- Firmly hold the pastry blender by the handle, and press the blades down through the butter. With a rocking motion, continue this process while rotating the bowl to evenly cut the butter into the flour. Aim for mostly pea-sized pieces of butter, with some larger marble-sized chunks for added flakiness.
- Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the sour cream to it. Using a spatula, mix the sour cream in the flour.
- Using your hands, knead the dough a few times to help blend the sour cream into the flour until it just comes together as one large ball.
- Transfer the pastry to a work surface and shape into a rough disk shape. Place the dough in a piece of plastic wrap and wrap tightly. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out until it stretches to the edges of the plastic wrap to ensure a tight seal. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, but preferably overnight.
- Use pie crust per recipe instructions, or see the article above this recipe for baking tips.
Notes
Weighing your flour is the most accurate way to measure. If you aren't going to weigh it, make sure to spoon it into the cup, and then level it off. If you scoop the flour out with the measuring cup and then level, it could change the outcome of the final product.
Have a question or looking for tips? The text written above the recipe is always a great first place to start! There are always loads of explanations, tips and technical advice shared before the recipe.
If you don't have salted butter, substitute in unsalted butter with ¼ teaspoon coarse kosher salt.
This recipe was tested using Diamond Crystal coarse kosher salt. If you use Morton's kosher salt or fine salt, decrease the volume by half. See this Salt Guide for more information about how salt affects your cooking and baking.
- Prep Time: 00:10
- Category: Pie Crust
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Barbara
I wish I could have checked 10 stars!!!! This is to be my ONLY pie crust I will ever make again. I have NEVER had such good luck in making FLAKEY pie crust, it has always been a dud, and I have tried many recipes! I haven't served it yet, but I par-baked it tonight and will be freezing it. The reason I know it is flaky is that I baked some of the extra pieces, and they are awesome, they taste great without ANY filling!!! I did goof and roll it out bigger than it should have been, but it will be fine, I am sure. I also divided the recipe to make only one crust for the bottom. Thank you!!!!
Barbara
Another question, I want to make the crust ahead of time and need to know if I could freeze it in the pie pan. I have a crazy week ahead, so I thought doing this would help. I will be freezing the pumpkin filling as well.
Kelli Avila
Yes you can freeze it in the pie pan!
Becca
Can i use this dough to make hand pies? Will handpies be ok to reheat in the microwave to serve warm?
Kelli Avila
I would not recommend reheating hand pies in a microwave, they will get soggy. Reheat in a toaster oven or oven. Yes this dough works for hand pies.
Barbara
I am confused about one thing. My pumpkin pie recipe calls for an unbaked pie crust, so if I use your recipe, I need to partially bake it before adding the filling?
I do look forward to making it. So far, my attempts at pie dough have not turned out quite like my mother-in-law's pumpkin pie. Which she made using Libby's Canned Pumpkin, following the directions on the can, which is what I also use.
From all the comments, I get the sense that I will be successful this time!
Kelli Avila
Hi Barbara: if you are following a pumpkin pie recipe from another creator, you should follow the instructions of that. When I make pumpkin pie, I bake it at a low temperature, which is why my instructions call for blind baking the crust for a pumpkin pie. But maybe the pumpkin pie recipe you are following bakes it at a higher temperature. This sour cream pie crust can be used either way. But in order to bake through, a pie crust must be cooked at a high temperature or for a long period of time to avoid the dreaded soggy bottom.
Barbara
Thank you! I will follow the instructions on the can. I will let you know how it works out!
Josh Liaw
Hi there!! I’m keen to make this recipe for a custard (already cooked) pie. Just wondering if itms possible for me to use a food processor and just follow the same steps? Also, I’m just slightly confused how to bake the pie crust and for how long? Apologies if I may have missed this somewhere. Thanks!
Kelli Avila
Hi Josh. It is possible to use the food processor to cut the butter into the dough, but not to add the sour cream. It would get overworked during that step in the food processor, because the sour cream is so thick, it would have to go around the machine a lot more to come together. The pie crust baking time would depend on what filling you are using. There is a paragraph in the article above the recipe about this, but essentially you need to know what the filling would be, because with some recipes you need to blind bake, and others you don't. This is a butter crust so it should be baked at 425 for a blind bake or a minimum of 400 if you are filling it. If you have a specific recipe you are using and can let me know, i can help you figure out time and temp for baking.
Tammy
Can you substitute full fat Greek yogurt for sour cream?
Kelli Avila
I haven't tried this yet, and my first instinct is to wonder if greek yogurt has the stability needed to go in the oven. If you do give it a try, let me know how it turns out!
Caroline
I used this recipe for hand pies, and holy cow, they turned out so beautiful and flakey! I thought it was going to be a disaster because I added too much sour cream and rerolled the scraps a few times, but this recipe is amazingly forgiving.
Sheila
I think this might be the first time my pie dough was perfectly hydrated! Tastes delicious and it's so easy both to mix and to roll out. Baked up flakey and buttery. I highly recommend
Ann
This crust is amazing. My consistent complaint about pie dough is that I have trouble rolling it out. Not with this dough! Rolled out beautifully, and after resting only 2 hours! P.S., unbelievably flaky and flavorful.
Diane Money
Can you freeze the pies after putting them together?
Kelli Avila
Yes
Loulou Rees
This was sooooo easy and totally delicious! It is my GO TO for pie crust now--and finally I understand the phrase "easy as pie"
THANK YOU
Loulou REES
Cassandre
I have never baked a pie crust before finding your recipe. I was too intimated to try even though I'm an experienced baker. Well...I tried this recipe and it did not disappoint! It is so EASY and DELICIOUS! Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe.
Jill
This pie crust was a hit with the family at Thanksgiving! I used this crust and your apple pie filling to make the pie ahead. I followed your instructions for freezing/baking a frozen pie. Not only was everything so good, the make ahead guidance really helped decrease the cooking and baking rush. Thank you!
Kelli Avila
Thanks for sharing! So happy you enjoyed! -Kelli
Connie
I really loved this pie crust recipe! Easy to make & work with! It’s not as flaky as my usual crust recipe but definitely delicious and so much easier!
Jeanne
Excellent pie crust recipe and excellent results. I made half and used them for fruit galettes. Used the FP and frozen butter, did a few envelope turns as well. Very flaky, brushed with egg wash and sprinkled with Demerara sugar.
Roxy
Hi Kelli, I would like to know if I can pulse in food processor. And then put in bowl and finish with sour cream as your recipe. I have some health issues. And this step helps me.
Thank you,
Roxy
Kelli Avila
Hi Roxy! Yes you can. And in fact, I bet you can also just add the sour cream in, and pulse it together. It should work! Good luck!
Kelli
Meredith Hall
I'm excited to try your recipe this year! I like to start my Thanksgiving prep way in advance. Quick question about storage: Can you freeze it instead of refrigerating the dough, and if so for how long?
Thanks so much!
Meredith
Kelli Avila
Yes! For 3-6 months. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight before you need to roll it out.,
Barbara Josephson
So pleased with your recipe! It came out perfectly and tastes very good! Highly recommend.
PattiAnn
Questions?
Can I use BRM pastry flour?
How about some sugar? 1 tea?
I made a version of this type of crust years ago, but can't remember what I did. But I do remember that it was a good crust, easy, and very forgiving.
Thanks for your reply.
Kelli Avila
Hi PattiAnn---as I said in the post I don't recommend changing this recipe much if you want to get the results I talk about. However, feel free to experiment on your own to get to the type of pie crust you are looking to achieve! Let us know how it goes.
PattiAnn
Just getting back to you after making little blueberry pies for PI day.
BRM pastry flour works great. Makes a very lite flakey crust.
Added 2 tea of sugar as well as raw sugar on top of crust. ( I don't make my fruit fillings too sweet - like to taste fruit more than sugar).
Used my old cuisinart to cut in butter - easier on my hands.
Then dumped the dough into a bowl and folded in the sour cream.
Dough rolled out just lovely and made 4 mini pies.
Thanks so much for this recipe. And thanks for your blog and all your hard work and information.
Ginny
What is BRM flour?
Kelli Avila
A flour brand: Bob's Red Mill
Kyle
I'm so looking forward to pairing this crust with my pumpkin pie this Thanksgiving. The crust was very easy to bring together and is well hydrated. I've always had a hard time getting the right amount of water incorporated into my dough, and starting off with a specific amount of liquid (in the form of the sour cream) gave me a lot of confidence. I'll come back with a rating after baking, but 5 stars so far!
Kelli - I'm wondering about blind baking this crust for a pumpkin pie. Does the sour cream impact your "standard" recommendation of baking at 425? And would you recommend to dock this dough? Sorry if I missed info on blind baking this crust.
Kelli Avila
Hi Kyle! No, 425 is good for this pie. Do 25 minutes with pie weights, and then remove the pie weights and do 3-6 minutes, until the middle of the pie has a matte appearance.
Kyle
Thanks, Kelli, for the guidance. With blind baking, the crust got nicely browned.
I think I overworked the dough, but as you say, any homemade dough with issues is better than frozen!
Denise
Does it have to be chilled?
Sydney
Flakiest pie crust I have ever made! Loved the flavor of the crust and went well with the blueberry pie recipe.
Jolene DePaola
I meant to tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed your live video making hand made pastry with butter. I have never used butter and I have always used a pastry blender every since my first pie which was when I was about 8 years old. I’m now 78 and have just realized how long I have been doing this. I am anxious to try some of your other recipes. Thank you so very much for sharing them with us. Sincerely, Jolene .. Happy Holidays
Kelli Avila
Jolene, thank you for the kind words!
Jolene DePaola
How do you feel about making pastry with shortening i.e. Crisco? And do you have a recipe using it?
Kelli Avila
Hi! I don't have a lot of experience using it. I'm personally drawn to butter pie crust recipes and have never felt the need to use shortening to get a flaky result. Though I know some people use it in place of dairy in recipes!
Cynthia
I was working in a super hot commercial kitchen when I found and started to use the sour cream pie crust and I have no desire to go back to a regular crust now.This dough can be worked over several times and still taste amazing and be tender.I have always had problems making pie crust and this was the best crust I’m so happy to have found the recipe. I am super excited to try your flaky pie crust like puff pastry and see if I can possible get it good Thank you so much for all your hard work and recipes.
Alyssa
I love how simple this delicious dough is when you don’t feel like getting the food processor out. It’s delicious as well!
Kelli Avila
Thanks Alyssa! I agree about loving this for not needing the food processor!