This Pecan Gingersnap Crust recipe is such an easy and delicious crust option! It is perfectly spiced and takes less than 5 minutes to put together. You can bake it before filling, or freeze it for a no-bake pie crust option.
Gingersnap Pie Crust Recipe
Sometimes, you just need a simple option to when it comes to pie crust. When it comes to this Gingersnap Pie Crust recipe, it’s not only incredibly easy but also tastes better than anything you buy could purchase pre-made. This Pecan Gingersnap Crust recipe uses only a handful of ingredients and it takes less than 5 minutes to put together. You can either bake it briefly for a nice toasted effect or freeze it for a no-bake pie option! It’s perfect for so many pies, but especially great for all the autumnal pies.
Gingersnap Pie Crust Ingredients
- Gingersnap Cookies
- Pecans (can be optional)
- Butter
- Brown sugar
- Ground ginger
- Cinnamon
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO PRESS THE CRUMBS INTO THE PIE PLATE?
Forget everything you know about pressing in a homemade crumb crust into your pie plate because we’ve all been doing it wrong! While logic might tell you to place the crumb mixture in the middle of your pie plate and start pressing it in at that point, that notion actually makes it messy and difficult to get an even crumb base all the way up the sides. The easier and faster way to do it is to start forming the edges of the pie crust first, and then press the crumb mixture down into the bottom of the plate.
Here are the steps:
- Gather the crumb mixture loosely up the sides of the plate until all the edges are covered with crumbs.
- Form the top edges of the crust and neaten them up by pressing them together with two fingers. It may feel like you won’t have enough crumbs to fit the bottom of the pie at this point, but you will.
- Start packing down the sides of the crumb crust with your thumb in an even layer. As you do this, start moving the excess crumb mixture toward the center of the pie plate.
- Continue packing the crumbs from the outer edges towards the middle until you have established a single layer.
- With your fingers, a spatula or the bottom of a measuring cup, pack down the crumbs until everything is tight and even.
To Bake or Not Bake
PAR-BAKING THE CRUST:
When you bake a crumb crust, you are melting the added sugar which then helps bond the crust together. Baking it results in a crispy crust, with a nice caramelized flavor. I prefer this method and will always bake it if I can. If you are planning to bake a pie that will be served from the refrigerator, or will be left out of the refrigerator for more than 20 minutes, I recommend you par-bake the crust to ensure it holds together.
FREEZING THE CRUST:
Freezing the crust works because the melted butter becomes solidified and bonds the crust together. The sugar might melt slightly from the warmth of the butter, but without the par-bake, the sugar doesn’t melt enough to act as the bonding agent here. While freezing the crust is certainly easier than having to preheat an oven and par-bake the crust, it is not as sturdy as the baked version. I only recommend freezing the crust if you will be serving your pie when very cold. Otherwise, you’ll just find your crumb crust to be very crumbly! Additionally, if you plan to freeze the crust, it helps to lightly grease the pie plate so that the slices come out easily.
TROUBLESHOOTING A COOKIE CRUMB CRUST
Cookies can vary from brand to brand. If for any reason your crumb crust is extremely dry, you can add 1 tablespoon of melted butter–one tablespoon at a time–to the crumbs until they are evenly moistened. Alternatively, if your mixture is too wet and it is hard to work with, add more cookie crumbs until it is just moistened enough for the crumbs to stick together easily.
Other Pie Crust Recipes:
- Spelt Pie Crust
- Oreo Cookie Pie Crust
- Graham Cracker Crumb Crust
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie Crust
- Cream Cheese and Butter Pie Crust
MAKE SURE TO TAG @EVERYDAYPIE ON INSTAGRAM AND COMMENT BELOW IF YOU MAKE THIS Gingersnap Cookie CRUMB CRUST OR IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS RECIPE!
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PinDescription
This Pecan Gingersnap Crust recipe is an easy and delicious crust option! It is perfectly spiced and takes less than 5 minutes to put together. You can bake it before filling, or freeze it for a no-bake pie crust option.
Ingredients
- 6 ounces (170 grams) gingersnaps (about 27 cookies)
- ½ cup (2 ounces; 55 grams) unsalted pecans (optional)
- 6 tablespoons (85 grams) unsalted butter, melted
- ⅓ cup (65 grams) light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF and lightly grease the bottom of a 9″ pie plate. (see note)
- Place gingersnaps and pecans (if using) in a food proceesor and process until fine crumbs form.
- Add gingnersnap crumsb to a bowl along with remaining ingredients and combine. Mix together the ingredients.
- Pour the crumbs into the pie plate and start pressing the ingredients up the sides of the pie plate to form the edges first. Once the edges are formed work the crumbs down to evenly distribute into the bottom of the pie plate and pack it down into an even layer.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 8 minutes, until lightly golden and fragrant. Or you can freeze for 30 minutes for a no-bake pie option.
- A baked gingersnap crust can be refrigerated and covered for about 3 days, or frozen up to 3 months.
Notes
- If you plan to make a no-bake filling for this pie that is to be served cold, you can skip the steps of par-baking the crust. Read the post for more details.
Keywords: Gingersnap Crust
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