Pillsbury™ Pie Dough: Easy as Pie (2024)

FAQs

Should I prebake my Pillsbury pie crust? ›

If your recipe calls for a baked or par-baked pie crust, and you are using store-bought pie dough, you still need to par-bake it. For example, if using store-bought crust in this brownie pie recipe, you still need to follow the par-baking instructions in that recipe (which are the same instructions you find below).

Since store-bought pie crusts have a tendency to dry out, our experts suggest using a moistening agent to imbue the crust with texture and flavor. Wells ups the ante by adding crushed cookies: "My favorite way to upcycle store-bought pastry is to brush it with melted butter and sprinkle over crushed cookies.

Let refrigerated crusts stand at room temperature for 15 minutes, or microwave one pouch on DEFROST (30% power) for 10 to 20 seconds before unfolding. Remove frozen crusts from box and let stand at room temperature 60 to 90 minutes before unfolding.

Fill it about two-thirds full with dried beans, uncooked rice (or other uncooked grain berries), pie weights, or granulated sugar. Bake the crust in a preheated 375°F oven for 20 minutes, set on a baking stone or steel if you have one.

Expert tip: For a picture-perfect golden-brown crust on a double-crust pie, use an egg wash. Beat 1 egg (or just the yolk) in small bowl. Using a basting or pastry brush, gently brush the mixture onto the crust just before you put the pie in the oven.

Add brown sugar

Adding it to the pre-made dough will give it more sweetness, a chewier texture, moisture and that homemade flavor you're craving.

An egg wash—a simple mix of milk (or water) and egg—creates that golden sheen we see on bakery pies, and it even gives the crust a little extra-crisp texture. Without the egg wash, the pie crust will brown but will look extremely dull. For a little sparkle, I always sprinkle pies with coarse sugar prior to baking.

Your dough might be too dry or unevenly hydrated.

When dough doesn't have enough water, or if it's not properly hydrated (more on that below), it will feel and look dry and be prone to cracking.

Prep Instructions

Place crust in ungreased 9-inch pie plate (glass recommended). Press crust firmly against side and bottom. Heat oven to 450ºF. Fold excess crust under and press together to form thick crust edge; flute.

Just add the foil protector at the beginning of baking when the pie is not too hot to easily fold over the edge, and remove it for the final 20 minutes of baking time.

Should you roll out Pillsbury pie crust? ›

Pillsbury* Refrigerated Pie Crusts are designed for 9-inch (23 cm) pie pans and 10-inch (25 cm) tart pans, but can be cut into other shapes. Do not roll the crust larger or stretch it in the pan, or it may shrink during baking.

For best quality, use refrigerated pie crusts before the “use-by” date on the package. Pie crusts may be frozen for up to two months if placed in the freezer before the “use-by” date.

Any number of things can contribute to a slumping crust. Maybe your recipe uses an extra-high amount of shortening or butter, or you rolled the crust too vigorously, or you didn't let it rest and chill before baking. Perhaps you used the wrong size pan, or not enough filling.

I do not usually par-bake my fruit pie crusts - this is because with a fresh fruit filling (or even with a cooked fruit filling such as my apple pie or my blueberry crostata), the pie has long enough in the oven that it gives the crust enough time to crisp up properly, removing the need for blind baking.

When you're ready to make pie, remove the crusts from the refrigerator or freezer, leaving them wrapped. Allow to thaw (if frozen) or warm a bit at room temperature (if chilled longer than 30 minutes), until softened enough to roll but still cold to the touch.

Cover with parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake the pie crust for 20 minutes then remove the crust from the oven and carefully remove the pie weights and parchment paper. Use the parchment to lift the weights out of the shell.