Is this the Best Gluten-Free Pie Crust recipe ever? Well, we think so. This recipe for gluten-free crust comes from Tara Barker, an amazing baker who creates gluten-free recipes for William-Sonoma and other brands.
This gluten-free pie crust recipe produces a flaky, tender, tasty crust. The secret might be an unexpected ingredient - cream cheese adds body, stability and flavor to the crust.
Tara uses extra salt when making savory recipes and mixes her own gluten-free pastry flour blend. We've had success with both King Arthur Measure for Measure or Pamela’s Gluten-Free Artisan Blend for the flour here, but we're sharing Tara's blend too.
Can you make pies or galettes with this gluten-free pie crust recipe? Yes!
This fabulous recipe for gluten-free crust makes perfect pies and fabulous galettes. Add a bit more salt for savory recipes, but either way, this crust is delicious.
Can you make par-baked crusts, double crusts and cream pies with this recipe?
This gluten-free pie crust recipe does it all: par-baked crusts for pumpkin pies, double crust pies for fruit or pot pies, and it holds up to chocolate, cream and custard fillings.
Here's what you need make make this gluten-free crust recipe:
- unsalted butter
- Tara’s gluten-free pastry flour mix + xanthan gum, or gluten-free flour blend
- salt
- baking powder
- cream cheese
- ice water
Just six ingredients. A food processor also helps with the process.
To make Tara's gluten-free pastry flour blend, you need:
- white rice flour, finely-milled
- potato starch (not potato flour!)
- tapioca starch (also sold as tapioca flour)
If you use this blend, you'll need to add xanthan gum or gum-free baking binder to your recipe.
Use this gluten-free crust to make all your favorite desserts, including this Apple + Prune Galette Recipe
The beauty of a galette is its rustic nature–a simple, self-contained pie, filled with fruit and spices and just about anything else you like. This galette recipe pairs tart apples with sweet prunes, cinnamon, and a savory hint of rosemary.
Best-Ever Gluten-Free Pie Crust Recipe
Equipment
- 1 food processor
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoon unsalted butter cold
- 1 cup gluten-free flour blend or Tara’s gluten-free pastry flour mix plus ½ teaspoon xanthan gum (see notes)
- ⅛ teaspoon salt for savory recipes, use ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ cup cream cheese cold
- 2½ tablespoon ice water
Instructions
To make the dough:
- Cut the butter into small (about ¾-inch or 1.9 cm) cubes. Wrap it in plastic wrap and freeze it until frozen solid, at least 30 minutes. Place the flour, xanthan gum if using, salt, and baking powder in a resealable gallon-size freezer bag and freeze for at least 30 minutes.
- Place the flour mixture in a food processor with the metal blade and process for a few seconds to combine. (Depending on the size of your food processor, you may need to make the recipe in two batches if you decide to double it.) Set the plastic bag aside.
- Cut the cream cheese into 3 or 4 pieces and add it to the flour. Process for about 20 seconds or until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the frozen butter cubes and pulse until none of the butter is larger than the size of a pea. (Toss with a fork to see it better.) Remove the cover and add the water. Pulse until most of the butter is reduced to the size of small peas. The mixture will be in particles and will not hold together. Spoon it into the plastic bag. (If you double the recipe for a double-crust pie, it is easiest to divide the mixture in half at this point.)
- Holding the bag closed with one hand, knead the mixture by alternately pressing it, from the outside of the bag, with the knuckles and heels of your hands until the mixture holds together in one piece.
- Wrap the dough with plastic wrap, flatten it into a disc (or discs) and refrigerate for at least 45 minutes, preferably overnight.
- Dough keeps, refrigerated, for 4 days, or up to 3 months if frozen.
To roll out the gluten-free pie crust:
- Place the disc of cold dough on a gf flour-dusted board. Dust lightly with additional gf flour, and gently roll it out into the desired shape. If you find the dough to be too sticky, dust the surface and underside with some more gf flour – better to be generous with the flour at this point, and have your dough stay smooth and easy to handle. If it cracks a little, just press it together with your fingertips - don't worry, this dough can handle some wrangling! You’ll find that as the dough warms up under your hands, it becomes more manageable, with even a bit of stretch to it. When it's the right size, gently lift it off the board and ease it into your pie plate/tart pan. (Or, in the case of free-form galettes, onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.) Again, any cracks or breaks can be pushed back together. This dough tastes really good by itself, so when you trim the edges, you may want to save those scraps and bake them off for a little snack. Treat yourself.
- Fill and bake according to the directions for whatever recipe you're following (I usually bake at 350ºF (180ºC) for tarts, galettes, and other single-crust items, and 425ºF (220ºC) for double-crust pies), covering the crust with foil midway through baking if it looks like it's getting too dark, too quickly.
Video
Notes
- 440 grams white rice flour, finely-milled
- 154 grams potato starch (not potato flour!)
- 60 grams tapioca starch (also sold as tapioca flour)
Nutrition
Love this gluten-free crust? Try more of Tara's recipes:
Gluten-Free Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
This recipe for Gluten-Free Double Chocolate Chip Cookies from Tara Barker bakes up chewy and full of flavor. The rich chocolate cookies are perfect with coffee or on a cookie plate.
Tara's Gingerbread 3 Ways
Get Tara's recipes for 3 types of gluten-free gingerbread from Williams-Sonoma here.
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