Pie Crust - Dairy Free

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Adapted from Cook's Illustrated pie crust recipe

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Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups (12 1/2 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon table salt
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) cold unsalted dairy-free margarine, cut into 1/4-inch slices
  • 1/2 cup cold vegetable shortening, cut into 4 pieces
  • 1/4 cup cold 80-proof vodka
  • 1/4 cup cold water

Preparation

Step 1

Process 1 1/2 cups (7 1/2 ounces) flour, salt, and sugar in food processor until combined, about 2 one-second pulses.

Add margarine and shortening and process until homogeneous dough just starts to collect in uneven clumps, about 15 seconds (dough will resemble cottage cheese curds and there should be no uncoated flour).

Scrape bowl with rubber spatula and redistribute dough evenly around processor blade.
Add remaining 1 cup (5 ounces) flour and pulse until mixture is evenly distributed around bowl and mass of dough has been broken up, 4 to 6 quick pulses.
DO NOT PROCESS UNTIL A PASTY DOUGH FORMS. 
Transfer mixture to medium bowl.

Sprinkle vodka and water over mixture. With rubber spatula, use folding motion to mix, pressing down on dough until it's slightly tacky and sticks together.

Divide into two even balls and flatten each into 4-inch disk. Wrap each in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 45 minutes or up to 2 days.

One tip, if you like to roll your pie crusts out sandwiched between sheets of wax paper, this dough will not work since it's too wet. Use generous amounts of flour on your work surface and rolling pin and turn the dough every few seconds so you're sure it's not sticking to the counter.