Flaky and buttery, this sourdough pie crust is the perfect base for your sweet and savory pies. Sourdough starter adds a unique and robust flavor to a classic crust.
In a large bowl or a food processor, mix the flour, sugar, and salt.
Cube the butter and add it to the flour mixture. You can cut the butter into the flour mixture most easily with a food processor, or you can use a fork or pastry blender to cut it in by hand. Work the butter into the flour until the mixture has a sandy texture.
Add the sourdough discard and stir just until combined.
Divide the dough in half, then shape each half into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours or up to 3 days. For longer fermentation, I find that 8 hours or overnight is a good amount of time to develop the flavor and ferment the dough.
Sprinkle a clean countertop with flour and roll out one ball of dough until it is approximately 12” in diameter. You can add a touch more flour to the work space if the dough starts to stick.
Drape the dough over a 9″ pie plate, gently pressing it into the bottom. Add your filling of choice. Roll out the other half and drape it over the filling. Trim the excess and press the edges together. Bake according to your specific recipe.
Notes
This recipe can be long-fermented with an extended chill time in the refrigerator. If you need to make it more quickly, it may be prepared, chilled, and baked without the longer fermentation time.
For sourdough flavor, a longer fermentation will develop a more pronounced tang to the crust, or if you don’t plan to long-ferment, sourdough discard will give a stronger flavor than active starter.
You want everything cold before baking. Keep the dough refrigerated until ready to roll out and bake.
This recipe makes a double crust. If you only need a single crust, just wrap the extra half in plastic wrap and place in the freezer until you need it. You’ll be glad you did!
I like to double this recipe and stick the extras in the fridge. This gives them more time to ferment and I can pull them out at any time throughout the week to make easy hand pies, sourdough galettes, and ground beef pot pie.
Crimp the edges and add a design to the middle to release steam. You can make slits in the top or use cookie cutters for a design in the top crust before placing it over the filling.