Gluten-Free Never-Fail No-Roll Press-In Pie Crust Recipe (2024)

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Today I’m sharing my Gluten-Free Never-Fail No-Roll Press-In Pie Crust. Or you could just call it the Easiest Gluten-Free Pie Crust Ever if you prefer!

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It’s week 2 of A Gluten-Free Holiday and the theme is Thanksgiving Favoritesfrom beverages, appetizers, soups, salads, entrees, and side dishes,to luscious desserts. In the dessert category, can you think of Thanksgiving without thinking of pie?

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We sure can’t in my family … we LOVE pies! Mr. GFE is always singing “P.I.E. spells pie, pie,” when the holidays roll around, or just about any time pie makes its appearance.

Like I said, we love pies … even enough to sing about them. But what about pie crusts after one goes gluten free? How does one deal with them?

Well, I’ve shared before what a life-changing moment it was when I found out that I could add ¼ cup of gluten-free flour mix to just about any pie recipe to make it crustless. The beauty of crustless pies is that not only are they easy, but nobody eating them ever misses the crust.

If you don’t tell them, there’s no crust, they don’t notice. These pies just sort of stand on their own merit—yes, pun intended.

Gluten-Free Never-Fail No-Roll Press-In Pie Crust Recipe (3)MyEasy Crustless Pecan Pieis the most popular post here at gfe, followed by my Best Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie Ever and myCrustless Coconut Pie. Next up is myEasy, Crustless Apple Pie. (which uses a slightly different method) and then Crustless Sweet Potato Pie and my original Crustless Pumpkin Pie.

Sometimes though we want a crust for our pies. Yes, you can run to Whole Foods or another gluten-free friendly grocery store and buy a prepared gluten-free pie crust, but what’s the fun in that?

Plus, you lose control over what’s actually in your pie crust. Gluten free, yes, but maybe there are some other ingredients you don’t want or are intolerant to. I didn’t use such prepared crusts before I went gluten free, why would I want to now?

The pie crust method that I use instead, for the times when I don’t want to take the crustless route, is a gluten-free Never-Fail No-Roll Press-In Pie Crust. My Pumpkin Pecan Pie is shown below with its gluten-free Never-Fail No-Roll Press-In Pie Crust.

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This pie crust is gluten free, dairy free, egg free, vegan,soy free, nut free, and even rice free if you use a gluten-free flour mix that does not contain rice. Note that it is a bit different from a traditional rolled pie crust in taste and texture.

I’ll tell you though that nobody who has eaten pies with my press-in crust has ever disliked them. Furthermore, while Mr. GFE and Son would always leave those traditional pie crusts on their plates, they would eat every morsel of this pie crust … and still do, even though it’s gluten free.

This gluten-free pie crust It just has that crunchy crumb-type appeal, and I tell you thatin full disclosure. I know that not everyone likescrumbs. Personally, we find these pie crust crumbs to be a good thing, but if you are looking for that “perfect rolled pie crust look,” this won’t be the crust for you.

For that type of flaky, rolled pie crust, you can head over to Linda’s (Gluten-Free Homemaker) and check out her Gluten-Free Pie Crustor her Multi-Purpose Pastry Dough. Megan of Allergy-Free Alaska also has a flaky pie crust—Best Gluten-Free Flaky Pie Crust Recipe.In Johnna’s Kitchen offers Perfect Gluten-Free Pie Crust. I know just by looking at their photos—that all theirpie crust recipes are delicious.

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Let me tell you more about this gluten-free Never-Fail No-Roll Press-In Pie Crust. You sift the flour mix and mix most of the ingredients right into your pie plate/pan.

Then as the directions indicate below, you use your hands to pat and press in the pie crust right there, as you like. Then you fill as usual. You can’t mess this pie crust up, no matter how hard you try. Seriously.

Don’t you love it? This method and recipe isgfe for sure!

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Do you need more recipe ideas for Thanksgiving? Check out my post on Thanksgiving—The GFE Way.

Gluten-Free Never-Fail No-Roll Press-In Pie Crust Recipe (7)

There are ideas for salads (one even non-salad eaters will love), main dishes (turkey breasts made in the slow cooker—traditional and special), side dishes (including stuffing made using tortilla chips—super easy!), more desserts, and even delicious breakfast ideas (casserole, volcano pancake, or scrumptious muffins—you choose) for your overnight guests.

Want to add a seasonal soup or serve that instead of a salad? This pumpkin soup might be just the thing you are looking for.

Looking for a special ice cream to serve with those pies? Perhaps you want one that will impress, but not bog down your already busy schedule.

Make this non-cooked gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, egg-free Honey Cinnamon Grand Marnier ice cream a few days in advance and have it ready to pull out of the freezer right before the pies are served. (It’s made with honey and a little alcohol, so it stays “scoopable.”) Your guest will be both delighted and impressed. My guests sure were last Thanksgiving.

Are you new to gluten-free living and/or still concerned about eating safely at group gatherings? You’ll want to read my 5 Tips for a Safe Gluten-Free Thanksgiving (or Group Event) as well as my gfe readers’ comments on this post.

Plan ahead for Thanksgiving leftovers, too. Are you “over” the stuffing by Day 2 or 3? Turn your stuffing into croutons. This method is the easiest way to make gluten-free croutons ever.

Do you know you’ll have turkey left over and want a specific way to use it rather than winging it? How about makingTurkey Tortilla Soup or Turkey Pot Pie? (Both recipes are gluten free, dairy free, and more.)

Still have a holiday quandary, check out my Recipes and/or postyour question on my gfe Facebook pagewhere you’ll be able toget not just my input, but other experienced gluten-free folks’ opinions as well.

Is it the schedule that gets to you when hosting Thanksgiving? Kim (Cook IT Allergy Free) walks you through the big day and the days before, step by step, in her Ultimate Thanksgiving Prep Series.

Gluten-Free Never-Fail No-Roll Press-In Pie Crust Recipe

Updates: Here are two of the gfe reader reviews that have come in:

“It’s the best we’ve ever tried!!”

“My favorite!”

I’ve actually made a “new and improved” version of this pie crust that uses almond flour in addition to the gluten-free flour mix. It’s a great recipe but you can’t go wrong with either of these recipes if you’re looking for an easy and delicious pie crust recipe—especially one that you don’t have to roll out!

Yield: 1 pie crust

The Original Gluten-Free Never-Fail No-Roll Press-In Pie Crust

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Folks this gluten-free Never-Fail No-Roll Press-In Pie Crust is the easy wonderful pie crust recipe you've been looking for. You won't believe it!

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cup gluten-free flour mix (I use my Two-Ingredient Flour Mix)
  • 1 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 tbsp milk (dairy or non-dairy)
  • ¾ tsp xanthan gum (optional; see notes)

Instructions

  1. Sift flour, sugar, salt, and xanthan gum into 9-inch pie plate.
  2. In a separate small bowl or large glass measuring cup, add milk to oil and stir vigorously with a fork until oil turns into little droplets. (I usually measure my oil in a glass measuring cup and then add the milk to that cup.)
  3. Pour milk and oil mixture over dry ingredients and mix. (I just use the same fork that I used to mix the oil and milk. It works great.)
  4. Pat crust out with hands, trying to make thickness the same throughout and extending crust as high as you would like on the sides of the pie plate.
  5. Fill and bake per your recipe.

Notes

There are no baking times shown because this pie crust is designed to be baked with a filling. Therefore, you will follow the baking time for whatever pie you are baking. I don't recommend blind baking this crust; i.e., baking it without a filling.

I have used many different combinations of flours successfully. There will be slight variations in flavor and texture with each. For example, when I used my Two-Ingredient Gluten-Free Flour Mix and ½ cup of almond flour (which, of course, made the recipes unsafe for those with nut issues), I thought the crust was a little more crumbly. However, it was still fine for us and I thought it tasted especially good.

I rarely use xanthan gum in this recipe, but it will make your crust bind a tad better and, therefore, a little less crumbly.

Sometimes the salt stands out in the flavor of the crust, but it provides a nice contrast to sweet fillings or a complementary one to savory fillings. If necessary, you can reduce the amount of salt a bit.

Be sure to check out the Pumpkin Pecan Pie recipe.

Recipe adapted from Kevin Roth’s Never Fail Pie Crust in Woman’s Club of King George Favorite Recipes Vol. 3 Cookbook

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

Originally published November 11, 2010; updated December 13, 2021.

Gluten-Free Never-Fail No-Roll Press-In Pie Crust Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What reduces gluten formation in pie crust? ›

When you mix batter made with cake flour rather than all-purpose, less protein is present; as a result, the batter will develop less gluten. Bread flour, on the other hand, has a protein percentage of 12.7%. Because there's more protein present, the dough is capable of developing more gluten.

Why is my gluten-free pie crust so hard? ›

Too much flour in pie crust makes it tough and, for gluten-free, gritty.

Does adding vinegar to pie crust stop gluten? ›

Vinegar, buttermilk, lemon juice, and vodka all change the interaction of the liquid and gluten in the dough. But the difference between a dough with acid in it and one without (when made with the same technique) is infinitesimal. In other words, no ingredient can cure poor execution.

What two ingredients prevent gluten from forming? ›

Fats, such as butter and oils, slow down the gluten-forming process by coating the protein strands, which is one reason enriched doughs such as brioche call for longer mixing times. The coating acts like a barrier that prevents gluten proteins from sticking to one another, stunting the growth of long chains.

How to stop gluten formation? ›

How do we keep the gluten development to a minimum? In order to keep the baked goods soft and have a melt in the mouth texture, we have to avoid gluten development in our batter. And the correct way to do this is by gently folding the flour in the batter instead of vigorously mixing in it.

What is one thing you should not do when making pie crust? ›

A: First, don't just reach for more flour—too much extra flour will make the crust tough, and won't treat the real problem, which is that your butter is too soft. I recently read in Weller's cookbook A Good Bake that it should take no more than one to two minutes to roll out a pie crust.

Why is gluten free baking so difficult? ›

Gluten-Free Flours Require Special Measuring Techniques

Most home bakers use the dip-and-sweep method when measuring flour, but this doesn't work well with gluten-free flours and starches. These flours and starches are finer than wheat flours, making them hard to pack evenly and consistently into a measuring cup.

How do you make gluten free baking less dense? ›

Texture Troubleshooting
  1. Mushy or gummy: Lower the temperature and increase the cooking time.
  2. Crumbly: Increase the binder, like xanthan gum or psyllium husk.
  3. Gritty or thin: Rest the batter 30 minutes before baking.
  4. Dense: Increase the leavener, like baking powder.
  5. Dry: Add more liquid.

What does vinegar do in gluten free bread dough? ›

Apple cider vinegar or another acid lightens up the dough. You can add up to 4 Tbsp of acid for 500 g gluten-free flour. Don't worry, you won't be able to taste it afterwards. To lighten up a yeast dough even more, you can add a packet of baking powder or cream of tartar baking powder to 500 g flour.

Can you over mix gluten-free dough? ›

While conventional wisdom has taught us not to overmix our batters, we've found most gluten-free batters simply need to be stirred for longer. If you're worried this will turn your muffins and cakes rubbery, have no fear. Gluten-free recipes need to have more structure.

What holds gluten-free dough together? ›

The three most common binders are xanthan gum, guar gum and psyllium husk powder. Each one works in a slightly different way to help create the structure we need to hold baked goods together.

Why does my gluten-free pie crust fall apart? ›

Common reasons why gluten-free pie crust fall apart include choice of flour and hydration levels.

What is the secret to a great pie crust? ›

Start with chilled ingredients

Butter creates a sturdy, crisp pie crust. For this, it is important to keep all ingredients cold which will inhibit the development of gluten in the flour. Use butter right out of the refrigerator and add ice-cold water to make the dough.

Why use apple cider vinegar in pie crust? ›

The acid in the apple cider vinegar tenderizes the dough by slowing the gluten production in the dough. This prevents it from getting tough and elastic like bread dough. Love me tender. If you've ever bitten into a slice of pie with a tough crust, you know the value in a tender, flaky pie crust.

What inhibits gluten formation? ›

Mixing, type of flour, amount of water, and presence of fats are amongst the factors that can affect gluten formation. Fats can prevent gluten development by creating a coating around the proteins (see shortening).

How do you neutralize gluten? ›

How to Help Ease a Glutened Stomach
  1. 1 Drink More Water! You might be surprised to learn that several drinks actually contain or have “hidden” gluten in them, particularly beer and malts. ...
  2. 2 Epsom Salt Baths. ...
  3. 3 Sleep More. ...
  4. 4 Probiotic Supplements. ...
  5. 5 Take Turmeric/Enhansa.
Feb 3, 2021

How do you remove gluten from dough? ›

Wheat gluten and starch are separated from wheat flour by mixing the flour with from 0.6 to 1.0 part water per part flour, maturing the mixture to form a dough and to hydrate the gluten, diluting the dough with a further 0.5 to 3 parts water, and either simultaneously or subsequently applying shear to the dough, e.g. ...

How can I reduce gluten content? ›

Many naturally gluten-free foods can be a part of a healthy diet:
  1. Fruits and vegetables.
  2. Beans, seeds, legumes and nuts in their natural, unprocessed forms.
  3. Eggs.
  4. Lean, nonprocessed meats, fish and poultry.
  5. Most low-fat dairy products.

References

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