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.

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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

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

Too much water makes pie crusts tough, ESPECIALLY gluten-free crusts. An extra tablespoon or two can make your crust rock hard. Try to use the least amount of water listed.

How much xanthan gum per cup of flour? ›

Cake, muffin, and quick bread recipes: Add 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum or guar gum per 1 cup of gluten-free flour used. Cookie and bar recipes: Add 1/2 teaspoon (or less) xanthan gum or guar gum per 1 cup gluten-free flour used.

What is the secret to rolling out pie dough? ›

Here's our method: Place well-chilled dough on floured counter and sprinkle lightly with flour. Place tapered rolling pin in center of dough with ends at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock and roll dough outward from center to edge, applying even, gentle pressure.

How to make gluten free dough more elastic? ›

Psyllium husk is the crucial ingredient in gluten free bread baking. It acts as a binder, and it gives gluten free bread dough the elasticity, flexibility and extensibility it needs so you can actually knead and shape it without any problems.

How do you make gluten free baking less dense? ›

Gluten-free baked goods often benefit from extra liquid to hydrate the flour blends, eliminate grittiness, and achieve a less dense or dry texture. However, it's very important to drive off this extra moisture during baking, or you'll wind up with a gummy texture. The best way to do this? Longer baking times.

What would cause a pie crust to be tough? ›

Tough pie crusts are typically the result of working the dough too much (again, gluten). You don't need to make sure it's a perfectly uniform ball. “As long as the dough is mostly holding together, you don't need to spend a lot of time kneading it,” Susan Reid wrote for King Arthur Baking.

What happens if you add too much xanthan gum to gluten free flour? ›

And actually, adding too much xanthan gum can compromise the texture of your baked goods, making them too sticky and gummy.

What are the side effects of xanthan gum? ›

Xanthan gum is safe when up to 15 grams per day are taken. It can cause some side effects such as intestinal gas (flatulence) and bloating. People who are exposed to xanthan gum powder might experience flu-like symptoms, nose and throat irritation, and lung problems.

Can you reroll pie dough if it doesn t roll out perfectly? ›

_F_ It is okay to reroll the dough if you don't roll it out perfectly the first time.

How long do you let pie dough rest before rolling? ›

Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes, or up to overnight. Tip: Chilling hardens the fat in the dough, which will help the crust maintain its structure as it bakes. And the short rest before rolling relaxes the dough's gluten, helping prevent a tough crust.

Why is gluten free baking so hard? ›

Tips For Gluten-Free Baking. Gluten-free baking is a lot harder than traditional baking because gluten protein is what gives baked goods their structure. Bread without gluten or any gluten substitute will be thick and crumbly when it comes out of the oven.

Does gluten-free crust take longer to bake? ›

Bake gluten free pizza for longer than you would bake a regular pizza of the same size. For the pizza in the video above, the bake time is about 13 minutes on a hot baking stone. (A dough with gluten would be about 8 minutes.)

Why is my gluten free pastry crumbling? ›

While gluten-free pastry is more delicate to handle, the most frequent reason for cracking is that there is insuffi cient moisture in the pastry. When making shortcrust pastry you mix the fat into the flour until it has the appearance of breadcrumbs, then add the liquid to bring together the dough.

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