Gluten-Free Vegan Pie Crust - 4 Ingredient Recipe! (2024)

Make your favourite vegan pie recipe gluten-free with this easy gluten-free vegan pie crust! You only need 4 simple ingredients for the perfect, flaky pie crust.

Gluten-Free Vegan Pie Crust - 4 Ingredient Recipe! (1)

If you’ve ever made a traditional pie crust before, you can make this gluten-free vegan pie crust. But if you haven’t made a pie crust before? Well, you can still make this gluten-free vegan pie crust. What I’m getting at is this: it’s easy.

The same little tricks that apply to a traditional pie crust apply to this vegan and gluten-free version. You want to start with very cold (vegan) butter and ice water; this will help you get that lovely flaky texture we all want in a pie crust. Mix everything together, roll it out to flatten all those bits of vegan butter (that’s how you get the flakiness!), and add all your favourite pie fillings.

Yep, we’re talking vegan pumpkin pie, vegan apple pie, and even vegan pecan pie. Basically, any pie filling you’d like, you can use with this homemade vegan gluten-free pie crust. Follow the recipe instructions regarding the crust prep—for example, some recipes may have you par-bake the crust before filling it, while others will have you simply fill the crust and then bake.

With this pie crust recipe, you can finally make a dessert that everyone can enjoy, whether they’re gluten-free, vegan, or have no dietary restrictions at all and just want to eat a delicious slice of pie!

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Notes on Ingredients

Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.

  • All-purpose gluten-free flour – You want to use a measure-for-measure gluten-free flour blend, not a single flour like almond or coconut. Gluten-free baking blends are formulated to work exactly like all-purpose flour in a recipe, which is important here.
  • Sea salt
  • Vegan butter – Use store-bought or homemade vegan butter.
  • Ice cold water

Do I really need to use ice cold water when I make pie dough—can’t I just get it from the tap?

Yes, using ice cold water is important, and the cold water you get from the tap just won’t cut it. Ice cold water helps ensure that the vegan butter remains in small pieces and doesn’t melt completely into the mixture while you’re making your dough. This will help create a flaky crust!

To make ice water, measure out your tap water first and then put it in the freezer for 10 minutes to get it cold. Alternatively, you can place some ice cubes in a glass of water, let it sit for 5 minutes or so, then measure out the amount of water you’ll need.

How to Make Gluten-Free Vegan Pie Crust

Although this gluten-free vegan pie crust recipe is easy, do note that you’ll need to plan for two hours of chilling time. Give yourself enough time to make the crust and your pie recipe to make sure your pie is done when you need it!

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Mix the first 3 ingredients. Place the flour, salt, and butter in a large bowl. Use a pastry cutter, fork, or your hands to blend everything together to form a course dough; you want little bits of vegan butter to remain in the mixture, rather than blending everything smooth.

Add the water. Start with 4 tablespoons and mix the water in with a wooden spoon. If the dough is too dry, add more water a tablespoon at a time, until the dough holds together but isn’t sticky.

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Chill. Turn out the dough onto a piece of plastic wrap and pat it into a disk. Wrap it and chill for at least 2 hours or up to 2 days.

Roll out the crust. Let the dough sit at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes. Then, unwrap the dough and set it on a piece of parchment paper lightly dusted with gluten-free flour. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough into a 12-inch circle.

Form the crust. Lightly flour a pie dish, then use the parchment paper to transfer the crust into the pan by inverting it into the dish. (If it doesn’t fall perfectly, just reform it with your fingers.)

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Pre-bake, if needed. If your recipe calls for pre-baking the crust, prick the bottom with a fork, then drape the parchment paper over the crust and add pie weights. Bake according to the recipe instructions.

Tips for Success

With simple recipes like this gluten-free vegan pie crust, it’s all about technique. Here are some tips to help you get it right.

  • Ensure all of your ingredients are cold. If needed, you can even place the vegan butter in the freezer for 10 to 20 minutes to make sure it’s cold enough that it won’t blend into the rest of the crust ingredients.
  • Add more flour if needed. When you’re forming the dough into a disk, you can add a sprinkle of additional flour if it feels sticky. You can also add more water, but I recommend avoiding that if at all possible—only if the crust is very dry should you add more water.
  • Roll it out on parchment paper. Seriously, this is so much easier than rolling the dough on a board and trying to pick it up to transfer it to the pie plate. Even after 3 years of owning a baking company, I still always use this method.
  • Weigh down the parchment paper. Since the paper is likely to move as you roll the crust it, it may help to add some weight to the edges—cans of beans, thick cookbooks, things like that!

More Ways to Use Gluten-Free Vegan Pie Crust

You already know that you can use this recipe for all kinds of sweet pies, but don’t forget that it works for savoury pies too! Try it with my vegan pot pies.

You can also roll this gluten-free vegan pie crust into a rectangle, cut it into small pieces (either with a knife or cookie cutters) and make your own gluten-free vegan Pop-Tarts. Try filling them with your favourite jam.

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How to Store

This gluten-free vegan pie crust can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 days before you use it.

Can This Recipe Be Frozen?

Yes! This gluten-free vegan pie crust can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. To freeze, wrap the disk of dough tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer bag. When ready to use, thaw overnight in the fridge and then follow the recipe instructions to roll it out and form the crust.

More Gluten-Free Vegan Recipes

  • Gluten-Free Vegan Puff Pastry
  • Strawberry Banana Bread (Gluten Free + Vegan)
  • Gluten Free Brownies (Vegan)

P.S. Here are some of the items I used to make this recipe if you’d like to use them too:

|WHAT YOU’LL NEED//SHOP MY FAVORITEINGREDIENTS & PREP PRODUCTS|

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Enjoy friends! If you make this gluten-free vegan pie crust, please snap a photo and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! We’d also love it if you would leave a comment below, and give the recipe a rating! Thanks so much!

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Gluten-Free Vegan Pie Crust

Servings: 8 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Chilling Time: 2 hours hrs

Total Time: 2 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Make your favourite vegan pie recipe gluten-free with this easy gluten-free vegan pie crust! You only need 4 simple ingredients for the perfect, flaky pie crust.

5 (from 16 ratings)

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Ingredients

Gluten Free Vegan Pie Crust

  • 1 1/4 cup all purpose GF flour, 6.5 oz/185g
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 8 tablespoons vegan butter, solid and cold
  • 4-6 tablespoons ice cold water

Instructions

Gluten Free Vegan Pie Crust

  • Ensure all your ingredients are very cold. You want almost frozen butter that is hard.

  • Add all the ingredients (you can mix the salt with the flour first) to a large bowl and using a pastry cutter, blend it all together. You could also use a fork or even your hands. You want everything blended together to form a coarse dough, where you can still see bits of butter that look like little pieces of coarse sand. Don't overwork.

  • Add the water slowly. Start at 4 tablespoons and mix with a wooden spoon. If the dough is too dry, add a tablespoon at a time until it's a bit more pliable. The dough should come together and not be sticky.

  • Shape the dough into a disk. Pay attention to see if it needs a bit more flour (a sprinkling) or water and add accordingly. I do not recommend adding more water than above.

  • Wrap with saran wrap, and place in the fridge for two hours up to two days.

  • When ready to use, set on the counter for about 5 to 10 minutes before rolling out.

  • Set down some parchment paper, dust it lightly with GF flour, and begin to roll out crust. Since the parchment paper moves a lot, it may help to add some weight to the edges. Roll out into a 12 inch circle.

  • Lightly flour your pie dish. Move the parchment paper with pie dough over the pie dish and begin to invert it into the dish. If it doesn’t fall perfectly, just reform with your fingers. Smooth out the bottom and edges. Ensure the pie is covering all of the pie dish, especially the bottom.

  • Prick the bottom with a fork lightly, then add pie weights into a parchment paper onto pie crust. IF pre-baking, bake according to recipe’s instructions. Enjoy!

Notes

To store: This gluten-free vegan pie crust can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 days before you use it.

To freeze: This gluten-free vegan pie crust can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. To freeze, wrap the disk of dough tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer bag. When ready to use, thaw overnight in the fridge and then follow the recipe instructions to roll it out and form the crust.

Calories: 159kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Sodium: 202mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 334IU, Calcium: 12mg, Iron: 1mg

Disclaimer: Although jessicainthekitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Jessicainthekitchen.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.

Cuisine: American

Course: Desserts

Author: Jessica Hylton

Gluten-Free Vegan Pie Crust - 4 Ingredient Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep a gluten-free pie crust from falling apart? ›

To successfully make a gluten-free pie crust that won't fall apart, add one egg to your dry ingredients before adding any water. Fully combine the egg and then add only the amount of water you need to form the dough.

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 do you keep gluten-free pastry from crumbling? ›

Add xanthan gum to gluten-free flour. It enhances elastic qualities that gluten-free flours lack, making it easier to work with and less likely to crumble. Add plenty of water to the gluten-free flour to prevent the pastry from becoming too dry when rolling out.

Does adding vinegar to pie crust stop gluten? ›

What does that vinegar do? The most common answer — that it affects gluten development — isn't actually that useful. If you had a mass spectrometer at home, you could measure the teensy difference vinegar makes in the tensile strength of gluten strands in the dough, which in theory makes it a bit more tender.

Why does my gluten-free pastry crumble? ›

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.

Why is my pie crust breaking when I roll it out? ›

Your dough might be too dry or unevenly hydrated.

When dough doesn't have enough water, or if it's not properly hydrated (more on that below), it will feel and look dry and be prone to cracking.

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

The Most Common Pie Crust Mistakes (And Ways To Avoid Them)
  1. The ingredients are too warm. ...
  2. The pie dough is overworked from excessive mixing or rolling. ...
  3. The pie dough isn't given enough time to relax and chill. ...
  4. The pie dough is shrinking down the sides of the pan.
Oct 18, 2022

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.)

What makes gluten free dough stretchy? ›

Gluten-free dough mixes use xanthan gum, guar gum and/or ground seeds to take over these tasks.

Is there a trick to baking with gluten-free flour? ›

Gluten-free flours often contain fine starches, so they absorb more liquid than conventional flour. To address this, gluten-free recipes usually call for more liquid and produce looser batters. They may also call for a larger quantity of leavening, like baking powder, to help add volume and lighten the texture.

Is xanthan gum necessary for gluten free baking? ›

Xanthan Gum adds thickness and viscosity to gluten-free breads and other baked goods. Without xanthan gum, your gluten-free baked goods would be dry, crumbly and flat. Because xanthan gum is gluten-free and vegan, it's the preferred thickener for those home bakers with food allergies.

What can I use instead of xanthan gum in pastry? ›

9 Substitutes for Xanthan Gum
  • Psyllium husk. Psyllium husk is made from the husks of Plantago ovata seeds and is sold ground for baking purposes. ...
  • Chia seeds and water. When soaked, chia seeds form a gel much like xanthan gum. ...
  • Ground flax seeds and water. ...
  • Cornstarch. ...
  • Unflavored gelatin. ...
  • Egg whites. ...
  • Agar agar. ...
  • Guar gum.
May 13, 2020

Why use apple cider vinegar in gluten-free baking? ›

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.

Why add apple cider vinegar to 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.

Why put egg in pie crust? ›

Egg: This makes the dough more pliable and easy to roll out. Eggs also make the crust more compact. Acid and Alcohol: Both acid and alcohol tenderize pie dough, make it easier to roll out, and prevent it from shrinking in your pan.

How do you keep pie crust from separating? ›

Now let's see how to prevent it.
  1. Use butter, not shortening. The solidity of unmelted fat is part of what helps pie crust hold its shape as it bakes. ...
  2. Keep water to a minimum. This pie pastry looks good, doesn't it? ...
  3. Roll sparingly. ...
  4. Choose apples that hold their shape. ...
  5. Vent the top crust.
Sep 13, 2017

How do you fix a pie crust that keeps falling apart? ›

If it's too crumbly, add a little more water. Once your pastry has come together, don't then ruin it when rolling it out. It's always tempting to shovel loads of flour onto a work surface when rolling out pastry.

Does gluten-free pie crust taste different? ›

While it tastes very similar to regular pie crust, a gluten-free pie crust must be handled a little differently. It is less stretchy and needs to be a little thicker than a regular pie crust. The texture of the dough is also a little more crumbly than a traditional pie crust.

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