An unbaked lard and butter pie crust, with fork pricks all over on a wooden table.

Lard and Butter Pie Crust

4.82 / 55 votes
This lard and butter pie crust is the flaky, tender, flavorful piecrust you’ve longed for but may not have had the nerve to make.
David Leite
CourseDessert
CuisineAmerican
Servings12 servings
Calories214 kcal
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time45 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, stashed in the freezer until cold
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 13 tablespoons (6 1/2 oz) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch (12-mm) cubes
  • 8 tablespoons (4 oz) cold lard, cut into 1/2-inch (12-mm) cubes
  • 4 to 6 tablespoons ice water

Instructions 

  • In a food processor fitted with metal blade, combine the flour, salt, and sugar.
  • Toss in the butter cubes and process with five 1-second pulses.
  • Toss the cold lard into the processor and continue pulsing until the butter is no larger than the size of peas and the flour is pale yellow and resembles coarse cornmeal, about four 1-second pulses. Dump the flour mixture into a medium bowl.
  • Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of ice water over the flour mixture. Working quickly, use a fork to fluff and mix thoroughly. Squeeze a handful of dough—if it doesn’t stick together, add the remaining water, 1 tablespoon at a time.
  • Handling the dough as little as possible, divide it into 2 balls, one slightly larger than the other. Flatten each portion of dough into 6-inch discs. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  • On a lightly floured work surface, roll each portion of dough to slightly larger than your pie plate. Carefully drape the slightly smaller portion of dough in the plate. If desired, prick the bottom crust with the tines of a fork, if desired.
  • Fill with your favorite pie filling recipe, top with the remaining portion of dough and crimp the edges. Trim any excess dough that hangs over the edge. Freeze the unbaked pie for up to several weeks or transfer it to the fridge for at least 30 minutes before baking according to your recipe. Originally published January 9, 2002.
Cook's Illustrated Cookbook

Adapted From

Cook’s Illustrated Cookbook

Buy On Amazon

Nutrition

Serving: 1 portionCalories: 214 kcalCarbohydrates: 22 gProtein: 3 gFat: 13 gSaturated Fat: 8 gMonounsaturated Fat: 3 gTrans Fat: 1 gCholesterol: 33 mgSodium: 305 mgFiber: 1 gSugar: 2 g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe?Mention @leitesculinaria or tag #leitesculinaria!
Recipe © 2002 Cook’s Illustrated. Photo © 2019 Lynne Ann Mitchell. All rights reserved.

Recipe Testers’ Reviews

This was one of the best pie crusts I’ve ever tasted. It was also one of the easiest to make. With this recipe in your arsenal, you’ll always get great compliments on your pies.




About David Leite

I count myself lucky to have received three James Beard Awards for my writing as well as for Leite’s Culinaria. My work has also appeared in The New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Saveur, Bon Appétit, Gourmet, Food & Wine, Yankee, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and more.


Hungry For More?

Cheese Danish with Fruit Filling

A startlingly spectacular made-from-scratch cheese Danish that is going to forever change your notion of what a cheese Danish ought to be.

1 hr

Coconut Cream Pie

A retro classic with a velvety coconut custard buried beneath billows of sweet, luscious, airy meringue and cushioned by a tender, flaky, buttery lard crust. You’re welcome.

1 hr

Brownie Pie

Known in some parts as tar heel pie, this ridiculously rich chocolate brownie pie filling is impossibly fudgy, so much so it’s simply too gooey to consume out of hand.

4 hrs


Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




81 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I rendered leaf lard from a local piggy, and was really excited to give it a try in a baking recipe. Ended up making mini galettes with blueberry, lemon and thyme filling. This recipe was perfect!! The lard resulted in a crust like I’ve never been able to make before. Wow!

    1. Rendered your own leaf lard?! How industrious, Suebeedo! I can only imagine how light and flaky your crust turned out to be. Thank you for writing—we’re so happy to know that the recipe was a success!

      1. Thank you. When you carefully trim, render in a slow cooker and watch for the right timing to catch the “first-render” it is quite amazing, white and nearly odorless. I was so pleased. Would do it again!

  2. 5 stars
    I call it my patchwork crust. It got a little warm as I was about to finish rolling it out. Summer in NC!! Tastes great, easy to make. Thank you!