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

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 reduces gluten formation in pie crust? ›

He explains a number of tweaks that will all pump the brakes on gluten formation: adding vinegar (which would also reduce the pH of the flour), adding sugar, pre-chilling the ingredients, and chilling the dough.

Why won't my gluten-free dough rise? ›

Your bread will not rise if your yeast or baking powder has expired. A dense loaf could also be the result of not measuring your ingredients accurately. Weight measurements are best (I have to update my recipes). Otherwise scoop the flour into your measuring cup and level without shaking or packing the flour down.

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.

What happens when your pie crust has too much gluten? ›

The key to standard pie crust is having pockets of fat surrounded by flour. But if that fat starts to melt and mixes with the flour, it can start to develop gluten, which can lead to a tough crust.

What is one of the most common mistakes bakers make when preparing a pastry crust? ›

Whether you use a food processor, a stand mixer, or your hands to incorporate the ingredients together, overmixing is a common mistake that leads to a chewy crust. It's tempting when baking to combine the ingredients completely, but the texture should resemble a coarse meal before adding your liquid.

What is the best flour to use for pie crusts? ›

Flour: For a tender crust, choose a low-protein flour. Pastry flour, with a protein content of about 8-10%, ranks between all-purpose flour and cake flour. All-purpose flour works just fine for pie crusts, while cake flour might lack enough protein to form a workable, elastic dough.

How do you add elasticity to gluten-free dough? ›

In gluten-free baking, we rely on xanthan gum to provide elasticity and stickiness in our doughs and batters. Since we don't have gluten present, we need something that acts as the binding agent for the flour, helps hold onto some moisture, and helps give the baked good some structure.

Does gluten free dough need to rise twice? ›

Should the dough rise once or twice? It is often said that gluten-free yeast dough should only be allowed to rise once. This is what I also believed for a long time, but it is not true. There are enough recipes in which the dough is successfully risen twice.

How do you make gluten free dough rise better? ›

Eggs are natural leaveners that help boost the rise and volume of bread. Eggs also add moisture, flavor, and protein to gluten-free bread recipes. If you select a gluten-free bread recipe that includes eggs, you have a better chance that the resulting bread will have good color, more volume, and softer texture.

What is the best gluten-free flour for yeast baking? ›

If you want to buy just one gluten-free flour, we highly recommend the Pillsbury all-purpose gluten-free flour. Not only is it our favorite gluten-free flour, and easy to use in gluten-free recipes, but it's also one of the few gluten-free flours currently on the market that is recommended for baking with yeast.

Why is my gluten free pie crust falling apart? ›

Xantham gum is what helps hold the flour and pie ingredients together, and mimics what gluten does. Gluten is like glue, and is why doughs stay together. Without xantham gum, it will be crumbly and fall apart.

What is the trick to baking with gluten free flour? ›

Use xanthan gum or guar gum: Gluten-free flours lack the elasticity and structure that gluten provides, so adding a binder like xanthan or guar gum can help to hold the ingredients together and give your baked goods a better 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.

Why does my gluten free pastry crumble? ›

Gluten-free pastry is much more fragile than regular pastry, so it is likely to tear and crumble as you transfer it to the tart shell. Just patch it up and push the pastry into the mould of the tin, making sure there is an even thickness and there are no cracks.

How do you fix crumbly gluten-free dough? ›

If your cookie dough is too dry and crumbly, just add back to the mixing bowl and stir in a couple tablespoons of your favorite milk or an egg. Add more if needed – the dough needs to hold together, but most cookie doughs shouldn't be sticky.

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.

How do you make gluten free baked goods less crumbly? ›

One of the most common gluten-free baking tips is “let your batter rest”. Letting the batter rest gives the gluten-free flours and starches more time to absorb the moisture. In theory, it will turn your dry, crumbly cakes into delicious, moist masterpieces.

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