• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Style Sweet
  • Layer Cakes
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Newsletter
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Layer Cakes
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Newsletter
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Layer Cakes
    • Recipes
    • Cookbooks
    • Newsletter
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home

    How to Blind Bake Pie Crust

    November 10, 2024 by stylesweet 5 Comments

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Email

    Learn how to blind bake pie crust for fruit-filled, no-bake fillings, and some custard pies. This super flaky, all-butter crust is the homemade base for some of your favourite pies.

    Don't get caught stressing about the crust. Follow these easy, step-by-step instructions for blind baking pie crust at home.

    A blind baked pie crust.

    Instructions for Blind Baking a Pie Crust

    Follow these step-by-step instructions for prepare the pie dough in the pan and blind baking the crust.

    Pie dough in a pie pan before baking

    Roll out the prepared pie dough and fit it in the pie pan. Trim to leave a ½-inch overhang.

    Showing how to crimp a pie crust

    Using your fingers, crimp the edges of the pie dough.

    A crimped pie shell before baking.

    Press the crimped edges of the pie dough onto the lip of the pie pan to secure. Chill in the freezer for 20 minutes while the oven heats.

    A partially baked pie crust

    Bake the pie crust at 400°F for 20 minutes, or until the edges begin to take on a tiny bit of color.

    Adding pie weights to a pie crust before baking

    Line the chilled pie dough with foil or parchment paper. Fill with pie weights, dried beans, uncooked rice, or even granulated sugar.

    A blind baked pie crust.

    Lower the heat to 350°F. Take the pie crust out of the oven and carefully remove the pie weights. Bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until fully baked. The bottom should be dry to the touch and not greasy.

    Hint: Preheat the oven while the pie chills.

    What is Blind Baking?

    To blind bake a pie crust is to bake pie dough in a pie pan without filling. It holds shape by being filled with pie weights.

    Once partially baked, the pie weights are removed and the crust is baked until done and slightly golden.

    A baked pumpkin pie with whipped cream on top

    Why Do We Blind Bake a Pie Crust?

    For no-bake fillings and some fruit and custard filled pies, the crust needs to be fully baked before adding in the filling.

    For example, the filling for a banana cream pie does not spend any time in the oven and therefore needs the pie crust to be fully baked before assembling.

    Likewise, a custard pie like pumpkin, spends very little time in the oven compared to a deep-dish apple pie. Adding the filling to a pre-baked crust keeps it from becoming soggy.

    Pecan pie with salted caramel on top.

    Ingredients and Equipment

    • Prepared pie dough
    • Rolling pin
    • Paring knife or kitchen scissors
    • 9-inch pie pan (preferably glass or aluminum
    • Foil or parchment paper
    • Pie weights or equivalent.

    Substitutions

    Don't have pie weights? Use dried beans, uncooked rice, or even granulated sugar! The oven will toast the sugar and you can use it in your baking for extra flavor.

    Storage

    Yay! Your pie crust is now baked and ready to go.

    Store the pie crust wrapped in plastic or foil at room temperature for up to 3 days. Wrap well and then place in the a zip-tip bag to freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

    Top Tip

    Be sure to thoroughly chill the pie crust before baking. This will help keep the shape of the crimp and , more importantly, help prevent the pie crust from shrinking.

    FAQs

    What type of pan should I bake a pie crust in?

    The best pie pans are glass and aluminum. The pie pans conduct heat easier and more evenly than ceramic.

    Can I freeze a blind baked pie crust?

    Yes! After the crust completely cools, wrap in well in plastic. Wrap it in a layer of foil or pop the pie crust into a zip-top bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

    Do I need to use pie weights?

    Yes. You need to fill the pie dough to keep it from slumping. If you don't have pie weights use dried beans, uncooked rice, or even granulated sugar. The oven will toast the sugar and you can use it in your baking for extra flavor.

    Pumpkin Coffee Cream Cheese Cake

    Join the Style Sweet Bake Club!

    Get exclusive recipes and articles sent straight to your inbox. Become a subscriber today! Click to join.

    Steps for Blind Baking a Pie Crust

    Pie Dough Recipe

    Time needed: 1 hour and 15 minutes

    Learn how to blind bake a pie crust for no-bake fillings and some custard pies.

    1. Prepare the dough

      Roll out the prepared pie dough and fit it in the pie pan. Trim to leave a ½-inch overhang.

    2. Crimp the edges

      Using your fingers, crimp the edges of the pie dough. Press the crimped edges of the pie dough onto the lip of the pie pan to secure.

    3. Chill the dough

      Preheat the oven to 400°F and chill the pie in the freezer for 20 minutes.

    4. Add pie weights

      Line the chilled pie dough with foil or parchment paper. Fill with pie weights, dried beans, uncooked rice, or even granulated sugar.

    5. Partially bake

      Bake the pie crust at 400°F for 20 minutes, or until the edges begin to take on a tiny bit of color.

    6. Finish baking

      Lower the heat to 350°F. Take the pie crust out of the oven and carefully remove the pie weights. Bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until fully baked. The bottom should be dry to the touch and not greasy.

    « How To Make Pie Dough by Hand
    Peppermint Mocha Cookies »

    Reader Interactions

    Trackbacks

    1. Pumpkin Pie without Evaporated Milk - Style Sweet says:
      October 25, 2022 at 3:35 am

      […] Blind bake the pie crust - bake the pie crust until lightly golden before adding the filling […]

      Reply
    2. 3 Festive Pumpkin Pie Decorations - Style Sweet says:
      October 25, 2022 at 2:31 pm

      […] How to Blind Bake Pie Crust […]

      Reply
    3. The Best Banana Cream Pie - Style Sweet says:
      October 25, 2022 at 2:32 pm

      […] How to Blind Bake a Pie Crust […]

      Reply
    4. Easy Pumpkin Chiffon Pie - Style Sweet says:
      October 25, 2022 at 6:31 pm

      […] How To Blind Bake Pie Crust […]

      Reply
    5. Caramel Pecan Pie without Corn Syrup - Style Sweet says:
      November 1, 2022 at 2:51 am

      […] Blind bake the pie crust - bake the pie crust until lightly golden before adding the filling […]

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Tessa Huff

    Hi, I'm Tessa Huff! I am the cookbook author of Layered and Icing on the Cake. I bake, develop recipes, and photograph food from my home studio in North Vancouver, BC.

    More about me →

    My Cookbooks

    a Good Reads Best Cookbook Nominee!

    Join the BAKER'S NOTES newsletter on Substack!

    Style Sweet is the ultimate resource for home bakers of all skill levels. Here you will find everyday dessert recipes, cake decorating tutorials, and expert baking tips to improve your skills and gain confidence in the kitchen.

    Find my recipes on FoodNetwork.CA and TheKitchn

    As Seen On

    Milk & Cookies Cake on The New York Times Style Magazine

    Cinnamon Roll Cake on Food Network 

    5 Stylish Layer Cakes on The Kitchn

    Cookie Decorating with MUJI 

    London Fog Cake on Bake From Scratch 

    Buttercream Flower Cupcakes with Wilton Cakes

    Popular Recipes

    • A thick slice of lemon ricotta cake with lemons and tea in the background
      Quick and Easy Lemon Ricotta Cake

    • How to Ice an Ombré Cake

    • Frosting a watercolor buttercream cake
      How to Make a Watercolor Cake

    • A bunch of mini two-layer vanilla cakes with flowers on top
      How to Make Mini Cakes

    Seasonal Recipes

    • An overhead image of a cake with slices on plum baked in a spiral on top.
      Plum Yogurt Cake

    • Carrot Cake Recipe with Brown Butter Frosting

    • Pumpkin Coffee Cream Cheese Cake
      Small-Batch Pumpkin Cake with Coffee Cream Cheese Frosting

    • A slice of apple blueberry pie
      Apple Blueberry Pie

    Cake Decorating

    • a perfect chocolate drip cake with pink buttercream frosting
      How to Make a Chocolate Drip Cake

    • How to Ice a Cake

    • Stacking layers of cake and filling.
      How to Stack and Fill a Cake

    • Making a buttercream flower cake with pink, orange, and purple frosting
      How to Make a Buttercream Flower Cake

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • As Seen On

    Newsletter

    • Sign up for new articles and updates
    • Bake my recipes on FoodNetwork.ca

    Contact

    • Work with Me
    • Email

    COPYRIGHT © 2024 StyleSweet Studio LTD.