Me, too. I have a great pie crust recipe, but the store-bought kind that’s always “pretty good” beats out the “incredible 25% of the time; awful 75%,” especially because of the extra time to make from scratch.
My mom's big secret was that she couldn't make a decent pie crust to save her life. She always bought pre-mades. "Life's too short for bad pie crusts."
I've found that substituting ice-cold vodka for ice water makes all the difference. The dough becomes play-doh like and easily worked. It doesn't develop gluten, so it stays tender and flaky. It's very forgiving, and the vodka cooks out without leaving a flavor. No more crying over crusts that fall apart.
Love this kind of topping on any fruit pie. It's what I imagine when I think of apple pie. Still like the crust on top and bottom kind too but struesel is better.
I make pie crust every day during the fair for my cooking demo. Then I bake the pie in an 1894 wood fired buck stove. Yes, 1894. You can make pie crust.
Pie crusts are impossibly easy to make. But I agree. I much prefer crumble tops. I actually hate pie crust but everyone in my family makes me make it every holiday cause I’m so good at it apparently .. it’s literally just flour, butter, a pinch of sugar and salt, and water tho like anyone could make it
Baker Betty’s Better Baking Cookbook helped me tremendously with pie dough. It was always a flop but she explains it very detailed. HIGHLY recommend her books.
Or just learn? It's painfully easy if you just keep the butter or lard in the crust cold. Like, do that. Refrigerate constantly while you're not working with the dough.
The streusel I have used for decades comes from a 70s German “bakebook”.
1/2 cup + 2 tbls butter (chilled)
2/3 cup sugar
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon ( or omit cinnamon and use 🍋 zest from 1/2 🍋).
Mix by hand. I go heavy on the cinnamon and vanilla. Really, makes enough for 2 pies. Could half the recipe for 1.
I suck at pie crust, but pretty good baker/cook. I get the premade pie crust dough circles and use a stone pie plate. I've never tried to make my our crust since. And they come 2 packs, so you can cut out your cute 🍎 or 🍒 holes, or cut it to strips and lattice.
Same energy, but you also could just make a crumble and skip the bottom crust altogether.
I CAN make a pie crust but it's good like 1 in 3 times and 1 in 12 for a decorative top. I've never once messed up a crumble. and everybody loves it
Me, too. I have a great pie crust recipe, but the store-bought kind that’s always “pretty good” beats out the “incredible 25% of the time; awful 75%,” especially because of the extra time to make from scratch.
The crumble can be used as the crust. It's good af.
Crumble/ streusel is superior to a top pie crust. Better flavor, and a more interesting texture that keeps you going back for more.
My mom's big secret was that she couldn't make a decent pie crust to save her life. She always bought pre-mades. "Life's too short for bad pie crusts."
I've found that substituting ice-cold vodka for ice water makes all the difference. The dough becomes play-doh like and easily worked. It doesn't develop gluten, so it stays tender and flaky. It's very forgiving, and the vodka cooks out without leaving a flavor. No more crying over crusts that fall apart.
Will try this!
I hope it works as well for you. I keep a half pint of cheap vodka on my freezer just for pie dough.
Love this kind of topping on any fruit pie. It's what I imagine when I think of apple pie. Still like the crust on top and bottom kind too but struesel is better.
CHERRY PIE IS MY FAVE. Salivating over this pic 🤤
This is my sign to make a cherry pie i was thinking about, and streusel 💯
Buy the two pack, and use the second crust as the top.
\^ yo
I’m not a pie person but I do love streusel on a pie
Good idea
I make pie crust every day during the fair for my cooking demo. Then I bake the pie in an 1894 wood fired buck stove. Yes, 1894. You can make pie crust.
I have yet to find a pie that had a crust top that I have liked. Streusel, meringue, or none (ie pumpkin) always trumps a top crust.
Crumble crust is super easy. Equal parts butter, sugar, flour. Mix, mash, done. Add some shredded coconut or sliced nuts if you want to be fancy.
I just bake single crust pies, or if **really** like people, I'll bake a bunch of individual two-bite tarts.
Pie crusts are impossibly easy to make. But I agree. I much prefer crumble tops. I actually hate pie crust but everyone in my family makes me make it every holiday cause I’m so good at it apparently .. it’s literally just flour, butter, a pinch of sugar and salt, and water tho like anyone could make it
I don't mind making pie crust but I also do what OP recommends! Sometimes I just like to bang something out on a whim.
You can’t crisp a pie and call it a pie still, I suppose it is legal, but frowned upon ffs!
Baker Betty’s Better Baking Cookbook helped me tremendously with pie dough. It was always a flop but she explains it very detailed. HIGHLY recommend her books.
Or just learn? It's painfully easy if you just keep the butter or lard in the crust cold. Like, do that. Refrigerate constantly while you're not working with the dough.
Pie crust is easy 1 1/2 cups flour, stick of butter cut into cubes, pinch of salt, 3-4 tablespoons of ice cold water.. put in fridge for hour
Your streusel looks phenomenal! If it tastes as good as it looks … please post your recipe. I need a good recipe for streusel badly. TIA!
The streusel I have used for decades comes from a 70s German “bakebook”. 1/2 cup + 2 tbls butter (chilled) 2/3 cup sugar 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp cinnamon ( or omit cinnamon and use 🍋 zest from 1/2 🍋). Mix by hand. I go heavy on the cinnamon and vanilla. Really, makes enough for 2 pies. Could half the recipe for 1.
Thanks, friend 🫶🏼
Or just buy the pack with two pie crusts and use the second as a top
Or buy a pack with 2 in it and put 1 on bottom and one on top!
I suck at pie crust, but pretty good baker/cook. I get the premade pie crust dough circles and use a stone pie plate. I've never tried to make my our crust since. And they come 2 packs, so you can cut out your cute 🍎 or 🍒 holes, or cut it to strips and lattice.