Whip this dairy free and vegan pie crust up in no time! The dough is super simple to work with and it’s make ahead ready! This crust is light, and flaky and perfect for all your pie crust needs!
Table of Contents
Why Homemade Pastry?
I realize there’s some uneasiness about making homemade pie pastry. I get it, I was there too. But once I started making my own, I never went back to store bought. I found the more I made it, the easier it became to handle and my favorite part, I could control the ingredients. Pie dough is freezer friendly, able to be made weeks ahead and frozen, then thawed in the fridge the night before you need it. It also holds well in the refrigerator for at least two days prior to use.
I use homemade nut buttermilk to hydrate pie crust because the acidity helps tenderize the gluten, yields a more pliable dough and tastier crust. Homemade nut buttermilk is simply a mixture of nut milk and either apple cider vinegar or lemon juice.
Matters of the Pan
The type of pie pan you use can make a difference in your crust. I use stoneware and glass, both of which seem to bake more evenly than metal. With stoneware, with its slick surface, the dough tends to slide down, which makes it look like the pastry shrunk a bit.
With glass, the edges tend to keep their shape better, and you can keep an eye on the bottom of your crust while baking; an advantage if you’re uneasy about pie-baking. Martha Stewart has a dish debate that may be helpful.
The Easiest Crust
Below, I share my process, tips, and recipe for a vegan blind-baked single crust (pictured) and double crust dough. Use a blind-baked crust when the filling will take longer to bake than the crust. It also helps to prevent a soggy bottom. Who wants a soggy bottom anyway? And….
There’s a video below!!
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Recipe Development
I was skeptical until a Vanilla And Bean reader asked me to create a Vegan Bourbon Pecan Pie. Then I got to work testing a vegan pie crust using coconut oil, preparing for the pecan pie.
It didn’t happen the first time or the second time. I tried using melted coconut oil and made a complete mess. Then I tried cutting solid coconut oil in just as I would for an All-Butter Buttermilk Pie Dough, hoping to make an extra flaky dough. What I got were melted pits of nothing in my crust.
Determined to make a vegan pie crust, I got out the food processor and processed in solid coconut oil, until I got an extra mealy consistency. After baking this dough it came out the way I envisioned and exceeded my expectations. It’s easy to work with, the dough is silky, the baked crust is flaky and it tastes delicious.
Without extra folding or handling, I was quite impressed not only with the flavor but with the texture of the crust. And I could work the dough at room temperature without worrying about getting the dough too warm. A win-win in my book!
Practice, Practice, Practice…
With regards to crimping and fluting, this is a skill that takes time to master. I’m still learning and am inconsistent in my work. Some days it looks good, others, not so much. When that’s the case, I cut out leaves or other shapes and and decorate over the crust edge. I just keep practicing!
Rob said this crust was a “buttery crust” (!!). Y’all, he detects any and everything that’s not regular (his words), so for him to say this crust tastes buttery without knowing it’s coconut oil kinda knocked my socks off. Me? I don’t think it tastes buttery, but it certainly gives butter a run for it’s money!
This vegan pie crust is quick, easy, flaky, and tastes light, and crunchy.
Watch A Video To See How to Make It!
How to Make a Coconut Oil Pie Crust
Ingredients
Single Crust Pastry to Make 1, 9 1/2" (24cm) Pie Crust (you'll have leftovers for decorating!)
- 1/3 C Nut Milk I use Homemade Cashew Milk, 74g
- 1 1/2 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 1/4 C All Purpose Flour + more for dusting 210g
- 1 Tbs Cane Sugar
- 1 tsp Sea Salt
- 1/2 C Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil - solid at room temperature, 113g
- Pan Spray
Double Crust Pastry to make 2, 9 1/2" (24cm) Pie Crust (you'll have leftovers for decorating!)
- 2/3 C Nut Milk I use Homemade Cashew Milk, 148g
- 3 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 1/2 C All Purpose Flour + more for dusting 420g
- 2 Tbs Cane Sugar
- 2 tsp Sea Salt
- 1 C Unrefined Virgin, Coconut Oil - solid at room temperature, 226g
- Pan Spray
Instructions
- Whisk together nut milk and apple cider vinegar. Set aside to rest for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile in the bowl of a food processor, add the flour, sugar, and salt. Pulse to combine. Add the solid coconut oil and process until mealy, about 18 seconds. With the processor running, add the nut milk and process about 20 seconds or until the mixture forms a loose ball (there will be some loose bits of dough). To test the dough, grab a fist-full and squeeze. It should hold together. If not add no more than a tsp of water until it clumps in your fist.
- Dump the dough out onto a floured work surface. Use a bench scraper to gather the bits together. Use the bench scraper to press and fold, press and fold - folding the dough over and on top of its self several times. The dough will begin to come together. Shape into a smooth thick disk and cover the dough with a bowl. Rest for 20 minutes to relax the gluten. Or, if you're like me, press on. It will be a bit more difficult to roll out, but if you're comfortable working with pastry or in a hurry, then just go for it!
- FOR GALETTES: At this point the dough can be used for one or two galettes (one for a single crust, two for a double crust). Proceed with the directions in whatever recipe you're followingTO FREEZE: Now is a good time to freeze the dough if you're planning ahead for a future event or wont be using the dough within a two days. Double wrap the dough in plastic wrap and place it on a flat surface in the freezer for up to one month. When ready to use, thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Before rolling out the dough, leave it at room temperature for at least an hour - this will make it easier to roll.
- FOR PIE: Spray a 9 1/2" pie plate with pan spray, set aside. Flour your work surface and rolling pin generously and beat the dough with your pin about 5-6 times, keeping it in the shape of circle as much as possible, turning it as needed. Roll out the dough to 1/8" (3mm) making sure to reflour the work surface under the dough as you work or it will stick. (You may find at this point you'd rather just ball it up and start again. If so, give the dough some time to rest. Ball it up, knead it, beat it, let it rest for 10-20 minutes, then roll it out again - believe me, I've done it!) Roll the dough over the rolling pin, then center it in your pie plate, unrolling the dough. If you find a crack, simply dab your finger in cold water and press the crack together. Press the dough gently into the pan. Trim the edges to about 1" and tuck pressing the dough as you tuck onto the edge of the pie plate. Crimp edges and throughly dock the dough using the tines of a fork. Line the pastry with parchment then fill it with pie weights, beans or pennies and place it in the refrigerator for 20 minutes or over night (cover if leaving overnight). Fill as directed by the pie recipe or continue for a blind (or par) baked crust.
- While the dough is resting, preheat oven to 350F (180C). Bake the pastry for 25 minutes for a blind baked crust. Then proceed with the directions of the recipe you're using. Blind baking a crust can be done up to one day prior to when the pastry is needed. Store covered at room temperature.
- If the pie will not be baked again as with some custard pies, then remove the pie weights and parchment after baking for 25 minutes, and return the pie to the oven to finish baking for another 10 minutes or until the bottom crust is golden. You can also brush the edges with nutmilk and sprinkle with sugar after removing the pie weights for an extra tasty and dark crust.
Hello, can you recommend a GF flour to use?
Could not find a link to the video.
Hi Gloria! The video sits just above the recipe card. I hope this helps!
Would storebought nut milk work rather than homemade, and what would you recommend?
Hi Erin… store-bought is fine. You can choose whatever nutmilk prefer. I hope this helps.
Hi Traci,
Thank you so much for such a great recipe! I decided to give coconut pie crust another go after two almost failed attempts, I made this last night and it was so easy…no struggles at all with the crust breaking down as I rolled it, the almond milk and vinegar I think make such a difference as opposed to just adding cold water. The dough was soft and so easy to handle, and it tastes deliciously flaky and light. I rolled it out to cover an 11″ pie pan, and refrigerated for 15 min, then filled it with my apple mix for an open faced pie. It turned out fantastic! Thanks again!!
Thank you so much for your note, Sirine! Vinegar is said to tenderize gluten and there’s no other recipe I find that more to be the case than with pie pastry. It makes it SO much easier to roll out and shape. Your apple open face pie sounds just fabulous (I need to make one!). Thank you for sharing your thoughts and success! I’m so happy you decided to give coconut oil pastry a go… again! Hooray!
I make homemade kefir and would like to try substituting it for the nut milk/vinegar. Do you think it will work well?
Hi Heidi! Although I’ve never worked with kefir (I know, right?!), I think it may work. The water content is probably different, so just keep an eye on that and adjust as needed. Please let us know if it works for you!
Hello Traci, and I’m so very happy I came across your gorgeous site!
Do you think a gluten-free store-bought all-purpose flour might work for this crust, considering they are getting pretty close in elasticity due to xantham gum and all? Well, I’ll try it regardless and will let you know! Cheers and Happy Holidays to you and the other awesome commentators!
Thank you for your note, Giselle. I couldn’t say because I’ve not tried it, but would love to hear if it worked for you!
Did you ever hear from Giselle who -in 2016- made the crust with a gluten-free flour? I’m also wondering if we need the vinegar since you were using it to tenderize (?) the gluten with the regular all purpose flour.
Hi Tonya… I didn’t hear from her, but I just posted this Apple Pie recipe – it’s gf! https://vanillaandbean.com/apple-pie-gluten-free-vegan/ Absolutely use the Apple cider vinegar. It too tenderizes even gf flours! I hope this helps.
Oh my goodness, thank you for this post! I’ve been making coconut oil pie crust for a while but always with mixed results. I too have encountered the dreaded “melted pits of nothing” when I mistakenly think that I’ve sufficiently worked my cold coconut oil into my flour using a pastry cutter. It’s not pretty! Thank you also for noting that coconut oil does not have the water content of butter. My mother in law, who is a pastry chef but does not do much vegan baking, and I were trying to figure out why coconut oil crust always seems to require so much more water to come together than a traditional all butter crust. Question answered!
Hey Kristi! So happy this helps… Yeah, those pits. I KNOW! Water does so much for pastry.. but too much of it is a problem. Who knew? When I was in pastry school we talked extensively about butter and how results can differ from one brand to the next with regards to water content. When I first started testing this recipe, I knew there was a water issue.. but it took me a few tries to tease it out. Using a food processor makes it easy… too. I coudn’t get it that mealy without a lot of extra work. (I don’t use one for butter – as I always cut it in by hand… quality control). I hope you two enjoy the recipe! (BTW – love your site name :D )
I love reading about your recipe development methods, Traci! That crust looks so silky and beautiful. I love coconut oil but I’ve always gotten those little dimples when I use it in crusts…great idea to break out the food processor!
Nice crust! Love the idea of using coconut oil ♥
Thank you Summer!
What an interesting crust, and I loved seeing it all come together in the video!
Why thank you Sue!
I’m not a very good baker, so I appreciate all the tips in this post, Traci. I don’t always have butter on hand but I do have coconut oil – so this is a great recipe for me – next time I feel inspired to suddenly bake a pie! Also, way to go on the video! Was it hard and time consuming to do? I haven’t ventured into video yet but it seems like the next step in blogging. Still battling my awful cold – and the cheery music on the video made me feel a bit better :).
I’m with ya, Geraldine. I stay stocked in coconut oil (a huge tub of it!).. so this is so convenient. The video? Welll… I’m just learning, so I’m slow. And I’m about to start using a new program too (even slower).. but once I learn how it works, it’ll get easier. I hope you feel better soon.. the holidays are comin!!
I was literally looking for this exact thing today! I realized I don’t even have a pie crust recipe on my site (what!) and I needed one, so this is totally what I’m using for Thanksgiving! I kind of love the science-y part of it, so reading about the different methods appealed to me! :)
Hooray Abby! But you need a pie crust on your site!! Who knew you have to handle it different than butter… but I finally realized, butter has water content while coconut oil does not. It makes a big difference, I hope you enjoy the recipe my dear.