How do you make an apple pie crust?

The Classic Apple Pie Crust:

Ingredients:

* 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

* 1 teaspoon salt

* 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces

* 1/2 cup ice water

Instructions:

1. Whisk the dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.

2. Cut in the butter: Add the chilled butter to the flour mixture and use a pastry blender, two forks, or your fingertips to cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. The butter pieces should be about the size of peas.

3. Add the water gradually: Drizzle in the ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, while mixing with a fork or your fingertips. Be careful not to overmix. The dough should come together in a ball, but still feel slightly crumbly.

4. Form the dough: Divide the dough in half and form each half into a flat disc. Wrap each disc in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (or up to 2 days).

5. Roll out the dough: When ready to use, roll out one disc of dough on a lightly floured surface to a 12-inch circle. Transfer the dough to your pie pan.

6. Blind bake: If desired, you can blind bake the crust before filling. Prick the bottom of the crust with a fork, line it with parchment paper or foil, and weigh it down with pie weights or dry beans. Bake in a preheated 400°F (200°C) oven for 15 minutes. Remove the weights and parchment/foil and bake for another 5-10 minutes.

Tips:

* Use cold ingredients: Chilled butter and ice water are essential for a flaky crust.

* Don't overmix: Overmixing the dough will develop the gluten, making the crust tough.

* Chill the dough: Refrigerating the dough allows the gluten to relax and the butter to solidify, resulting in a flaky crust.

* Use a pastry blender: It makes the process of cutting the butter into the flour much easier and more efficient.

Variations:

* Add sugar to the dough: You can add 1-2 tablespoons of granulated sugar to the dough for a slightly sweeter crust.

* Use a different fat: You can substitute vegetable shortening or a combination of butter and shortening for the butter in the recipe.

* Make a single crust: For a single crust pie, simply follow the recipe above but only use half the dough.

Enjoy your delicious homemade apple pie!