These Easy Way To Blind Bake A Pie Crust

Ever tried to blind bake a pie crust only to end up with a bubbly, slumped mess? If your pie crusts have puffed up in odd places or slid down the sides of the pan, you’re not alone. Blind baking—baking the crust before adding any filling—can be tricky, but it’s the secret to a crisp, perfectly baked pie base that won’t turn soggy. I’ll walk you through the easy way to do it, so you get a crust that holds its shape and looks as good as it tastes. Let’s prepare that pie crust for whatever filling you’re dreaming up!

A baked pie crust with fluted edges sits on a cooling rack, next to a red and white striped cloth. — Baked Blind Baked Pie Crust. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

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The technique for blind baking or some call it pre-baking, is not hard but there are several steps to take for success so you can make a pie crust without shrinking.
Learn How: How To Blind Bake Pie Crusts

Roll Out The Pie Dough

Uncooked pie dough rolled out on a floured surface, with a rolling pin, a bowl, and a spoon with flour nearby. — Rolled Out Pie Dough. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Start out with a great pie dough recipe. All butter or butter and shortening will work. Make sure you roll the dough out so it's big enough for the pie plate.
Get the Recipe: Pie Dough Recipe

Unbaked Pie Shell

Unbaked pie crust in a dish with fluted edges, surrounded by a rolling pin and dough scraps. — Unbaked Pie Shell. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Place the rolled-out pie dough on the pie plate. Trim and crimp the edges of the dough and make sure the crimped dough is on the edge of the pie plate. This help keep the dough from falling over as it bakes.
Learn How: Learn How To Blind Bake A Pie Crust

Parchment Lined Pie Shell

Unbaked pie crust in a pan lined with parchment paper, ready for filling. — Pie Shell With Parchment Paper Liner. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Cut a piece of parchment paper into a round that fits inside the unbaked pie crust. Place the parchment paper in the pie shell all the way to the top of the crust.
Learn How: Learn How To Blind Bake A Pie Crust

Add Weight To The Pie Shell

A pie crust filled with uncooked white rice, ready for blind baking. — Rice To Weigh Down Pie Dough. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Now, you must weigh down the unbaked pie shell with rice, beans, lentils or sugar. I fill the shell almost full and into the crimped edges of the crust. This will keep the pie dough from shrinking and falling over during baking. Bake for 20 minutes at 375 degrees F. After that time, remove the rice and parchment.
Learn How: Learn How To Blind Bake A Pie Crust

Docking Pie Dough

Partially baked pie crust in a round pan with a fork resting on top. — Docking Pie Dough. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Next, dock the partially baked pie shell on the sides and bottom with a fork. Docking pie dough is simply poking small holes across the surface of the dough, typically using a fork. Doing this helps release trapped steam in the dough, which prevents the it from puffing up or forming air bubbles during baking. Put the pie plate back in the oven and finish baking.

Docking is especially useful for blind-baking pie crusts (baking the crust without a filling) as it ensures a flat, even base for pies like quiches or cream pies, where a smooth, unpuffed crust is needed.
Learn How: Learn How To Blind Bake A Pie Crust

Bubbled Up Pie Crust

A baked pie crust in a glass dish on a wooden surface with a red and white striped towel in the background. — Blind Baked Pie Crust Undocked. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Here's a good example of a baked pie crust that was not weighted down or docked. You could still use this, but when you cut your pie, all those bubbles in the crust will collapse from the weight of the filling, and your pie slice will be one big ugly mess.
Learn How: Learn How To Blind Bake A Pie Crust

Butterscotch Cream Pie

Slice of pie with creamy topping on a white plate, partially eaten, with a fork. — Butterscotch Pie with Meringue. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Try our old-fashioned Butterscotch Cream Pie that requires you to bake a pie crust blind. You'll love the rich, creamy filling, the soft meringue on top, and the flaky pie crust.
Get the Recipe: Butterscotch Meringue Pie

Baked Shortcrust Tart Shell

A round, empty tart crust sits in a fluted pan on a blue and white striped cloth. — Baked Shortcrust Tart Shell. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

If you are making a creamy tart, you will make and bake it the same way you would a pie shell: fit it in the pan, weigh it down, dock it and bake it.
Get the Recipe: Shortcrust Tart Shell