Lemon Piepecan Crumb Crust Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with rack on lowest level. Spread pecans on a rimmed baking sheet, and toast in the oven until golden, tossing occasionally, about 10 minutes. Let cool.
• In a food processor, finely grind graham crackers, sugar, and pecans. Add the butter, and process until completely combined.
• Press mixture into bottom and up sides of a 9-inch pie pan. Bake until crust is lightly browned, about 8 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.
• In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks with the condensed milk. Stir in the lemon juice. Spoon filling into cooled pie crust. Bake until filling is set and crust is golden brown around the edges, about 15 minutes. Let cool slightly, then refrigerate until well chilled, at least 1 hour.

Steps:

• preheat oven to 350.
• in a processor add grahams, pecans, sugar-- add butter and process until combined press into a pie plate, bake until brown about 8 minutes, cool.
• in a large bowl beat eggs and condensed milk.
• stir in lemon juice.
• pour into crust.
• bake 15 minutes until filling is set, cool, refrigerate at least 1 hour.

Steps:

• Make crust:
• Mix first 5 ingredients in large bowl; add butter and shortening. Using electric mixer, beat at low speed until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 2 tablespoons ice water. Beat until dough holds together, adding more water by 1/2 tablespoonfuls if dry. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap disk in waxed paper and chill until firm enough to roll, at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
• Roll out dough between sheets of waxed paper to 12-inch round. Peel off top sheet of paper. Invert dough into 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish; peel off paper. Press dough gently into dish. Trim overhang to 3/4 inch; turn under and crimp edge decoratively. Freeze crust until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Line crust with foil; fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake crust until golden at edge, about 15 minutes. Remove foil and beans; continue to bake until crust is pale golden, piercing with fork if crust bubbles, about 12 minutes. Cool completely on rack.
• Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.
• Make filling and topping:
• Whisk 1 3/4 cups sugar and 1/3 cup cornstarch in heavy medium saucepan to blend. Gradually add 1 1/2 cups water and lemon juice, whisking until cornstarch dissolves and mixture is smooth. Add yolks and peel; whisk to blend. Cook over medium-high heat until filling thickens and boils, whisking constantly, about 8 minutes. Pour into prepared crust.
• Using electric mixer, beat whites and cream of tartar in large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1/3 cup sugar, beating until stiff and shiny. Mound meringue atop warm lemon filling, spreading to seal to crust at edges.
• Bake pie until meringue is golden, about 20 minutes. Cool pie 1 hour. Refrigerate up to 6 hours; serve cold.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, granulated sugar and eggs until incorporated. Stir in the butter, vanilla, lemon zest and juice, milk, flour and 1 cup chopped pecans until combined. Pour the mixture into the unbaked pie shell. Arrange the pecan halves on top of the pie in a circular pattern.
• Bake until the crust is golden brown and the filling is set but still a little loose in the center (it will set as it cools), about 55 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Steps:

• Stir together ground nuts, cinnamon, and sugar. Mix in melted butter.
• Press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9 inch, deep-dish style, pie pan. Chill the unbaked crust in the refrigerator for about 30 to 45 minutes.
• Place pie crust on a cookie sheet, and position on the middle rack of a preheated 350 degree F (175 degree C) oven. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until lightly browned. WATCH it carefully, as nut crusts burn easily; they DON'T have to turn black to taste burnt! Cool completely before filling.

Steps:

• In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the flour, salt, and sugar. Add butter and pulse until coarse, pea-size crumbs appear, about 10 seconds. With the machine running, add vinegar and ¼ cup ice-cold water and process until the dough just holds together, about 30 seconds. Squeeze a small amount of dough between your fingers and if it is very crumbly, add more ice water, 1 Tbsp. at a time (2 Tbsp. maximum). Do not over process.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and push together into a rough ball. Knead a few times to combine, then divide into two equal balls. Flatten each ball into a disk with smooth edges (no cracks), cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to overnight. Do ahead: Dough can also be frozen for up to 3 months; thaw before using. Editor's note: This recipe was originally published in November 2014 as Our Favorite Pie Dough. Head this way for all of our best pie recipes →