8 Best Store-Bought Pie Crusts, According to Bakers
Making pie crust from scratch can be rewarding, but it also takes time and a little practice. Store-bought crusts can make the process easier, whether you need a quick option for a weeknight dessert or want to simplify your holiday baking. To find the best options, Eat This, Not That! asked bakers which store-bought pie crusts they turn to in their own kitchens. Here are the top eight picks.
Marie Callender’s Pastry Pie Shells
Marie Callender’s Pastry Pie Shells are a frozen option that takes the work out of preparing and shaping dough. The ready-to-use shells are designed for a range of homemade pies and can be kept on hand until you’re ready to bake. “My favorite store-bought pie crust is Marie Callender’s because it’s sturdy, reliable and consistently arrives without cracks or freezer burn,” says Kareem “Mr. Bake” Queeman, a James Beard Award semifinalist, pastry chef and founder of Mr. Bake Sweets. “It bakes beautifully, with a great texture and crumb and just the right amount of flavor. It’s a crust I know will perform every time.”
Chef Pierre Pie Crust
Chef Pierre makes frozen pie crusts for kitchens that need a convenient alternative to making dough from scratch. The brand’s pie crust is available in a ready-to-use format for a variety of sweet and savory pies. “It is best to make your pie crust yourself, but Chef Pierre is my favorite when I need a reliable store-bought pie crust,” says Burhan Demirci, the baker at Red Beard Coffee & Bakery in NYC. “It’s easy to work with and has a good balance of flakiness and tenderness.”
Pillsbury roll-out Pillsbury Pie Crust
Pillsbury roll-out Pillsbury Pie Crust gives home bakers the flexibility to shape their own crust without starting with homemade dough. The dough can be rolled, trimmed and shaped to fit a pie plate or create a decorative edge. “Yes, I know how to make my own crust and even have shells ready at work, but I always keep a box of Pillsbury roll-out Pillsbury Pie Crust in the freezer and fridge,” shares Tara Royer Steele, Pie Queen and Founder, Royers Pie Haven. “This crust has amazing flavor, is easy to roll out and crimp if you like, or looks great if you don’t!” She adds, “When I teach a pie class, I always tell students to keep Pillsbury in the freezer; you never know when you just need to bake a pie.”
Sweet Loren’s Pie Crust
Sweet Loren’s Pie Crust is a refrigerated dough designed for bakers looking for an alternative to traditional pie crust. “This pie crust is allergen-friendly, and it’s a dough, rather than a pre-shaped pie crust in a tin, which is important as it leaves room for me to be creative with my recipe,” explains Erin Fletter, founder and CEO of Sticky Fingers Cooking. Think outside the pie!”
Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s offers a refrigerated pie crust that can help streamline homemade pie preparation. It’s a practical option for bakers who want to skip making dough while still working with a crust they can shape and bake at home. According to Olivia Colt, CEO/Founder of Salt and Honey Catering, “Trader Joe’s pie crusts are reliable, bake beautifully, and, like most Trader Joe’s items, are really affordable.”
Jus-Rol Shortcrust Pastry
Jus-Rol Shortcrust Pastry comes as a pre-rolled sheet, making it particularly convenient for pies and other baked dishes. The pastry can also be used beyond traditional fruit pies, including tarts and savory recipes. “Jus-Rol Shortcrust Pastry is the best option because the product is intended to reduce preparation time for making a pie while providing a nice crispy golden color on the outside of your pie, regardless if you are making a sweet or savory pie,” explains Mark McShane, Chef | Food Safety Expert at Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate. He adds, “A key benefit in this product is the pre-rolled sheet, which allows me to place it right into my pie pan, eliminating the need for me to have to roll out the dough by hand; and the baking paper that it includes makes it easy to handle. Since it has a standard shortcrust pastry recipe, I could also make multiple types of pies such as fruit pies, tarts, quiche, and savory pies.”
Wholly Wholesome Organic Frozen Pie Shells
Wholly Wholesome Organic Frozen Pie Shells are a ready-made option for bakers. The shells come prepared for filling, making them a straightforward choice when convenience is the priority. “Wholly Wholesome’s frozen pie shells are the closest you’ll get to homemade without rolling out dough yourself — they come ready to fill and bake, no thawing gymnastics required,” says Daniel P. Craig, cooking and baking expert and founder of Kitchendeets.com. “My only gripe is quality control: I’ve had shells arrive cracked more than once. When you get a clean one, though, it holds its shape and bakes up flaky every time.”
King Arthur Baking Company Pie Crust Mix
King Arthur Baking Company Pie Crust Mix takes care of the dry ingredients while leaving the hands-on parts of pie-making to the baker. It’s a middle ground between fully homemade dough and a ready-made crust.
“King Arthur actually provided opportunities for home bakers to use shortcuts without ever feeling a store-bought effect on the food,” says Angela (DeMars) Skogen, Owner & Founder, Cooks On Main. “Home cooks still do the basic steps like rolling and shaping the dough and make room for improvements along the way.”