How to Fix a Cracked Pie Crust: Expert Tips and Tricks

Pie crust can be a finicky creature, and even the most experienced bakers can end up with a cracked crust. But don’t worry, there are several effective ways to fix this common issue. Here are some expert tips and tricks to help you salvage your pie and ensure a perfect, flaky crust.

Patching Cracks in Raw Pie Dough

If your pie dough breaks and crumbles when you try to roll it out, it’s probably too dry. This is a relatively easy fix. Just sprinkle some cold water over the dough with your fingers and work it in—gently!—until the dough comes together.

Once you’ve rolled out the dough and placed it in the pie pan, you may still encounter cracks. In this case, you can use the excess dough you trimmed off the edges to patch the holes. Simply press the dough pieces into the cracks, rolling them into the crust to blend them together.

Fixing Cracks in Parbaked Pie Crust

If the cracks appear after you’ve parbaked the crust, you have a few options. For a narrow slit, you can brush the crust with an egg wash, which will help seal the crack when baked.

For wider tears, you’ll need to use some extra pie dough or make a “spackle” out of flour, butter, and a bit of sugar (for sweet pies). Press the dough or spackle into the cracks, then bake the crust for 5-10 minutes before adding the filling.

Remember to use a foil shield to avoid burning the crust if it’s already quite brown when you patch it.