Gluten-free diets have become increasingly popular in recent years, with more and more people adopting a gluten-free lifestyle for health, dietary, or personal reasons. For those who follow a strict gluten-free diet, finding tasty, high-quality gluten-free products can be challenging. When it comes to baking and desserts, one particularly difficult gluten-free substitute to find is pie crust. With the holiday baking season coming up, many gluten-free bakers wonder: does Pillsbury have a gluten-free pie crust?
The Challenges of Gluten-Free Baking
For those unfamiliar, gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. It gives elasticity to dough, helping baked goods rise and keep their shape. Gluten also gives bread its chewy texture. When gluten is removed from flour, it becomes much more difficult to bake light, fluffy, and chewy baked goods.
Gluten-free flours, such as those made from rice, tapioca, corn, buckwheat, almond, and coconut do not have the same properties as wheat flour containing gluten. Therefore, gluten-free baking requires careful measurements, ingredient substitutions, and often extra steps to produce satisfactory results.
Pie dough, in particular, can be tricky without gluten. The lack of stretch and structure from gluten makes gluten-free doughs much more delicate and difficult to roll out. Extra binding ingredients like xanthan gum or guar gum are typically added to help gluten-free doughs stick together. Still, it can be a process of trial and error to get the ratios just right.
Introducing Gluten-Free Pillsbury Pie Crust
The good news is that Pillsbury does offer a gluten-free pie crust, called Pillsbury Gluten Free Pie Crust. This revolutionary product makes baking gluten-free pies much easier.
Pillsbury Gluten Free Pie Crust is sold in boxes containing two rounds of pie dough. It can be found in the frozen food aisle of grocery stores that carry specialty gluten-free items. The dough rounds come individually wrapped, so they can be thawed one at a time.
Here are some key facts about Pillsbury Gluten Free Pie Crust:
- Certified gluten-free, with less than 20ppm of gluten
- No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- Can be used in sweet or savory pies
- Yields two 9-inch pie crusts
- Made with rice flour and potato starch
- Has added xanthan gum to help mimic gluten’s binding properties
- Comes pre-rolled for convenience
- Bakes up light and flaky
Pillsbury Gluten Free Pie Crust performs remarkably well compared to other gluten-free pie crust alternatives. It rolls out easily and has a tender, flaky texture when baked. Using this pre-made crust takes the guesswork and frustration out of gluten-free pie making.
How to Use Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie Crust
Working with Pillsbury Gluten Free Pie Crust is simple. Here are some tips:
- Keep the pie dough rounds frozen until ready to use
- Thaw the dough in the refrigerator overnight before baking
- Let the dough sit at room temperature for 15 minutes after thawing, to become more pliable
- Gently roll out the dough between two sheets of parchment paper
- Carefully fit the crust into a 9-inch pie pan
- Trim off excess dough from the edges
- Fill pre-baked crusts with desired pie fillings
- For a fully baked crust, prick sides and bottom with a fork before baking
- Bake at 375°F for about 20 minutes, until lightly browned
- Allow crust to cool completely before filling
The dough may be more delicate than regular pie dough, so take care when rolling it out and transferring it to the pie pan. Work slowly and gently. Use parchment paper or waxed paper to help move the crust if needed.
Delicious Gluten-Free Pie Recipes
Pillsbury Gluten Free Pie Crust opens up a world of possibilities for gluten-free bakers. You can make virtually any pie with this handy crust. Both sweet and savory gluten-free pies are options. Here are just some of the pies you can create:
Sweet Pies
- Apple
- Cherry
- Blueberry
- Strawberry Rhubarb
- Peach
- Pumpkin
- Pecan
- Key Lime
- Lemon Meringue
- Chocolate Cream
- Coconut Cream
- Banana Cream
Savory Pies
- Chicken Pot Pie
- Shepherd’s Pie
- Quiche
- Spinach and Cheese Tart
- Onion Tart
- Tomato Tart
- Artichoke and Olive Tart
The crust also works beautifully for petite sized individual pies and hand pies. Get creative with your favorite fruits, fillings, and seasonings!
Baking Tips
Here are some extra pointers for achieving pie perfection with Pillsbury Gluten Free Pie Crust:
- Roll dough between two sheets of parchment for easier handling
- Brush excess flour off dough before transferring to pie dish
- Chill dough-lined pie dish in fridge before baking for best results
- For pre-baked shells, prick dough all over with a fork to prevent bubbling
- Bake shells 5 minutes longer than recipe states for extra crispness
- Let baked shells cool completely before filling to prevent sogginess
- Place pie dish on a baking sheet to catch any drips while baking
- Shield edges of crust with foil if browning too quickly
Be gentle yet confident when handling the dough. Move quickly but cautiously when fitting it into the pie dish. If the dough warms up too much, it can become sticky. Work in a cool environment and use cold hands for best results.
Where to Buy Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie Crust
Pillsbury Gluten Free Pie Crust may not be in all grocery stores yet, since it’s a newer product. Check specialty grocery stores like Whole Foods, Sprouts, Earth Fare, and Fresh Market. The product can also be found on Amazon and at Target. Call your local stores ahead to check availability if you can’t find it in person. Be sure to check the freezer aisle.
The crust is affordable too, typically ranging from $5.99 to $8.99 for a box of two crusts. That’s cheaper than most gluten-free specialty bakeries charge for a single pie crust. At only $3-4 per crust, it’s a great value purchase for gluten-free bakers. Buying the pre-made crusts saves a lot of time and hassle as well.
Reviews of Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie Crust
So how do bakers rate Pillsbury’s gluten-free pie crust? Here are some real customer reviews:
“This crust is amazing! Rolls out beautifully and bakes up flaky and delicious. Way better than any gluten free crust I’ve tried to make myself.”
“Tastes like regular pie crust, not gritty or crumbly. Love that I can have pie again thanks to this product.”
“Easy to work with compared to other gluten-free doughs. Made a fabulous pumpkin pie that my whole family enjoyed.”
“Crust baked perfectly in my pie dish. Held together well and didn’t get soggy on the bottom. Nice light flavor.”
The consensus seems to be that Pillsbury Gluten Free Pie Crust performs as good or better than homemade gluten-free dough. It’s the closest thing you can get to traditional pie crust without the gluten. The ready-to-use crusts make baking so much more convenient for gluten-free consumers.
Nutritional Information
Like any gluten-free product, Pillsbury Gluten Free Pie Crust has slightly different nutrition facts than traditional pie dough made with wheat flour. Here are the nutrition facts for a 1/6 piece of crust, according to the package:
| Calories | 130 |
|---|---|
| Fat | 5g |
| Saturated Fat | 0g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Sodium | 260mg |
| Carbs | 22g |
| Fiber | Less than 1g |
| Sugar | 2g |
| Protein | 1g |
The crust is higher in carbs and sodium compared to wheat-based crusts. But that is typical for gluten-free products substituting various starches and binding agents for wheat flour. There are 5 grams of fat per serving, but no saturated or trans fats. Overall, the nutritional profile is very respectable for a gluten-free, processed food product. Keep portions in check and accompany each slice of pie with protein, vegetables, and healthy fats for balance.
Pros and Cons
Here’s a quick rundown of the pros and cons of Pillsbury Gluten Free Pie Crust:
Pros:
- Gluten-free
- Pre-rolled for convenience
- Flaky, tender texture
- Easy to handle and roll out
- Bakes up nice and crisp
- Can be used for both sweet and savory pies
- Versatile for all sorts of pies
- Widely available
- Reasonably priced
Cons:
- Not available in all grocery stores yet
- Short ingredient shelf life, must be frozen
- Can be delicate to work with
- Higher in carbs and sodium than wheat-based crust
- Still not exactly the same as traditional pie crust
The few downsides are relatively minor. The benefits of having an easy, tasty gluten-free pie crust that bakes nicely outweighs any small drawbacks. Just take care when handling the dough and read the ingredient labels closely since purity is paramount for the gluten intolerant.
The Verdict
Pillsbury has succeeded in creating a gluten-free pie crust that is comparable to wheat-based crusts in taste, texture, and appearance. Bakers praise its convenience and performance. This product fills a significant gap for gluten-free consumers who want to be able to enjoy delicious homemade pies. Although not identical to regular crust, it’s impressively close.
Pillsbury Gluten Free Pie Crust receives glowing reviews from the gluten-free community. The consensus is that it rolls out beautifully, holds together well, and bakes up flaky and tasty. It makes whipping up gluten-free sweet and savory pies a breeze. This ready-to-use crust is a game changer for gluten-free bakers.
So if you’ve been wondering if Pillsbury has a reliable gluten-free pie crust, the answer is a resounding yes! Seek out this product at your local grocery store or online retailer. Once you try it, you’ll have a new secret weapon for effortless gluten-free pies that taste like the real thing.
