I have a dirty little secret in my freezer. It's a pie crust. But you know what? I am not ashamed at all. These pie crusts from Trader Joe's are just too good!
I am not normally a fan of frozen pie crusts. This is not snobbery. I just haven't liked the taste or texture of storebought pie crusts. Sure, they bake up pretty, and they are flaky, but they usually taste anemic and bland to me. And a good pie crust just isn't that hard to make, especially if you have a food processor.
But a few weeks ago I picked up a frozen pie crust because a friend had requested pie for dinner that night, and I knew I wouldn't have time to make a crust. To my delight, these Trader Joe's frozen crusts baked up beautifully. They were deliciously tasty as well. They tasted like butter. In fact, when you unwrap the two discs of pastry in the package, you can see fat flecks of yellow butter all throughout.
But surely this crust was full of preservatives and artificial coloring? Nope. Not at all. The ingredients are simple: Enriched flour, butter, palm oil, water and salt. (Palm oil is very high in saturated fat, but it has zero trans fats.)
I love the taste of these pie crusts. They are thick (I liked a thicker, more toothsome crust) and they are easy to handle. They bake up into flaky, substantial crusts, with buttery taste and real heft.
Since it's high pie season right now, with all those cherries and blackberries and apricots falling from bushes and trees, I keep one or two of these pie crusts in the freezer for impromptu pie-making. Yes, it's not that hard to make a pie crust from scratch (and this sour cream crust is especially easy) but hey, sometimes I like to have a card up my sleeve, culinarily speaking.
Do you ever use the Trader Joe's pie crusts? Are you a fan?
Related: Trader Joe's Pantry Staples: What Are Your Favorites?
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I really like these, they are also great for tarts!
I've never used these crusts before... are they sweetened, or would they work for quiches and savory tarts?
@Beckster, no, they are not sweetened. They would work very nicely for savory tarts.
Yay! They're back!
Last time I went in to look for them the store told me they were discontinued!
They are great in a pinch. My only complaint is that they are a little on the small side so if you want a more substantial or decorative crimp on the side, there isn't enough crust to handle that task.
They also make great savory pasties. There was an article on this site with a method for butternut squash pasties and I've used the TJ crusts to make that recipe. A satisfying pasty dinner can come together in no time with these crusts in your freezer!
i'm a huge fan, these are way better than those pie shells that come in those aluminum tins. nice price too.
I used these this weekend! Incredibly easy to use, since they come packaged flat. Made a fig & gorgonzola tart with bacon: http://twitpic.com/22hhav
Thanks for the great tip. I will try these. My Grandmother made wonderful pie crust from scratch as did my Mother in Law. I would love to but just don't have the time. This will be a time saving short cut!
I am going to have to find these next time I stop in at TJ's. I admit to being lazy and not having the time nor patience to spend making pie crust after pie crust to perfect my skills. I'm also glad they are without a tin and still vegetarian.
Nope. Trader Joe's does not exist in my part of the US.
I'm so jealous of everyone who has access to trader joe's! Seriously, I see people blogging about that place everyday. *sigh*
Everything there looks and sounds delicious.
http://www.twohealthyplates.com
I also like this product very much. I use it for savory tarts. Their puff pastry is awesome -- uses REAL butter. Unfortunately, I haven't seen it in any of their stores for at least a year.
Would any of you be interested in speciality pre-made pastry dough? I am giving some serious consideration to ditching my day job and marketing artisan pre-made pastry dough. So far I have great recipes for lemon, almond, pistachio, and corn meal and will be working on chocolate and spiced in the near future. All ntural ingredients of course...
Personally I would buy it since the current options are down right nasty (read BHA as a preservative!!!), but would any of you??
Email me at sarahsbones at gmail dot com with suggestions, tips, and feedback. Thanks!
I was so happy to see these recently! I make decent pie crust, but I don't enjoy doing it, but it doesn't seem worth it to go to the trouble of making a delicious filling only to put it in a mediocre pre-made crust. I used the TJ's crusts for a wonderful nectarine-raspberry pie. It's been a month, and my husband is still talking about that pie. I need to make it again while they are still in season!
so great to know!!! i don't bake and i love trader joe's (and pie)
These have been a dirty little secret of mine for a while now. Sometimes I do like to make my own pie crust, but i use the TJs crusts a lot for things like a weeknight chicken pot pie. If I'm trying to get dinner made after work, having the crust all ready to go is a HUGE time saver...
OMG! I just bought and tried the TJs crusts yesterday for the first time.....These. Are. SO. Good! #nom
Yes! I have used them frequently but when I first bought them they did not have palm oil in the ingredients just butter and they were not frozen. You had to use them quickly or they would spoil. I observed the same delicious flecks of real butter in the crust as any pastry chef will tell you is the sign of an excellent crust! They are as good as home made and I make great pie crust! I have since moved far away from a TJ's so my food processor and I have gotten re-aquainted. I definitely eat less pie as a result which is good, I guess....... I miss TJ's....