Making Healthy Pie Crust

I had a jar of Grandma Hoerner's Pecan Pie Filling in my pantry. It has the bourbon, you add the eggs. I bought it at Whole Foods reduced for about $3 dollars before the pandemic ... it was time to use it! I should have made a traditional flaky pie crust but I didn't want to consume the calories of a stick of butter. Since I'd be the only person eating the pie, I decided to play around with trying to make a healthy pie crust. No visitors to worry about feeding it to! I can eat a less-than-perfect dish but have higher standards for what I serve guests.

I'm not unhappy with the results and yet I'm not quite there. What I produced was tasty and editable and I think if I add a little butter and a sprinkle of baking soda to the dough next time I'll get the missing flaky texture. The following is the recipe for the very editable, yet chewy crust with my next attempt's 2 additional ingredients: 

A Healthy Banana Crust For Pies

2 ripe bananas

2 cups whole wheat flour

I think these 2 additions will make a flaky dough:

2 tablespoons ice cold butter, finely diced

1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

 

1) Incorporate all the ingredients and press into a buttered or cooking-sprayed pie pan. I was fine with pressing it flat into a pan. If you wish to roll flat with a rolling pin, just add more flour to counter a sticky dough (and the rustic style:).

2) Bake at 325 degrees F for 15 minutes.

3) Remove from the oven and let it cool a bit before pouring in your prepared pie filling then return it to the oven to bake for the required time.

The pecan pie I'm now eating is good without being too rich, or sickeningly sweet. The bananas do add a mild sweetness without sugar (or a banana flavor) which is a good thing.

 

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Alternate Healthy Pie Crusts from around the web I think would work too:

🥧 Mix uncooked oatmeal and dates in a food processor

until it forms a ball, press it into a pan then add your pie filling. The dough can be eaten baked or unbaked.

🥧 Crispy cereal combined with peanut butter that gets pressed into a pan with no baking. Like a graham cracker and butter crust, it won't be flaky but still good.

I'm aware of almond and other nut or soy flours, but let's keep it simple with ingredients already in the panty. 

Does a healthy and flaky pie crust exist?

You may also enjoy:

Refreshing Lemon Squares

Starbucks-esque Lemon Loaf

Mini Pecan Pies A/K/A Tassies 

Kentucky Derby Favorites: Hot Brown And Chocolate Pecan Pie