What Do You Brush Pie Crust With?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

For a glossy golden appearance, brush with an

egg yolk

that was beaten with 1 teaspoon of water. For slight shine, brush with half-and-half cream

What does Brushing a pie crust with milk do?

Getting a golden color on a pie crust usually doesn’t have to do with the crust itself – it’s what you brush on top. From milk to egg yolks, the sugars and proteins in the

glaze will caramelize before the crust itself

, giving the pie extra color and a burnished look.

Should I brush my pie crust with butter?

But topping pie crust with a spritz of water and a sprinkle of sugar, or a

quick brush

of sweet butter followed by the merest drift of flour, can take your pie — both its flavor and its texture — to a new level.

Should I egg wash my pie crust?

One of my very favorite kitchen tricks is to brush a bottom pie crust with an

egg white wash before filling

. This keeps the filling from seeping into the crust and creating a soggy bottom. I like to avoid soggy bottoms at all costs. Egg white and water is also perfect for sealing edges, like when making a pie.

Should I brush my pie crust with milk?


Only Milk or Cream

This is commonly used for brushing on top of biscuits, or some pies. It leaves the baked pastry with a finished look that is slightly shiny without adding any browning.

What happens if you don’t egg wash pastry?

Without egg wash, the

pastries look dull and dry, and not appetizing

. Egg wash is also a great glue for making two pieces of pastry stick together (like the edges of a double pie crust), or adhering seeds and grains to the top of bread and rolls. So next time, don’t skip the egg wash. Your pastries will thank you!

Is it better to Brush pastry with egg or milk?

Pastry chefs use an

egg wash

primarily for shine, though the egg yolk will contribute a golden color to the finished baked product. … For example, scones and biscuits will be pale on top (even though the bottom side is brown) if not brushed with milk or cream before baking.

Is egg wash better than butter?

Egg yolk provides rich color, browning easily in the oven. Egg white provides a nice sheen. … Water added to an egg wash helps to thin the wash so it brushes more easily. BUTTER: This will give the bread a softer crust and richer flavor.

Can you brush pastry with butter?

Brushing After Baking

Another trick is to brush with

oil or butter before baking

, then again when it comes out, creating an even softer and chewier dough. While this won’t create the thickness and shininess of crust baked with an egg glaze, it will give you some of the same benefits.

What can replace egg wash?

  • Milk, cream or butter.
  • Water.
  • Vegetable or olive oil.
  • Maple syrup or honey.
  • Yogurt.
  • Soy, rice or almond milk.
  • Fruit-based glazes.

    1 , 2

How do you keep the bottom crust of apple pie from getting soggy?


Sprinkle dried breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes, or other types of cereal

, on the bottom crust before filling and baking in the oven. This will prevent the filling from turning the crust soggy.

How do you brown the bottom of a pie crust?

Fill the crust according to your recipe, then

bake the pie on the bottom rack of the oven for the first 15 to 20 minutes of baking time

. This will increase browning on the bottom of the pie crust. After the browning time, move the pie to the center rack of the oven to complete the baking time.

Can you brush pastry with milk?

For a crisp crust with a matte, classic pie appearance,

use just milk

. Many biscuits and rolls are brushed with milk or buttermilk to give them that finishing touch. For a little more shine than an all-milk wash, but not as much as an egg wash, use heavy cream or half-and-half.

Is egg wash necessary?

Ultimately, it depends on the look you’re going for, but overall, an egg wash made up of an

egg yolk, cream, and salt

is a great all-purpose wash: It will create optimum browning, shine, and flavor. And the more yolk in the wash, the darker and crispier the final crust.

What is an egg wash for frying?

In its simplest form, egg wash is just

a combination of raw egg and a liquid like milk or water

. Egg wash is most commonly used in baking, both for color and to bind things together. Egg wash is also used in frying, usually to help a bread crumb crust adhere to a meat or vegetable that’s going in the deep fryer.

Sophia Kim
Author
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a food writer with a passion for cooking and entertaining. She has worked in various restaurants and catering companies, and has written for several food publications. Sophia's expertise in cooking and entertaining will help you create memorable meals and events.