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The cream cheese pie crust recipe calls for cream cheese and butter which creates a tender and flaky crust. This is my go-to recipe for pie crust. It bakes beautifully and doesn’t become soggy. It can be used for any kind of pie and also works well for a woven lattice top.
For the Cream Cheese Pie Crust:
makes 2 (9-inch) pie crusts (top & bottom for 1 pie)
2 cups plus 4 Tbsp all-purpose flour *measured correctly
2 tbsp white sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 sticks (12 tbsp) COLD, unsalted butter, cut into 1/4″ cubes
6 oz (3/4 package) COLD cream cheese, cut into 1/4″ cubes
3 to 5 Tbsp cold heavy whipping cream
*Watch our easy video tutorial on how to measure correctly
How to Make the Perfect Flaky Pie Crust:
1. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar and salt.
2. Cut the COLD butter and COLD cream cheese into 1/4-inch pieces. Using a Pastry Blender or a food processor with blade attachment, cut the butter and cream cheese into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces. Note: you could use a knife, but that would take forever.
3. Drizzle 3 Tbsp cold heavy cream over the dough and cut into the dough with a spatula, adding more cream as needed until the dough forms moist clumps. I didn’t get much of a drizzle trying to take of picture of this step at the same time. Your drizzle will be better 😉
4. Divide the dough into 2 pieces, press into flat disks, cover each piece tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour. It stores well in the fridge up to 2 days.
Credits: This recipe was modified from the Flaky Cream Cheese Pastry Dough in The All New All Purpose: Joy of Cooking
(1997 version) (pg. 864). I think it’s a cookbook that every household should have. It’s an incredible resource on all things food.
Flaky Cream Cheese Pie Crust Recipe

Ingredients
- 2 cups plus 4 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 sticks, 12 tbsp COLD, unsalted butter, cut into 1/4" cubes
- 6 oz 3/4 package COLD cream cheese, cut into 1/4" cubes
- 3 Tbsp to 5 Tbsp cold heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar and salt.
- Cut the COLD butter and COLD cream cheese into 1/4-inch pieces. Using a Pastry Blender or a food processor with blade attachment, cut the butter and cream cheese into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces. Note: you could use a knife, but that would take forever.
- Drizzle 3 tbsp cold heavy cream over the dough and cut into the dough with a spatula, adding more cream as needed until the dough forms moist clumps.
- Divide the dough into 2 pieces, press into flat disks, cover each piece tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour. It stores well in the fridge up to 2 days.
Natasha, can you use evaporated milk instead of heavy cream?
I have not tried that substitution to advise.
I’m making Thanksgiving quiche, but would like to par bake the crust. What temp and how long???
Hi there! You can Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and you can bake it for 15-20 minutes.