Crispy, Buttery & Delicious: The Ultimate Guide to Leftover Pie Crust Cookies

Every home baker knows the delightful challenge of making a perfect pie. And every perfect pie often leaves behind a treasure: those precious scraps of pie crust dough! Instead of letting them go to waste, transform these remnants into a batch of utterly irresistible pie crust cookies. These simple, yet incredibly satisfying treats are a fantastic way to enjoy the deliciousness of your homemade pie crust in a new, exciting format. Crispy, buttery, and kissed with cinnamon-sugar, they’re the ultimate no-waste snack.

The genius behind pie crust cookies is simple, yet profound. It’s a culinary hack that turns potential waste into pure delight. Whether the idea originated from a clever grandparent making a quick treat for kids or a thrifty baker looking to maximize every ingredient, we owe a huge thank you to whoever first conceived of these “cookies.” The concept is brilliant: gather the leftover pie dough after you’ve meticulously crafted your pie, roll it out, cut it into fun shapes, brush with an egg wash for a golden sheen, sprinkle generously with cinnamon-sugar, and bake until they’re perfectly golden and crisp. It’s an effortless dessert that truly completes the pie-making experience.

Think of these leftover pie crust cookies as a delightful preamble to your main event. They’re a charming little reward, a warm-up for the real thing, perhaps enjoyed while your magnificent pie cools on the counter. Each bite offers a satisfying crunch, a rich buttery flavor, and a sweet, spicy finish that makes them completely addictive. They embody the best qualities of a good pie crust – flakiness, richness, and delicate flavor – elevated into a standalone snack. Plus, they’re incredibly quick to prepare and bake, meaning you’re never far from a delicious treat.

Table of Contents

• How to Make Pie Crust Cookies
  • Roll and Cut into Shapes
  • Add Egg Wash + Cinnamon-Sugar
  • Bake and Enjoy!
• Why Make Pie Crust Cookies?
• Flavor Variations
• Storage Tips for Pie Crust Cookies
• Get the Full Recipe

How to Make Pie Crust Cookies: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

Making pie crust cookies is incredibly straightforward, transforming what might otherwise be discarded into a truly special treat. This “recipe” is less about precise measurements and more about technique and making the most of what you have. It works beautifully whether you’re left with just a handful of small scraps from trimming your pie or an entire unused disk of pie dough from a batch you made in advance.

Step 1: Gather, Roll, and Cut into Shapes

The first step is to collect all your pie crust scraps. Gently gather them into a cohesive ball. Try not to overwork the dough at this stage, as excessive handling can make it tough. Lightly flour your work surface and your rolling pin, then roll the dough out to an even thickness, ideally about 1/4 inch thick. This uniform thickness is key for ensuring all your cookies bake evenly, resulting in a consistent crispness.

Now comes the fun part: cutting your shapes! You have complete creative freedom here. Use traditional cookie cutters for charming, uniform shapes like stars, hearts, circles, or even tiny autumn leaves. If you don’t have cookie cutters handy, a sharp knife or a pizza cutter works perfectly for creating simple squares, rectangles, or strips. The size and shape are entirely up to you and can be tailored to the occasion. For the batch pictured, a simple 2-inch round cutter was used, creating classic, bite-sized cookies perfect for snacking.

While tempting to skip the rolling and cutting, baking irregularly shaped scraps as they are can lead to uneven results. Thinner edges might burn while thicker parts remain undercooked. Taking a few extra minutes to roll and cut ensures a superior, uniformly baked cookie every time.

Tip: Get creative with your cookie cutter shapes! These baked pie crust cookies make fantastic edible garnishes or decorations for your main pie. Imagine delicate leaf shapes atop a pumpkin pie or festive stars adorning a creamy custard pie.

Step 2: Add Egg Wash & Cinnamon-Sugar Topping

Once your pie crust shapes are arranged on a parchment-lined baking sheet, it’s time to add the magical touch that transforms them from plain dough into glistening, flavorful cookies. The beauty of starting with a truly excellent all-butter pie dough is that it already boasts incredible flavor, meaning you don’t need many additions to make these cookies shine.

The classic topping involves a simple egg wash, made by whisking one large egg with a tablespoon of water until well combined. This mixture, when brushed lightly over the dough, helps achieve that beautiful golden-brown color and a slightly crispier texture. After the egg wash, sprinkle generously with a cinnamon-sugar mixture. The combination of sweet and spicy is incredibly comforting and complements the buttery crust perfectly. For an alternative, you could also brush the dough with melted butter before sprinkling with sugar, which will yield a slightly richer flavor and a wonderful aroma.

Tip: For the perfect cinnamon-sugar blend, aim for a ratio of 1 part cinnamon to 4 parts sugar. For instance, 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon mixed with 4 tablespoons of granulated sugar. Prepare a larger batch and store any leftovers in a small airtight jar with your other spices – it’s wonderful on toast, oatmeal, or fruit!

Step 3: Bake and Enjoy!

These delightful cookies bake incredibly quickly. Preheat your oven to a hot 425°F (220°C). The high temperature helps the pie crust puff up and become wonderfully flaky and crisp in just a few minutes. Typically, they’ll be ready in about 8-12 minutes, depending on their size and your oven’s specific calibration. Keep a close eye on them; you’re looking for a beautiful puffed texture and a deep golden-brown color. Once baked, transfer them to a wire rack to cool slightly. While they are fantastic warm straight from the oven, they also hold up beautifully at room temperature.

Pie crust cookies are a truly versatile treat. They are absolutely wonderful enjoyed all by themselves as a simple snack or a light dessert. Their crisp, buttery nature also makes them an excellent accompaniment to a variety of other dishes. Serve them alongside a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, use them to dip into creamy puddings or custards, or crush them slightly and sprinkle over fruit crisps or crumbles for added texture and flavor. They can even make a charming edible garnish for your coffee or hot chocolate. The possibilities are as endless as your imagination!

Why Make Pie Crust Cookies? More Than Just a Snack!

Beyond their undeniable deliciousness, there are several compelling reasons to embrace the pie crust cookie tradition:

• Reduce Food Waste: This is perhaps the most significant benefit. Instead of discarding valuable pie dough, you’re giving it a second life, helping to minimize waste in your kitchen.
• Instant Gratification: While your main pie is cooling (which can take hours!), these cookies bake in minutes, offering an immediate reward for your baking efforts.
• Kid-Friendly Activity: Getting children involved in cutting out shapes and sprinkling toppings is a fun, easy, and safe kitchen activity.
• Versatile Treat: As mentioned, they’re great on their own or as an accompaniment, making them highly adaptable for various culinary needs.
• Simple Ingredients: You likely already have everything needed for the topping, making this a truly spontaneous dessert.
• Showcase Your Pie Crust: If you pride yourself on a fantastic homemade pie crust, these cookies allow its quality to shine through without being masked by fillings.

Storage Tips for Pie Crust Cookies

These cookies are best enjoyed fresh, when they are at their crispiest. However, if you have any leftovers (a rare occurrence!), they can be stored to maintain their texture and flavor. Simply place the cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will remain fresh and crispy for 2-3 days. If they lose a bit of their crispness, a quick 5-minute warm-up in a toaster oven or regular oven at 300°F (150°C) can often revive them.

Get the Full Recipe: Pie Crust Cookies

Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just dabbling in pie making, these leftover pie crust cookies are a testament to the joy of simple pleasures and resourceful cooking. They prove that every scrap has potential, transforming humble dough into a snack that’s as delightful to make as it is to eat. So next time you roll out a pie, remember to save those scraps – a delicious, crispy, buttery treat awaits!