How to Make a Lattice Pie Crust

Name: How to Make a Lattice Pie Crust
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 recipe double pie crust (homemade or store bought, see Recipe Notes); 2 Tablespoons milk (or egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon of water)); 2 Tablespoons coarse sugar

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

Lattice pies look complicated, but making a beautiful lattice for pie is easier than you think. You can weave an easy basketweave pattern, or create different looks for the pie lattice by your choice of strip thickness and spacing. Use these clear step by step instructions and photos to make your favorite double crust pies look amazing!

Lattice topped apple pie on a purple striped towel with cut apples from overhead.

[October, 2021: I've reworked the instructions and updated this post with all new pictures. Enjoy!]

Why these instructions work

Weaving a lattice topped pie is easier than it looks
You can create different looks for the pie lattice by your choice of strip thickness and spacing
Use the scraps to make decorative designs on top of the lattice pastry

It's said that you feed the eyes before you even take a bite. If that's the case, then you want your food to look as appealing as it tastes.

With pie, especially double crust pies like Apple Pie, you can decorate the top crust with fancy slits or pie crust crimping. And if you want to take that pie to the next level, consider making a lattice topped pie.

Weaving the top crust might seems daunting, but it's much easier than you think. Just follow this simple step by step tutorial, and you'll be making gorgeous double crust pies in no time!

Jump to:

Why these instructions work
What you need
How to lattice a pie crust
Questions asked and answered
A beautiful pie is at hand
Related Recipes
Recipe
Comments

What you need

For the pie crust itself, you can use any pie crust recipe you'd like. I recommend my flaky all butter pie crust (using a recipe ratio of 12-8-4 flour, fat, water). That will make enough for the two crusts needed here.

You can also use a store-bought pastry crust.

Pie crust ingredients in glass bowls on a wooden tray. — Ingredients needed to make a homemade pie crust

How to lattice a pie crust

Step 1: Lay out dough strips

The first step to making a lattice pie top crust is to roll out the chilled pastry dough to about a 12-inch circle, less than ¼-inch thick. That will be about the height of two quarters.

Using a straight or fluted sides of a pastry wheel (or other cutting tool), cut the rolled-out dough into strips 1- to 2-inches wide, or to your desired width. You'll need about 10 to 12 pieces for a standard 9-inch pie (photo 1).

Starting in the middle of the pieces you just cut out, transfer every other strip of dough and lay them beside each other on top of your filling, at whatever spacing you want.

Collage of cutting dough strips and laying them on an apple pie. — Cut strips out of rolled out dough, then lay every other one on the waiting shell

Step 2: Turn back strips

Turn back every other strip of dough a little more than halfway, then take the longest strip left of the ones you cut out and lay it crosswise across the top of the strips not turned back (photo 2).

Collage of turning back dough strips for first strip weave. — Turn back every other strip a little more than halfway, then lay the longest strip across the other strips

Step 3: Straighten and turn back alternate strips

Straighten out the turned-back strips and turn back strips you didn't touch the first time (photo 3).

Collage of turning back dough strips for second strip weave. — Straighten out the turned strips, then turn back the opposite ones

Step 4: Straighten and turn back original strips

Lay the next smallest strip of rolled out dough next to the first crosswise strip at your desired spacing. Straighten those turned-back strips, and turn back the original strips (photo 4).

Collage of laying second strip and turning back for third strip weave. — Lay the second longest strip near the first at your desired spacing

Step 5: Repeat pattern

Repeat alternating turning back the parallel strips to finish the current side, then turn the pie around and repeat the process for the other side (photo 5).

Collage of turning back strips for last strip weave and finished weave. — Repeat the pattern on both sides of the pie

Step 6: Press and crimp edges

Press the ends of the strips into the bottom pie crust, then fold the edge under itself and press down. Smooth around the edges for a neater appearance, then crimp the pie crust with a fork or your method of crimping (photo 6).

You can cut shapes with the leftover crust dough to decorate the top of the lattice if you wish.

Crimping lattice pie crust edge with a fork. — Press in the strips, then smooth and crimp the edges of the crust

Step 7: Glaze and decorate the lattice

To create a shiny glaze on the finished crust, brush the lattice and edges with milk or an egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon of water). If you made decorations, place them on top of the lattice and glaze them as well.

Sprinkle coarse sugar all over the top of the pie for a nice crunch, then place it in the refrigerator for 10 minutes to firm up the crust (photo 7).

Bake the pie according to your recipe directions.

Collage of brushing top of lattice with milk and sprinkled with sugar. — Glaze and sprinkle coarse sugar on top before baking

Questions asked and answered

Here are some questions you might have...

How do you crimp pie edges?

Crimping the pie crust not only creates a decorative edge, it also seals the top and bottom crusts together. There are many ways to crimp the crust, from fluting the edges with your fingers, to pressing a fork or spoon to make a pretty pattern.

For a different look, cut 3 long thin strands of dough and braid them together. Brush the edge of the pie with milk or an egg wash, then carefully lay the braid on the edge. Brush the braid with the milk or egg wash before baking. You'll need an extra pie crust layer to have enough dough to braid.

How do you make lattice pastry without a lattice cutter?

If you don't want to cut and weave your pie crust, you do have an alternative. There are lattice roller cutters designed to cut slits in the pastry in an accordion weave so that when you stretch it out over the pie, it looks like a lattice. These tools can be used for cookies, bread, and Beef Wellington in addition to pies.

A beautiful pie is at hand

Yes, you can lay rolled out dough on top of your favorite double crust pie, cut a few slits, then bake it. However, giving yourself the time to weave a lattice pie really shows that you care about how your pie looks, not just how it tastes.

Lattice topped apple pie on a purple striped towel with cut apples.

It's easy and fun to play with lattice designs, and your pies will look all the better for it!

Slainté! L’chaim! Cheers!

Tammy

Pies and tarts can be sweet or savory, and there are so many fillings from which to choose. From fruits to nuts and custards, there's bound to be a pie or tart that catches your fancy! Here are a few choices to try.

Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star ⭐️ rating in the recipe card below ⬇️ and/or a comment further down the page.

I'd love to hear from you! Stay in touch on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and please tag me using the hashtag #scotchandsconesblog. You can also sign up for my mailing list. I can't wait to see your creations!

Recipe