Why it works: Butter and sugar are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 17% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 98,233 recipes. Both carry guaiacol, which smells smoky, sweet. The science ↓
Fine-crumb Pie Shell
Ingredients
Directions
Combine crumbs with melted margarine and water; add spices and sugar replacement, if desired.
Spread dough evenly in an 8-10 inch pie pan, pressing firmly onto sides and bottom.
Either chill until set, or bake at 325 °F for 8-10 minutes.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 3 of 5 ingredients. The other 2 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 3 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Butter | 1 tbsp (14g) | 102 |
| Cracker | 5 saltine crackers (15g) | 66 |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Zwieback | not in our table | 0 |
| Water | not in our table | 0 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
-
Butter + sugartop 17% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together98,233 recipes
Shared aroma: guaiacol (smoky, sweet).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Fine crumbs
- Form the structure of the shell once packed and set.
- Margarine
- Adds fat that binds the crumbs and helps the shell hold together.
- Water
- Moistens the crumbs so they pack and bind more evenly.
The step that matters
Pressing the crumbs firmly onto the sides and bottom. Firm, even pressing packs the crumbs so the shell holds its shape when cut and does not crumble or leave thin spots that break.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
You might also like
White Cake431 recipes
Pound Cake373 recipes
Orange Bundt Cake349 recipes
Spice Cake344 recipesThe free Flavor Lab newsletter: one surprising pairing a week and the molecular reason it works, in 60 seconds. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Prefer an account? Create a free account to save pairings and unlock the full chemistry.