We’re officially saying goodbye to summer and welcoming the first signs of fall. As the weather cools and the season shifts, there’s nothing better than revisiting classic fall recipes. Pastry Chef Elise Russ of Clementine in San Antonio, Texas, is excited to share her signature pie crust recipe.
Passed down through generations, Elise Russ’s pie crust recipe comes from her grandmother, who shared it with Elise’s mother, and now Elise carries on the tradition by sharing it with the world. What separates Elise’s pie crust from others is her signature touch and substitutions.
Rather than using water and butter, Elise substitutes cold orange juice and Crisco. The orange juice adds a subtle citrus note to every bite, enhances the crust’s golden color, and makes it irresistible. Using Crisco in place of butter creates a crisper texture while also making the dough easier to work with. In addition to these unique substitutions, this recipe is naturally vegan, making it a treat everyone can enjoy.
We would love to gift your audience with a full recipe of Elise’s crispy, flaky, must-try pie crust.
| Pie Crust Recipe | |
| Ingredients - 1 cup of all-purpose flour - ½ tsp of salt - ½ cup of Crisco - ⅓ cup of orange juice (cold) | Instructions 1. In a medium bowl, mix flour and salt. 2. Cut Crisco into flour using two butter knives until the mixture looks shaggy 3. Mix in orange juice 4. Bake the crust according to the filling (temperature and time vary) |
Elise has shared a few pro tips. Once the dough is prepared, she recommends rolling it out and placing it into a pie pan. Next, wrap the pan tightly and freeze the crust up to one week before use. When it’s time to bake, remove the crust from the freezer, let it thaw slightly, then fill with your favorite filling and bake.
Elise uses this recipe for pumpkin pie during the Thanksgiving season, as well as for her signature apple pie, a beloved favorite at Clementine. Those in San Antonio, Texas, can enjoy a slice of Elise’s signature pie crust when they order the apple pie. Please note that Elise regularly rotates the dessert menu weekly to offer a fresh lineup of dessert items. For those outside the city limits, her pie crust can easily be recreated at home.
More Information
About Elise Russ
Pastry Chef Elise Russ has been passionate about dessert since she was a child, elaborately decorating cookies with piles of icing that had no hopes of ever hardening. After taking a cake decorating class at the local JoAnn's, Elise launched her career making custom sweets for her neighbors and keeping her grandfather supplied with biscotti and pizzelles. Advancing past cakes shaped like Barbies and soccer balls, Elise pursued a degree in Baking & Pastry Arts from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. She worked in hotels, restaurants, and bakeries in London, Chicago, Georgia, and Maryland before settling down in San Antonio. Elise is the Pastry Chef and Owner of Clementine with her husband, John, and is a proud member of the San Antonio chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International. She has also completed the Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Program offered by the James Beard Foundation and Cornell University.
In addition to being a full-time restaurant owner and pastry chef, Elise is a mother of three; she enjoys frosting sugar cookies with her daughters and son.
About Clementine
Opened in 2018 in the Castle Hills community of San Antonio, Clementine is a family-owned neighborhood restaurant serving seasonal, innovative eats in a modern and lively atmosphere. Led by Chef John Russ, a 2023 James Beard Award Nominee for Best Chef: Texas, and Pastry Chef Elise Russ, the menu features bold, globally inspired flavors through a rotating selection of small plates, generous platters, produce-forward “sideboard” options, and nostalgic, imaginative desserts.
Many guests choose the signature Feed Me—a six-course, family-style dining experience where Chef Russ and team create a personalized menu for the table based on seasonal ingredients and creative pairings. In addition to dinner service Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Clementine offers lunch on the third Friday of every month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Clementine is also home to The Juice Box, a sommelier- and Chef Russ–curated monthly wine club showcasing unexpected, highly drinkable bottles to be enjoyed at home. For special occasions, the restaurant is available for private buyouts, offering a warm, intimate setting for all kinds of celebrations. Clementine @Home extends the experience even further, with a fully staffed, in-home dining service that brings Clementine’s hospitality and flavor to your table.
Ranked one of the top two best restaurants in San Antonio by the San Antonio Express-News, Clementine is located at 2195 NW Military Highway, San Antonio, TX 78213. For more information, call (210) 503-5121 or visit www.clementine-sa.com. Follow on Instagram @clementine.sanantonio and like on Facebook @Clementine.SanAntonio.
Awards and Accolades
Clementine
2021 Best Restaurant by San Antonio Magazine
2024 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards Winner - Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year
2025 Clementine ranked #2 in the city on San Antonio Express-News “Top 50 Restaurants”
2025 San Antonio Business Journal Impact Award
2024 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards Winner - Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year
2025 Clementine ranked #2 in the city on San Antonio Express-News “Top 50 Restaurants”
2025 San Antonio Business Journal Impact Award
John Russ
2022 James Beard Foundation Award Semifinalist - Best Chef: Texas
2023 James Beard Foundation Award Finalist - Best Chef: Texas (Only one from San Antonio)
2025 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards Winner - Chef of the Year
2023 James Beard Foundation Award Finalist - Best Chef: Texas (Only one from San Antonio)
2025 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards Winner - Chef of the Year
Elise Russ
2025 CultureMap San Antonio Tastemaker Awards Finalist - Pastry Chef of the Year
Alumna of the James Beard Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Program
Alumna of the James Beard Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Program