Gather 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 cup cold unsalted butter, and 6 to 8 tablespoons ice water
Whisk together the flour, salt, and sugar
Cut the cold butter into small cubes
Add the butter to the flour mixture
Cut the butter into the flour until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces
Add 6 tablespoons of ice water
Mix gently until the dough starts to come together
Add more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if needed
Divide the dough into two portions
Shape each portion into a disk
Wrap the disks in plastic wrap
Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour
Lightly flour a clean surface
Roll out the chilled dough to the desired size
Transfer the dough to a pie dish
Trim and crimp the edges
Chill again before filling or baking, if needed