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Homemade Blueberry Pie Recipe

Whether it is summer when blueberries are ripe or winter when frozen blueberries can help remind us of summer, it’s always the perfect time to make this homemade blueberry pie recipe. Thick, blueberry filling bakes to perfection in our perfect all-butter pie crust.

Close-up top down view of a homemade blueberry pie.

I tried so many fresh blueberry pies and some were watery or had so little filling. I wanted a pie like my grandmother made with a thick rich filling with soft delicious berries in between a flaky buttery crust.

So, I went to one of my favorite sources, America’s Test Kitchen, and this pie will not be a disappointment. Using their technique, I made just a few personal adjustments and created a pie that I couldn’t wait to share.

I’ll walk you through this homemade blueberry pie recipe and hope to answer any questions that you have so you can get this beautiful pie on your table.

Why You’ll Love Our Homemade Blueberry Pie

  • Perfectly thick filling. The filling of this pie isn’t watery or thick like jelly. It’s thick and rich and all about the berries.
  • Secret ingredient. Our special addition to this pie adds just the right of tartness to pull everything together. The pectin acts as a natural thickening agent too!

Ingredients and Substitutions For Your Homemade Blueberry Pie

Ingredients for the blueberry pie recipe: blueberries, pie crust, sugar, tapioca powder, shredded apple, butter, salt, lemon.
  • Double Crust Pie Dough. An all-butter pie crust recipe with amazing flavor.
  • Blueberries. Fresh blueberries are perfect. If you only have frozen, simply thaw them or at least partially thaw them before making the pie. You can set them on the counter to thaw or microwave them in a pinch.
  • Granny Smith Apple. (The secret ingredient) The pectin in a Granny Smith apple will help thicken this pie.
  • Sugar. Granulated white sugar.
  • Cinnamon. A special touch that kicks this pie up a notch.
  • Instant Tapioca. Ground. This is a thickening agent.
  • Lemon Zest. For a little tartness and flavor.
  • Lemon Juice. More tartness to counter the richness of the filling.
  • Salt. Intensifies the flavors.
  • Unsalted Butter. I like to keep the unsalted version on hand for baking.

Tools You’ll Need For Homemade Blueberry Pie Recipe

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Please note, that the recipe card has more complete instructions. This is intended as an overview.

Frozen and cooked blueberries on the top of a mixing bowl filled with other pie filling ingredients.

How To Make A Homemade Blueberry Pie

Step 1: Roll out the pie dough.

Prepare it in a pie pan and then refrigerate it for at least thirty minutes.

Step 2: Mash the blueberries.

Heat in a medium saucepan and use a potato masher to mash them up.

Fresh cooked blueberries mashed with a potato masher.

Step 3: Preheat the oven.

400ºF.

Step 4: Peel and shred the apple.

Remove excess liquid by wrapping the shredded apple in a clean kitchen towel and twisting it over a bowl.

Step 5: Mix the Filling.

Mis all of these ingredients together.

Step 6: Fill the pie.

Add the lattice top and brush it with an egg wash and a dusting of sugar.

Step 7: Bake the pie.

Reduce the temperature as it bakes.

Step 8: Allow your beautiful blueberry pie to cool.

Popular Variations & Additions

  • I added a bit of warm cinnamon to this classic. A little bit of nutmeg, say 1/4 teaspoon would be delicious too.
  • 1/4 teaspoon of cardamom is a nice touch.
  • Change up the top crust.
  • Use a crumble on top instead of a crust.
Close-up view of a single slice of pie in focus with a scoop of ice cream on top.

How To Reheat & Store Homemade Blueberry Pie

Best Way To Store This Recipe for Blueberry Pie Leftover

I prefer to refrigerate baked fruit pies. They are less likely to become watery.

How Long will this Blueberry Pie Recipe Last in the Fridge?

Two days at room temperature or 4 days refrigerated covered with plastic wrap.

You can keep leftover blueberry pie in an airtight container in the refrigerator for four to five days. If it is just loosely covered and left in the pie plate it will still last for two or three days.

Can I Freeze Homemade Blueberry Pie

Freeze a whole blueberry pie and simply thaw it in the refrigerator or on the counter when you are ready for it.

Freezing individual portions in an airtight container is also a great idea. This will give you a grab-and-go dessert for surprise guests or a late night craving. Simply thaw in the microwave and it’s ready to eat.

How To Reheat This Recipe for Blueberry Pie

If you love warm blueberry pie as much as I do, reheat your leftover slice of pie in the microwave for thirty seconds. If it still isn’t heated through to your liking, add ten or fifteen second increments until it is perfect.

Close up top down view of a homemade blueberry pie plus one slice removed.

Blueberry Pie Recipe FAQs

Can I use frozen blueberries?

Yes, do not thaw them. Cook half of the frozen berries over medium-high heat without mashing until they’re reduced to 1-¼ cups (12-15 min).

Should you poke holes in the bottom of the pie crust?

For a filled pie, such as this one do not poke holes in the crust.

Do fruit pies need to be refrigerated after baking?

Yes. Not technically, but they do keep longer. Plus, fruit pies tend to separate and become watery at room temperature. The warmer your climate, the more important it is to refrigerate your pie.

Should I wash blueberries before baking a pie?

Berries should be rinsed and drained as well as inspected for mold or decay right before you use them. Don’t wash them s soon as you bring them home because they will break down quicker.

How do you keep a blueberry pie from being runny?

Our pie uses a brilliant combination of tapioca powder and pectin from the shredded apple for a perfectly thickened pie filling.

Will this pie work with canned pie filling or canned blueberries?

I have not tried these ingredients.

What to Serve with your Homemade Blueberry Pie

Blueberry pie warm out of the oven, just as the filling has fully set, is absolutely perfect with vanilla ice cream.

Cold blueberry pie is great on its own and also pairs well with homemade whipped cream or store-bought.

Gourmet coffee or dessert wine is always a good choice.

When I need to make several different pies for the holidays, blueberry pie is always a good choice for those that love fruit and don’t enjoy the traditional holiday flavors.

Sideways view of blueberry pie and slice.

Other Pie Recipes You’ll Love

Easy Pear Pie Recipe with Fresh Pears

Old-Fashioned Lemon Icebox Pie

Fresh Peach Pie Recipe (No-Bake)

Old-Fashioned Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Recipe

Don’t Forget To Come Back And Let Me Know How the Blueberry Pie Recipe Turned Out!

Top down view of a lattice top bluebury pie

Homemade Blueberry Pie Recipe

Author: Julie Menghini
Whether it is summer when blueberries are ripe or winter when frozen blueberries can help remind us of summer, it's always the perfect time to make this homemade blueberry pie recipe.
5 from 9 votes
Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 1 hr
Total Time 1 hr 30 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword: Blueberry, Blueberry Dessert, Blueberry Pie
Servings: 8

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 Double Crust Pie Dough chilled
  • 6 cups blueberries divided
  • 1 Granny Smith Apple peeled and shredded
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp instant tapioca, ground
  • 1 lemon zested
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1/8 tsp salt (pinch)
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter – diced

Egg Wash

  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 2 tbsp turbinado sugar – optional

Instructions
 

  • Roll out 1 disk of pie dough 12 inches and lay it into a 9-inch pie plate letting the edges hang over the sides. Wrap the dough-covered pie plate with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes.
    If preparing a lattice top, cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out the remaining disk of pie dough on a floured surface, approximately 1/8" thick, and cut it into strips 1/2" wide. Place them on the baking sheet and cover them with plastic wrap. Place it in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.

Blueberry Pie Filling Recipe

  • Place 3 cups of blueberries in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Using a potato masher, mash the berries several times until they start releasing some juice.
    Cook, stirring occasionally until half of the berries have broken down and the mixture has thickened and reduced by half, approximately 1½ cups, about 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool slightly.
  • Adjust the oven rack to the lowerest position and preheat the oven to 400 °F.
  • Peel and shred the Granny Smith apple. Wrap it in a dish towel over a bowl and twist the towel to wring the apple dry of excess juice.
  • Using a large bowl, add the apple, sugar, tapioca, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, cooked blueberries, and the remaining 3 cups of uncooked blueberries. Stir together.

Assemble and Bake

  • Remove the pie crust from the refrigerator and fill it with the blueberry filling and add the diced butter to the top.
  • Top the pie with a second crust or the lattice crust and flute the top and bottom crusts together. Beat the egg with the tablespoon of water in a small bowl and brush the top with the egg wash. Sprinkle the top with turbinado or white sugar.
  • Beat the egg with the tablespoon of water in a small bowl and brush the top with the egg wash. Sprinkle the top with turbinado or white sugar.
  • Place the pie on a parchment paper or foil-lined baking sheet and place and bake for 25 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 °F and bake for an additional 35 to 50 minutes longer. The filling should be bubbling and the crust golden brown.
  • Let the pie cool on a wire rack until the filling has set, approximately 4 hours, and serve.

Notes

Nutritional information doesn’t include a pie crust.
Recipe adapted from “The Perfect Pie”, America’s Test Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 203kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 2gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 46mgPotassium: 123mgFiber: 3gSugar: 35gVitamin A: 190IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 0.5mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

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Two image collage for Pinterest. Top image is a slice of blue berry pie recipie and the bottom is of a top down image of a lattice topped pie.
Recipe Rating




Susannah

Thursday 6th of October 2022

Loved this. This is going to be on regular rotation at our house next summer!

Julie Menghini

Friday 7th of October 2022

Thank you!

Mindy

Thursday 6th of October 2022

SO good! Husband even had two slices! I can't wait to make this again!

Julie Menghini

Friday 7th of October 2022

Thanks, Mindy! Same here!

Kathi

Tuesday 4th of October 2022

Brilliant! Love using the apple for it's pectin! And loved that you use some cooked and some fresh blubs! My family is raving about this pie!

susan | thewimpyvegetarian

Tuesday 4th of October 2022

I love that you added a grated apple for its pectin!! That's totally genius!!

Michaela Kenkel

Tuesday 4th of October 2022

This pie recipe needs to have a TEN STAR rating! So good!

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