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Why This Blueberry Pie with Streusel Topping Works
Pie is versatile. It’s a simple statement, but oh so true! If you want to celebrate an occasion, a pie works perfectly. If you want something that is cozy and nostalgic for a weeknight dessert, a pie works perfectly. No matter the reason, pie always seems to fit.
At one time, pie was a staple in farm households. In fact, there were cabinets in the kitchen specially designated just for baked pies, often called a “pie safe.”
Somehow, between pie being a staple and now, we’ve lost the art. Many see pie as a lot of work and something that takes way too much time. I’ll let you in on a secret: with my recipes, it’s not. I’m here to prove that pie can be quick and easy. And the best part: pie always makes everyone happy.
This blueberry pie is perfect for summer. When blueberries are ripe and in season, you’ve got to find all the ways possible to enjoy them. Make this pie!
How Does Pie Thicken?
The crucial part of a pie is the spot between a filling that’s thick enough to hold together but not too thick to seem gloppy. There are a few ways to thicken a fruit pie: flour, instant tapioca, and cornstarch. For this recipe, I chose cornstarch. What I like about cornstarch is the final texture. It’s thick but not too thick and the texture is smooth.
To ensure there are no lumps, cornstarch needs to be mixed in at room temperature and then be heated to near boiling to ensure it is activated. That’s exactly why this pie has a pretty long baking time. The pie needs to ensure the cornstarch is fully activated.
Bringing Out the Blueberry Flavor
Blueberries are delicious on their own. When picked in season and ripe, their flavor is unmatched. But when using them in a pie, the long baking time can mellow out some of the fresh flavors. To amp up the flavor and intensify everything, a few things are added:
- Lemon juice. Citrus helps balance the sweetness and lends a brightness to the berries.
- Ground black pepper. This could be an old wife’s tale… or it could be true. My grandma always said a little black pepper helps bring out the flavor of the blueberries. Why would I question black pepper? So I add some to make sure it’s just right.
All of these ingredients work together flawlessly to create the perfect summertime pie. Now it’s your turn to make it and let me know what you think in the comments!
Follow These Tips
Serving & Storage
To serve – Serve warm or at room temperature so the streusel stays crisp and the filling is set. Add ice cream, whipped cream, or a drizzle of cream if you like.
To store – Store covered at room temperature for 1 day, then refrigerate up to 3 days. Freeze whole or in slices for up to 2 months, well wrapped.
More Pie Recipes
Have I Convinced You to Make This Recipe?
I hope you make this recipe and put some food on your table. Leave a comment and share a star rating so you can let others know how much you love this recipe. This helps show others that this is a recipe they, too, can make, enjoy, and love!
Blueberry Pie with Streusel Topping
Ingredients
- 1 9-inch pie crust
- 6 cups blueberries
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
For the streusel topping
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter cut into ½-inch pieces
Instructions
For the pie
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- In a large bowl, combine the blueberries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and black pepper. Stir and slightly mash a few berries to draw out the juices.6 cups blueberries, ½ cup granulated sugar, ¼ cup cornstarch, 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- Pour into the prepared pie shell and top with the prepared streusel (instructions below). Spread streusel into an even layer and place in the preheated oven on a parchment-lined baking sheet.1 9-inch pie crust
- Bake at 375°F for 45 minutes, then lower the temperature to 350°F until the pie is bubbling throughout, an additional 30-45 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely to room temperature before slicing and serving.
For the streusel
- In a medium bowl, combine the chopped pecans, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Stir to combine and add the pieces of butter.1 cup chopped pecans, ¾ cup all-purpose flour, ½ cup light brown sugar, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter
- Using a pastry cutter or hand, work the butter into the streusel to create a coarse crumb.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment below!
I have trust in Caleb because I have made some of his recipes before. But this pie was amazing and came out exactly as promised. I am not a pie maker, but I thought I would try my hand at this. I have a specific crust recipe that seems to work every time, but this one the filling stayed high and together, and even the first piece coming out of the pie pan was perfect. Everyone loved the streusel topping. I was reluctant to bake it for as long as was recommended but when I read other recipes with their reviews I knew that this was the secret to getting a fully baked pie. I did cover the top with foil after the first bake at 375 because I could see that the top was done, but it was just loosely placed on top. I will rely on him without doubt in future
Thank you for this wonderful recipe! Very easy to make and with the right amount of sugar. Your grandma was right about the black pepper. This is a keeper!
This pie is so so so yummy- thank you!!
I had never made a blueberry pie until last week when I used your recipe. Can I just tell you it was SO good! So guess what? Im making it again today. Grandma was right about the pepper 😊
Julia
I really want to try your pie receipe. I’m not a good at baking desserts. Thank you for your video tutorials. ~AZ~
can u use frozen blueberry
Hi Char, Yes, you can use frozen blueberries! Just let them thaw a bit and break frozen chunks apart first before mixing in sugar, corn starch etc. Fresh are great but if you don’t have those on hand, frozen blueberries are fine! Good luck with your pie!
I made this pie yesterday and it is delicious!! Will definitely be making this one again. Thank you for sharing your yummy recipes!
I had never made a blueberry pie before. This is so delicious! To say it’s a hit is an understatement!!! New family favorite! They can’t get enough! Thank you Kaleb for sharing all your wonderful recipes!!! Keep them coming!
Outstanding flavor, plus I loved the texture of the crumb topping! I shared some with my neighbor and she asked for the recipe. You are a delight to follow Kaleb! You have so much positivity and knowledge to share with the world!!! ❤
I just made your blueberry pie…and this morning I cut myself a piece to go with my coffee and just let me tell you…This pie was WONDERFUL!!! Thank you for sharing your recipes with us!!!