Blueberries are a favorite fruit in the summertime and they make for delicious pies, fillings, muffins, ice cream topping and more. This easy recipe will show you how to turn them into your own homemade blueberry pie filling that can be used with any number of recipes! Let's get started.
It’s blueberry season! Blueberry season here in Ontario means it’s time for me stock up. Since all these yummy little blueberries are on sale and they’re super cheap, I’m stocking up and making all sorts of blueberry things!
This blueberry pie filling recipe is my little homage to the hard work that my grandmother and my aunt did when preparing food for the winter. This blueberry pie filling is so easy to make.
All you have to do is heat the berries in a pot on the stove with some sugar, some lemon juice, a little salt and a little cornstarch. The berries are mashed a little bit using a potato masher just to incorporate the ingredients some. After the blueberry pie filling has thickened up, the heat is turned down and pour the berries into your sterilized mason jars, wipe the rims and close the lids.
What ingredients are used to make blueberry pie filling?
This recipe for blueberry pie includes simple ingredients such as sugar, cornstarch, salt, lemon juice, and of course blueberries. Making your own pie filling is easy and much tastier than the store-bought kind!
Be sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of the post for full ingredients & instructions!
How to make Blueberry Pie Filling – Overview
You can find the full recipe details, including ingredient amounts and the full instructions, at the bottom of this post, but first, here's a quick overview of how to make homemade blueberry pie filling!
This recipe is so easy and only requires a few simple ingredients. Fresh or frozen blueberries, sugar, cornstarch, fresh lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. That's it!
I like to use fresh blueberries when they are in season, but frozen work great too. And if you use frozen, there is no need to thaw them first. Just toss them into the pot with the rest of the ingredients.
The sugar and cornstarch thickens the filling and the lemon juice adds a bright flavor. A little bit of salt rounds everything out.
The filling comes together quickly boiled in a pot on the stovetop and then gets spooned into a baked pie crust. I like to use my favorite all-butter pie crust recipe, but you can use a store-bought crust if you want to save some time.
After the pie is filled, it gets a lattice top or a solid top crust and then baked until golden brown. And that's it! You'll have a delicious homemade blueberry pie that will impress your family and friends.
How do I prepare fresh blueberries?
Before using fresh blueberries for pie filling, just put the berries in a colander and rinse them with cold water. Then, use your fingers to gently remove any stems.
Why is lemon juice added to blueberry pie filling?
The addition of lemon juice is important because it balances the sweetness of the berries and the sugar. Too much sugar can make the pie filling too sweet and the berries can lose their flavor. The lemon juice also adds a little bit of tartness to the pie filling which makes it more delicious.
Can I use canned blueberries instead of fresh?
I find that using plain canned blueberries (not the prepared filling kind, just plain blueberries in a can) just doesn't give the best flavor for a delicious pie filling. Fresh or frozen blueberries are best for flavor and for texture.
Canned blueberry pie filling is already prepared and ready for putting into a pie crust, so if you use this, you won't need to add any additional ingredients. In my experience, blueberry pie filling made with fresh blueberries is much better than using the canned stuff!
How can I thicken my blueberry filling?
There are three ways to thicken blueberry filling: cornstarch, flour, or tapioca.
Cornstarch is the most common thickener used in pie fillings and it's what we use for this recipe.
Flour can also be used to thicken pie fillings, but it can result in a slightly gummy texture.
Tapioca flour is another option for thickening, and it works well with fruit pie fillings.
Cornstarch is typically considered a better choice when making blueberry pie filling as it results in a clear, glossy filling with a nice smooth texture.
Be sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of the post for full ingredients & instructions!
How can I make my blueberry pie filling taste better?
There are a few things you can do to make your blueberry pie filling taste better.
- Use fresh or frozen berries instead of canned berries. Canned berries tend to be mushy and have less flavor.
- Add a little lemon juice to the berries. Do a little taste test at the end of cooking and add a little more lemon juice as needed. This will brighten up the flavor.
How to Turn This Into a Pie
How to make Homemade Blueberry Pie
Pour the prepared blueberry pie filling into a 9″ pie crust and spread it out evenly. Then, top it with a second 9″ crust. Use a fork to press the two crusts together around the edge of the pie and then use a knife to cut slits in the top crust. You can also decorate the top of the pie with cut-outs before baking, if you'd like.
Bake the pie at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 375°F and continue baking for 45 minutes to an hour, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. Let the pie cool for at least 30 minutes before serving so that the filling has time to set up. Serve warm or at room temperature with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream, if desired. Enjoy!
If you want to make individual blueberry pies, simply smaller pie plates or baking dishes and follow the same baking instructions. These mini pies are perfect for sharing!
Recipe Variations
Here are a few ways to change up the original blueberry pie filling recipe:
- Instead of lemon juice try lime for something a little different! You can even use orange juice!
- In addition to the lemon juice, you could also add a little lemon zest to make the flavors pop even more.
- Replace half of the blueberries with raspberries or blackberries.
- For a decorative touch, top the pie filling with whole blueberries before baking.
- Make a double batch of the filling and freeze it for later use.
Ways to Use Blueberry Pie Filling
There are so may ways to use this blueberry pie filling so don’t feel you have to use it just for pie! You can use these as a filling for homemade strudel’s, as a topping for cheesecake, as a filling for your traditional pie or even as a topping for ice cream!
This would also be absolutely scrumptious drizzled over a nice fluffy sponge cake or angel food cake!
Here are some more creative ideas on how to use blueberry pie filling:
- As a topping for pancakes or waffles
- As a filling for crepes
- As a fruit dip
- as a cake filling
- As an ice cream topping
- In yogurt
- On top of oatmeal or cereal
- In smoothies
- Baked into muffins, quick breads, or scones
- To make a blueberry sauce for chicken, pork, or fish
- Swirled into cheesecake before baking
- As a fruit pizza topping
- In trifles
- Tarts
- Turnovers
- Cobblers, crumbles, and crisps
- Parfaits
- To make popsicles
- As a filling for homemade pie (of course!)
Blueberry pie filling is so versatile and can be used in so many different ways! I hope you enjoyed these ideas and are inspired to get creative in the kitchen!
Be sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of the post for full ingredients & instructions!
Leftovers – How to Store and Reheat
Blueberry pie filling is one of those things that's just as good the second day as it is the first. In fact, many people say that the flavors have a chance to meld and become even more delicious. If you find yourself with leftover blueberry pie filling, there are a few different ways you can store and reheat it so that it's just as tasty as when you made it.
One way to store blueberry pie filling is to place it in an airtight container in the fridge. It will last for up to four days this way. When you're ready to eat it again, simply remove it from the container and reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop until it's warmed through.
Another option is to freeze blueberry pie filling in an airtight container or freezer bag. It will stay fresh for up to six months this way. When you're ready to eat it, thaw it overnight in the fridge and then reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop until it's warmed through.
No matter how you choose to store it, blueberry pie filling is a delicious treat that can be enjoyed again and again. So next time you find yourself with leftovers, don't hesitate to save them for later. Your taste buds will thank you!
How long does blueberry pie filling last in the fridge?
Blueberry pie filling will last in the fridge for 3-4 days, when stored in an airtight container. When stored in the freezer, it will last for 2-3 months.
Blueberry Pie Filling
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: Makes about 4 1/2 cups of pie filling 1x
Ingredients
- 7 cups of blueberries, fresh or frozen
- 1 ½ cups + 1 tbsp sugar
- 4 tbsp cornstarch
- ½ tsp salt
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Into a large saucepan, put the blueberries and all ingredients except for the lemon juice.
- Turn the heat up to medium high and mash together the berries and other ingredients using a potato masher. Make sure that the cornstarch is no longer lumpy. It's ok if there are chunks of berries or whole berries.
- While on medium heat continuously stir the contents of the saucepan until the blueberry pie filling begins to thicken up.
- Set the heat to low and allow to simmer for about 5-10 minutes.
- At the end of cooking, add the lemon juice and stir together.
- At this point you can either make a blueberry pie right away, or store the filling in jars until you're ready to use it.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
