How to Make Strawberry Pie Just in Time for Spring (2024)

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Ingredients Directions FAQs

You know spring is in full swing when the weather has warmed up and fresh, ripe berries are in abundance. It's the perfect time of year to make a gorgeous strawberry pie! Sure, canned pie filling exists or you could use strawberry Jell-O to fill the crust, but when the season is right, this is one of thebest pie recipes. With just five ingredients, this easy strawberry dessert brings the flavors of spring right to your family celebration. The only thing that can make it better is a big dollop of whipped cream!

How do you make strawberry pie from scratch?

Start with a baked pie crust andmake your filling: On the stove top, cook a mixture of fresh strawberry puree, sugar, vanilla, and cornstarch to make a lightly sweetened, thickened sauce. Mix in fresh, halved strawberries and transfer this mixture to the fully baked crust. Let it cool in the refrigerator for a few hours, then serve with homemade whipped cream. You can also try a few easy twists, like adding 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder for a chocolate whipped cream or 2 teaspoons of lemon zest for a citrus kick.

How many cups of strawberries do you need for strawberry pie?

This recipe calls for 1 1/2 quarts of fresh strawberries, which meansyou'll need about 6 cups of whole berries. Make sure to measure out the berries before you halve each one.

Can you use a frozen pie crust for strawberry pie?

You sure can. If you'd rather grab a ready-to-bake pie crust from the freezer section of your grocery store, go right ahead. Refrigerated pie crust andhomemade pie crust also work beautifully in this pie. Just be sureto blind bake whatever crust you choose completely through before filling. Blind baking (or pre-baking) is simple to do—check out our guide forhow to blind bake a pie crust.

What's the best way to cut strawberries for pie? This is easy to prepare! First, clean your strawberries. Then, cut off the green stems and slice your berries in half. Take 1 1/2 cups of the halved strawberries and mash them with a fork. These mashed berries will be cooked down with the other filling ingredients and the remaining halved strawberries get folded in at the end for a chunky, fresh strawberry flavor.

Can you use frozen strawberries for strawberry pie?

This pie is filled with fresh strawberries which gives it its pretty, made-from-scratch appearance. Frozen strawberries don't hold their shape as well as fresh do, so it's best to avoid using frozen for the berries that are tossed in the filling halved. However, you can use frozen berries for the portion of the filling that gets mashed. Frozen berries have a higher water content than fresh so, if you use frozen, be sure to thaw the strawberries completely and drain off any extra liquid before mashing. Just make sure the frozen berries are unsweetened!

How do you thicken strawberry pie filling?

To thicken strawberry pie filling, you'll need to cook it on the stove and use a starch such as cornstarch (or a cornstarch substitute like tapioca starch or flour). A cooked flour mixture can leave your filling a bit cloudy in appearance, whereas cornstarch and tapioca starch will cook clear and hold their thickness for about 48 hours. And since cornstarch is a common pantry item that most cooks keep, it's the perfect thickener to use for this easy strawberry pie.

Why is my strawberry pie runny?

There are a few ways to prevent your strawberry pie from coming out runny. First, your recipe needs the right amount of cornstarch. Second, the cornstarch needs to be dissolved first in a cold liquid, then heated to its boiling point in order to fully activate its thickening power. Third, be sure to let the mixture cook for the entire time that the recipe recommends. Cooking the mixture thoroughly will help to reduce the liquid in the filling, thus making it thicker. And since the fresh strawberry pie isn't baked after it comes together, it's important to fully cook the filling on the stovetop before you pour it to the crust. Lastly, once the pie is assembled, be sure to let it cool completely in the refrigerator before slicing.

Should strawberry pie be kept in the refrigerator?

Yes! This strawberry pie is best served nice and cold, fresh from the fridge. Covered and refrigerated, it will stay good for four to five days, but it's bound to be devoured long before then!

Yields:
8 serving(s)
Prep Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
5 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients

  • 1

    refrigerated pie crust

  • 1 1/2 qt.

    fresh strawberries, stems removed,halved

  • 3/4 c.

    granulated sugar

  • 1 tsp.

    vanilla extract

  • 3 Tbsp.

    corn starch

  • Whipped cream,for serving

Directions

    1. Step1For the crust: Bake 1 refrigerated pie crust according to package directions. Let it cool completely.
    2. Step2For the strawberry filling: In a small bowl, use a fork to mash 1 1/2 cups of strawberries. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the mashed berries with the sugar, vanilla, and 1/4 cup of water. Bring to a low boil, stirring and mashing frequently, and cook until the fruit begins to soften and break down more, about 5 minutes.
    3. Step3In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and 1/2 cup of water. Stir the cornstarch mixture into the simmering strawberry mixture and return the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until thickened, about 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat and fold in the remaining fresh strawberries. Immediately transfer the strawberry mixture to the pie crust.
    4. Step4Let cool slightly, about 15 minutes, then place in the refrigerator to cool completely, about 4 hours.

Tip: You can use a blender or food processor to puree the strawberries instead of mashing them with a fork.

How to Make Strawberry Pie Just in Time for Spring (2024)

FAQs

What is strawberry pie filling made of? ›

Mix sugar, cornstarch, 1/2 c of the strawberries, crushed, water and lemon juice in a saucepan. Cook until thickened. Chill. Fill cooled pie shell with remaining strawberries, halved, and cover with cooked mixture.

Why did my strawberry pie not set? ›

If it's warm, it'll will start to cook the berries, causing them to release moisture, which will make the filling runny, weepy, or not set up. Once the strawberry pie is assembled, make sure to let it chill in the refrigerator for a full three hours to let the filling completely set before slicing.

How to keep strawberry rhubarb pie from being runny? ›

Macerate Your Rhubarb With Sugar To Draw Out Excess Liquid

Mixing fruit with sugar draws out moisture through the process of osmosis, which happens when water naturally balances out by migrating from the cells in your fruit to the dissolved sugar molecules on the surface, the same way it does with salt.

Does strawberry pie need refrigerated? ›

If a pie contains eggs or dairy products, it should be stored in the refrigerator and not left out at room temperature for more than two hours. Pies that do not contain dairy products, such as fruit pies can be stored, loosely covered at room temperature for up to two days.

What thickens fruit pie filling? ›

Cornstarch has thickening power similar to Instant ClearJel. Like flour, it lends a cloudy, semi-transparent look to filling. It can also give filling a starchy taste. For full effectiveness, make sure the pie filling is bubbling up through the crust before removing your pie from the oven.

How do you keep strawberry pie from getting soggy? ›

Often, blind-baking solves this problem. If you're making a single crust custard-filled pie, like a pumpkin pie, bake the pie dough first before adding filling to allow some of the moisture in the crust to evaporate. You can also totally blind-bake fruit pies.

Why is my strawberry pie filling runny? ›

Why is my strawberry pie runny? There are a few ways to prevent your strawberry pie from coming out runny. First, your recipe needs the right amount of cornstarch. Second, the cornstarch needs to be dissolved first in a cold liquid, then heated to its boiling point in order to fully activate its thickening power.

How do you keep the bottom of a fruit pie from getting soggy? ›

Sprinkle dried breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes, or other types of cereal, on the bottom crust before filling and baking in the oven.

How do you make fruit pie not runny? ›

Partially pre-cook the filling to evaporate its excess juice. Experiment with different thickeners beyond flour — we love Instant ClearJel. Vent the pie's top crust so steam from the juice can escape. For even better evaporation, try a lattice crust or crumb crust.

What is a substitute for cornstarch in strawberry pie? ›

Cornstarch Substitute for Fruit Pie Fillings

When it comes to pie fillings, all-purpose flour is the way to go. It's a pantry staple that's great for thickening, but it won't give you that same glossiness that cornstarch provides. You can also use tapioca starch if you have it handy.

How to make a fruit pie without a soggy bottom? ›

Crust dust is a 1:1 mixture of flour and granulated sugar. When baking a pie, especially a fruit pie, a couple of teaspoons of crust dust sprinkled into the bottom of the crust will help prevent the crust from becoming saturated with juicy filling as it bakes.

Why do stores not refrigerate pies? ›

2 However, you've probably noticed that a lot of grocery stores and restaurants serve and store them at room temperature. This is because, quite simply, they taste better that way. So, if you're not going to serve your pumpkin pie for a day or two, your best bet is to store it in the refrigerator.

Can you leave pie filling in fridge overnight? ›

Or roll it out, stick it in its pie pan, and freeze or chill. And you can definitely make the filling up to 4 or 5 days ahead, and stash it in the fridge; or even farther ahead, and freeze it.

How to tell when a fruit pie is done? ›

A fruit pie is ready to be pulled from the oven when its juices are bubbling in the center of the pie, not just the sides!

What is strawberry filling made of? ›

This easy strawberry cake filling is made with fresh juicy strawberries, uses only 4 ingredients, and comes together in 20 minutes! This easy strawberry filling is made by chopping fresh strawberries, and cooking them with granulated sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch to thicken up the filling.

What is pie filling made of? ›

Fruit, sugar, cornstarch, acid, extras. These are the only things you need to remember to turn out a perfect pie filling.

What is strawberry cream pie made of? ›

Beat together heavy cream and confectioners' sugar in a glass or metal bowl until stiff peaks form. Fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture until evenly mixed; fold in 1/4 cup sliced strawberries. Spoon strawberry mixture into graham cracker crust. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours before serving.

What are the 4 types of pie fillings? ›

Pie crusts and tart shells can be made from several types of dough or crumbs. Flaky dough, mealy dough and crumbs are best for pie crusts; sweet dough is usually used for tart shells. Fillings make pies and tarts distinctive and flavorful. Four types of fillings are common: cream, fruit, custard and chiffon.

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