There is nothing quite as nice as a large slice of homemade pie. But there is no denying that finding the time to bake that pie isn’t always the easiest.
If you lead a busy lifestyle then you might not have the hours available to make a pie from scratch. But worry not because you can still make a homemade pie as a treat.
In this guide, we’re focusing on canned blueberry pie filling, and how to make your very own homemade blueberry pie using this filling.
You might be skeptical about using a canned filling, but honestly, it tastes amazing, and the end result will really hit the spot if you fancy a blueberry pie.
So, if you want to find out more about how to make a blueberry pie with canned filling, read on to find out more!
Why Doesn’t The Canned Filling Come With A Recipe?
So, first things first, let’s answer the question that will be on the tip of your tongue as soon as you purchase a can of blueberry pie filling.
That question is, of course, why doesn’t the canned filling come with a recipe? And that is a very good question!
Realizing there is no recipe on the canned filling really can be frustrating!
Especially if you expected making this pie to be as simple as adding the can’s filling to a pastry case and popping it in the oven till it was cooked.
However, no matter what type of canned blueberry filling you buy, it will never be this easy to bake your pie.
There is one simple reason for this, and that is that there aren’t enough blueberries in a can of blueberry pie filling.
The contents of the can make an excellent base for your blueberry pie, but the mixture does tend to be gloopy with nowhere near enough blueberries in it.
So, if you want to make a delicious blueberry pie, you will need to use more than just the can of filling when baking your pie.
To put it into context, a store-bought pie case will have the capacity for around 4–5 cups of filling. Generally, a single tin of canned filling will equate to around 1 cup of filling.
So, one can of blueberry filling will not be enough to make a big blueberry pie. Instead, you will have to use a couple of tins, as well as a cup or two of blueberries if you want to make a delicious blueberry pie.
This is the main reason why you will not see a recipe on a tin of canned blueberry pie filling.
If you could make a blueberry pie with just one can, then you would likely see a recipe. But because you need to use multiple, most companies will avoid including a recipe on the packaging.
Which Canned Blueberry Pie Filling Is The Best?
If you have visited the store and looked in the cans aisle, then you will likely have noticed that there are lots of different types of blueberry pie filling.
Tons of different companies produce blueberry pie filling, and this can make it very daunting to choose the best type for your pie.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at what canned blueberry pie filling is the best.
Depending on your budget, there might be a different style of blueberry pie filling that is the best option for you. However, in our experience, one of the best brands to choose from is Lucky Leaf.
Lucky Leaf produces a wide range of different fruit fillings and toppings, and their blueberry filling is utterly delicious.
As we mentioned earlier, quite a lot of blueberry pie fillings tend to be very gloopy as they are rather low in actual blueberries when it comes to content.
They make a great base but haven’t got many decent-sized blueberries in them. So, you will need to add extra blueberries to fill out the pie.
However, Lucky Leaf blueberry pie filling is already pretty high in blueberries, so you will not need to add that many fresh blueberries to the filling.
This will make preparing your blueberry pie filling a lot easier, and keep costs much lower. That is why we would always recommend Lucky Leaf as our first choice blueberry pie filling.
If you cannot get your hands on Lucky Leaf, then don’t be afraid to use any other blueberry pie filling. Even the cheapest brands will make a delicious filling for your pie.
Just remember to calculate how many cans you will need in order to fill your entire pie case before you leave the store.
This will help avoid disappointment, and ensure that your blueberry pie is as delicious as possible!
Should You Cook Pie Filling?
If you have ever made a blueberry pie from scratch before, then you will know that you need to cook the blueberry pie filling before the pie enters the oven.
When you are cooking from scratch this is necessary as it allows you to create a delicious sauce base for your blueberry pie. But do you need to cook canned blueberry pie filling before you use it?
Well, as you might have guessed, canned blueberry pie filling is already cooked when it is canned. It is cooked before you use it, so there is no real need to cook it before putting it in your pie.
If you wanted to, you could eat the pie filling directly from the can simply because it is already cooked, so it is perfectly safe for you to eat.
Of course, even though you don’t have to cook the pie filling in order to use it, you will need to cook it when making a blueberry pie.
As you bake your pie, the filling inside will also bake. That is why you do not need to heat up your blueberry pie filling before putting it into the pastry casing.
If you were to prepare a blueberry pie entirely from scratch, you would need to cook the blueberries and all the other ingredients that prepare the pie filling before you put the filling into the pastry.
But with canned pie filling, all you need to do is mix it with a handful of other ingredients (we’ll take a look at these later on), and add it to the pastry case.
That is why it is so much quicker to prepare a blueberry pie with canned filling than to make a blueberry pie from scratch.
The Ingredients You Will Need For The Pie
As we have said, a can of blueberry pie filling alone will not be enough to prepare a blueberry pie. As well as needing pastry for the pie’s case, you will need to gather a number of other ingredients. That is why it is very important to do your research before you visit the store.
Canned blueberry pie filling makes an excellent base for your blueberry pie, but in order to create a delicious blueberry pie, you will need to include other ingredients. Just a handful of ingredients will totally transform this convenient canned filling into a delicious pie filling. So, be sure to pick up the following ingredients when you are at the store.
For the perfect blueberry pie using canned filling, we would recommend using:
1 can of blueberry pie filling
3-3.5 cups of blueberries (either fresh or frozen will be fine)
1 tbsp of lemon juice
0.5 tsp of ground cinnamon
1 cup of sugar
0.25 cup of instant modified cornstarch
2 tbsp butter
Pie case
Some of the ingredients in this list are fairly obvious, including the blueberry pie filling, the blueberries, and the pie case. But some of the other ingredients might come as a bit of a surprise.
For some context, the lemon juice and the cinnamon are added for flavor. The lemon juice adds some depth to the flavor and contrasts the blueberries to really highlight their flavor.
Likewise, cinnamon is added to give the pie a little spice (because all good fruit pies will have a spicy kick).
The sugar is added to sweeten the sauce, and the butter is used to bring richness to the flavor of the pie.
Finally, the instant modified cornstarch is added as this is a pie thickener. Just a small amount of cornstarch will thicken up the sauce within your pie and ensure that you do not end up with a runny pie.
So, while you might expect it to be as easy as popping a can of blueberry pie filling into a case, creating a blueberry pie using this filling isn’t actually that easy.
Use the ingredients above for a really yummy blueberry pie made using a canned filling.
The Ingredients You Will Need For The Pie Topping
The ingredients that we have just looked at will allow you to create the filling for your blueberry pie, but you will need to gather some extra ingredients if you want your pie to have a delicious topping.
When it comes to pie toppings, you have two options. You can either choose a solid-crusted pie or instead choose a crumble topping for your pie.
Both of these toppings are very different from one another, but they are both utterly delicious. So no matter what you choose, we’re confident you’ll love your pie.
Ingredients For Crusted Pie
Decorating sugar
Egg wash
Pre-made pie topping
Ingredients For Crumble Topping
0.25 cups of flour
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp granulated sugar
0.25 cup of butter
0.5 tsp lemon zest
Pinch of cinnamon
If you are already using a pre-made pastry case for your pie, then you might opt for a crusted pie as a lot of these cases come with a topper included in the price.
However, if you forgot to pick up a topper for your pie, you can easily make a crumble topping instead.
As you can see, quite a lot of the ingredients for a crumble topping are ingredients that you will likely already have at home.
So, if you forgot to pick up the ingredients to top your pie, then a crumble topping will likely be a good choice!
How To Make The Blueberry Pie
Once you have gathered all the ingredients that we’ve outlined above, you are then ready to start making your blueberry pie.
As we said earlier, making a blueberry pie using canned filling really is super simple, and it will take next to no time at all. So make sure you follow the step-by-step guide below to make the process as simple and stress-free as possible.
Step One
All good recipes start with preheating the oven, and this blueberry pie is no different.
Begin by switching your oven on and setting it to a temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Then leave the oven to heat up as you prepare your blueberry pie.
Step Two
Grab a medium-sized bowl and begin by adding your canned filling to the bowl. If you have never used canned filling before, this will really open your eyes up to just how gloopy this filling is.
Sometimes the filling will get stuck to the inside of the can, so if need be use a spoon to transfer the filling from the can to the bowl.
Step Three
Add your extra blueberries next. If you are using fresh blueberries, then you should wash your blueberries and pat them dry before adding them to the bowl.
If you are using frozen blueberries, then there is no need to do this, instead, you can simply add the frozen blueberries to the bowl.
Instead of adding all 3.5 cups to the bowl, we would recommend starting off by adding just 1 cup.
After you have added 1 cup to the bowl, stir the blueberries together with the canned filling, and then proceed to add one cup of blueberries at a time, stirring after every cup you add.
Step Four
After you have finished adding all your blueberries, it is then time to move on to the lemon.
Drizzle the lemon juice over the top of the mixture and then stir it through until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
When adding your lemon juice, be extra careful not to add too much lemon. It is very important just to add a small amount of lemon, otherwise, you will overpower the sauce.
Step Five
Once you have stirred the lemon through, it is time to add the spices.
The recipe we have suggested above only uses ground cinnamon, but if you wanted to you could also add a sprinkle of all-spice and a pinch of salt.
Some people also choose to add a few cloves for extra flavor.
Step Six
Moving on, you next need to add the sugar to the bowl. To ensure that your mixture is completely combined, we would recommend starting with half a cup of sugar, then stirring that through.
Once the half cup is thoroughly combined, add another half cup and stir it through. Repeat until the entire blueberry pie mixture has been combined.
As well as following this recipe, we would recommend adding sugar to taste. After every half cup, give the mixture a taste.
This will give you a good idea of whether, or not, you need to add more sugar to the recipe. It will also prevent you from making your blueberry pie filling too sweet.
Step Seven
The final ingredient to add to your blueberry pie filling is the pie thickener.
In this recipe we have recommended using instant modified cornstarch in a very small amount, so make sure that you add this to the recipe last.
Once you have added this, stir it through and then leave the filling to sit for around 15 minutes before moving on to step 8.
This will give the filling plenty of time to thicken up before you put it in the pie crust.
Step Eight
Next, you should prepare your crust. If you have bought a pre-made pie crust, this step will consist simply of placing your pre-made pie crust into a pie tin.
After you’ve put your pie crust in the tin, you can then add your blueberry pie filling to the pie case. Smooth the filling out to ensure that it is spread evenly across the entire pie crust.
Step Nine
Cut up your small amount of butter and dot it around the top of the pie.
Make sure you spread the butter out as this will ensure the entire filling benefits from the flavor of the butter. Ensure that you do not add too much butter as this could ruin your pie.
Step Ten
You can then move on to the topping of your pie. Press the edges of the topping together with the sides of the pastry using a fork, and don’t forget to cut a little hole in the top of the pie to allow the steam to escape.
Once you have added the topping, it is then time to add the egg wash. This is a super simple step, just remember that it is important to spread the topping evenly across the topping of the pie.
Step Eleven
Finally, all that is left to do is bake your pie. By now your oven will have thoroughly pre-heated and will be ready for your pie to be added.
Bake your pie for around 40–50 minutes, or until the filling is nicely bubbling, and the crust is browned.
Once your pie is thoroughly cooked, take it out of the oven and leave it to cool for 15 minutes. Once cooled, you can then chop up your pie and serve!
How To Make A Streusel Topping
If you are interested in adding a streusel topping to your pie then this is something that you can easily do. If you want to find out how to make a streusel topping, keep on reading.
Then mix 0.25 cups of flour, 2 tbsps of brown sugar, 1 tbsp of white sugar, 0.25 tsp cinnamon, and 0,5 tsp of lemon zest in a bowl. Once that is done, cut in 2 tablespoons of butter with 2 butter knives.
After you have combined the mixture, you should then place it in the freezer for around 15 minutes. As soon as the 15 minutes is up, take the mixture out of the freezer otherwise it will over-freeze.
Break up the frozen mixture and you should begin to get crumbly bits of topping, sprinkle this across the top of your blueberry pie and then bake.
How Do You Know When Your Pie Is Cooked?
In the recipe above, we have given you a rough time frame of how long it will take to bake your pie.
However, before you take your pie out of the oven, it is understandable that you will want to be 100% certain that it has baked through.
The easiest way to tell if your pie is cooked is not to pay attention to the crust, instead, you should pay attention to the filling.
It generally won’t take too long for your pie crust to start to brown, but just because the topping is turning golden, that doesn’t mean that your pie is cooked.
Instead, pay close attention to the pie filling. When the pie filling starts to bubble within the pie crust this is a sign that your pie is cooked.
For good measure, we recommend leaving the pie in the oven for a further 5 minutes after it has started bubbling as this will ensure the pie is cooked through.
Once that time has passed, take your pie out of the oven and you will have a delicious piping hot blueberry pie that will be ready to eat as soon as it cools.
How To Stop The Pie From Being Runny
One of the biggest problems that you will likely encounter when baking your blueberry pie is ending up with a blueberry pie that is filled with an incredibly runny filling.
The recipe that we have included in this guide has combated this by including modified cornstarch in the recipe. A small amount of cornstarch will thicken up the sauce and ensure that the filling of your pie isn’t too runny.
But this isn’t the only method that will do the job. There are lots of different thickening agents that you can use, including the following:
Tapioca Flour – Grind a small number of tapioca balls until they form a powder, then add to the mixture in place of the cornstarch. The tapioca will have the same effect on the mixture and will help prevent it from becoming runny.
Cornstarch Slurry – Mix one tablespoon of cornstarch with two tablespoons of water to form a slurry. Stir together until the cornstarch has broken down completely, then add the mixture to your blueberry pie filling. Mix together to ensure that the filling is completely mixed.
Add More Blueberries – If you don’t want the hassle of preparing a thickening agent, you can instead prevent your sauce from being runny by increasing the number of blueberries that you use in the recipe. The more blueberries, the thicker the sauce, so this is a great way to thicken up your sauce.
Summary
In short, if you want to prepare a blueberry pie but don’t have the ingredients to prepare one from scratch, then we would recommend following this recipe.
Using a canned blueberry pie filling allows you to easily prepare a delicious blueberry pie at home without all the hassle associated with making one from scratch.
We hope you have found all the information in this guide helpful, and that you will enjoy your blueberry pie.
Thanks for reading!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use Fresh Fruit In A Blueberry Pie?
Yes, you absolutely can use fresh fruit in a blueberry pie. We would only recommend doing this for pie recipes that you have to bake, however, as if you use fresh fruit in a no-bake pie recipe, you will notice the difference in consistency.
Can I Freeze My Blueberry Pie Filling?
You can freeze blueberry pie filling if you prepare too much. To do this, add your blueberry pie filling to an airtight container, and freeze for up to 3 months. After this, the quality of the filling will deteriorate, so try to use it within the first 3 months.
Have you ever made something so delicious that you wished you could savor it forever?
Only to find that the recipe has now mysteriously vanished from your phone and the entirety of the internet. Yep, there’s not much more painful than that.
Hi, my name is Mark Williams and I have been infatuated with cooking since I was young. I would beg my mother to pull a chair up to the counter so I could watch what she was doing.
