Saskatoon Berry Pie
In short: A double-crust pie of sweet, nutty saskatoon berries with lemon and a little almond extract, baked until the juices bubble. Blueberries work too. It takes about 1 h 45 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 40 min
- Cook
- 1 h 5 min
- Resting
- 3 h
- Total
- 1 h 45 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 510 kcal
Saskatoon berries are small, purple fruits that grow wild across the Canadian Prairies, with a flavor somewhere between blueberry and almond. They have long been valued by Indigenous peoples of the plains, and today they are baked into pies at farm stands and family suppers every summer. Frozen saskatoons work well. Outside Canada, use blueberries and a drop of almond extract for a close result.
Instructions
- Whisk the flour, sugar and salt. Rub in the cold butter until the pieces are pea-sized, then stir in the ice water a tablespoon at a time until the dough holds together. Divide in two, flatten into discs, wrap and chill for 1 hour.
- Heat the oven to 220°C (425°F) with a baking sheet on the lowest rack.
- Toss the berries with the sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, zest, almond extract and salt. Let them stand for 15 minutes.
- Roll one disc into a 30 cm (12 in) circle and fit it into a 23 cm (9 in) pie plate. Pour in the berries and dot with the butter.
- Roll the second disc into a 28 cm (11 in) circle. Lay it over the filling, trim and crimp the edge, and cut 5 slits. Brush with the egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar.
- Bake on the hot sheet for 20 minutes, then lower the oven to 175°C (350°F) and bake 40 to 45 minutes more, until deep golden and the filling bubbles thickly through the slits.
- Cool on a rack for at least 3 hours so the filling sets. Serve with vanilla ice cream if you like.
Tips
- Frozen berries can go straight into the filling without thawing. Add about 10 minutes to the baking time.
- If your berries are very juicy, add an extra tablespoon of cornstarch. A lattice top lets steam escape and shows off the dark filling.
Questions and answers
What do saskatoon berries taste like?
They taste like a sweet blueberry with a hint of almond from their small, soft seeds. They are usually less tart than blueberries.
Can I use blueberries instead of saskatoon berries?
Yes. Use the same weight of blueberries and keep the almond extract. The pie will be slightly tarter and juicier.
Can I freeze saskatoon berry pie?
Yes. Freeze the unbaked pie for up to 2 months and bake it from frozen for about 20 minutes longer, or freeze the baked pie for 1 month.
How long does it take to make Saskatoon Berry Pie?
About 1 h 45 min in total: 40 min of preparation and 1 h 5 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Saskatoon Berry Pie?
About 510 kcal per serving, with 5 g of protein, 68 g of carbohydrates and 24 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 510 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 68 g |
| Fat | 24 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 30 g |
| Sodium | 330 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
