Very Berry Pie

A lightly sweetened homemade all-butter pie crust filled with 4 different berries giving an incredible sweet and tart combination of flavors.

There’s a sudden change in the April mornings of New York.  Clearly not as cold as the Winter months but a noticeable difference in the early brisk breeze from the Fall.  The mere thought of days getting longer, the comfort of lighter clothing worn, and the change in beauty of NYC streets while strolling under plush trees of white and pink flowers in bloom, all make me feel quite jubilant just before I step out my door.  An image that not only livens this brown brick city that I live in, but also a sense of tranquility that carries on throughout my day.

Last Saturday as I experienced this euphoric feeling of Spring, I came across a few markets fully stocked of all sorts of fresh berries.  It’s time!  The peak of berry season is approaching and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on them.  Immediately, the first thing that came to mind, was pie!

Pies are definitely not in my forte of desserts but I feel I’ve come a long way since the start of my first pie crust.  That day in particular, I remember feeling quite ecstatic making homemade pie dough for the very first time and this is exactly how I felt once again, as I completed this lattice design.  Although it’s not the best lattice I’ve seen around, I am proud of the end result.  Now between you and me, I know I could use some work on my crimping skills- or shall I say, lack of?  Ha!  In all seriousness, this is by far the best fruit pie I’ve had to date; not that I’ve made many- but I think the quality is much better than pre-made versions found in stores.

Made with a lightly sweetened all-butter pie dough in which chilled buttermilk was added as opposed to water to enhance its fragrance, flavor and tenderness.  A generous sprinkle of coarse sugar was applied to the latticed crust to give the pie a contrast in sweetness from the tart berries and a light crunch from the soft buttery crust.  Most mixed berry pies are made with up to three different berries; this pie has four (blueberries, strawberries, blackberries and raspberries) giving a variety of sweet and tart flavors in each bite.

Very Berry Pie

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• Author: Connie
• Total Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
• Yield: 9-inch pie 1x

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Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

CRUST

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch slices and frozen for 10 to 15 minutes
• 4–8 tablespoons cold buttermilk
• 1/8 cup heavy cream or milk
• 1/8 cup turbinado or any coarse sugar

FILLING

• 3 cups; 1 (16 oz.) package fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
• 1 1/2 cups; 2 (6 oz.) packages fresh blueberries
• 3/4 cup; 1 (6 oz.) package fresh blackberries
• 3/4 cup; 1 (6 oz.) package fresh raspberries
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch

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Instructions

CRUST

1. In medium bowl, whisk flour and sugar. Using a pastry blender or long-tined fork cut in chilled butter until the mixture becomes crumbly about the size of small peas. Add buttermilk 1 tablespoon at a time and combine dough until the mixture leaves the sides of the bowl.
2. Over a floured surface, form pastry dough into a ball, divide in half and flatten each round into a disk shape. Cover each separately with plastic wrap and cool in fridge for 30 minutes.

FILLING

1. Meanwhile, heat oven to 425 degrees F. In a large bowl using a rubber spatula, gently toss all berries with 2/3 cup of sugar and cornstarch until coated; set aside.
2. Using a floured rolling pin over a floured surface, roll out dough into a circle about 12 inches in diameter. Loosely roll dough around the rolling pin to transfer to a 9-inch pie plate. Trim overhang to about 1/2 inch beyond lip of plate. Crimp dough as desired.
3. Spoon filling into plate, leave any berry juice behind; set filled plate aside.
4. Roll out second half of pie dough, using a pleated pie cutter, cut out 6 12-inch long lattice strips about 1/2-inch wide. Reroll dough if needed and cut 4 12-inch long straight edge strips about 1/4-inch wide.

ASSEMBLY

1. Lay 3 pleated lattice strips about an inch apart and parallel to each other over the filling. Tip: keep the longest strips in the center. Turn plate 45 degrees and lay remaining pleated strips perpendicular to another. Gently pull back every other bottom strip to lay the top strip on top to complete the lattice design. Lay the 4 straight-edge strips across the center.
2. Brush each strip with heavy cream or milk and generously sprinkle coarse sugar.
3. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes on center rack. Loosely cover pie with a sheet of foil and continue to bake for another 20 minutes until berries begin to bubble and the crust is golden brown.
4. Allow pie to cool in plate over a wire rack till room temperature before serving. ENJOY!

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Cuisine: American