Blueberry Crumble Pie
Packed with blueberries, this Blueberry Crumble Pie is a great dessert for a warm summer evening. Don’t forget the scoop of ice cream on top!
Cornstarch is an amazing thing. Once heated, the heat causes the the cornstarch to absorb liquid. In this way, cornstarch allows sauces and fillings to ‘set.’ Without cornstarch, this blueberry pie wouldn’t work. The extra liquid from the blueberries would create a blueberry soup of sorts. A blueberry soup inside of a soggy pie crust. That doesn’t sound too appetizing, does it?
Instead, this Blueberry Crumble Pie has an amazing filling that is packed with blueberry flavor…and it holds together when you slice it! This pie is the perfect way to celebrate summer evenings when blueberries are at their peak of freshness and flavor. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, and you’ve got one heck of a tasty dessert!
Blueberry Crumble Pie
This pie recipe is one that I’ve had stashed away for years – like since my bachelor days. Yes, I did like to bake back in my bachelor days. I just didn’t bake as much. After all, it was just me eating whatever I baked, so I had to dial it back a bit.
In between pound cakes and cinnamon rolls, I do remember baking this pie a couple of times…but that was years and years ago. I stumbled across the recipe recently in an old binder, and I immediately put it on my list of things to bake. (On a side note, my list of things to bake seems to be growing faster and faster lately…)
Can you use frozen blueberries?
Absolutely! You can use fresh or frozen blueberries in this Blueberry Crumble Pie recipe. We go blueberry picking at a local farm every summer, and I used some of those fresh blueberries to make this pie. However, I’ve also used frozen blueberries in this recipe – you just sprinkle a bit more cornstarch on the bottom of the pie crust if using frozen berries. (The additional cornstarch soaks up any extra liquid that comes out of the frozen blueberries.)
Can you use store-bought pie dough?
Absolutely! In fact, I had a frozen pie crust stashed in the back of my freezer from a previous project, so I used that. However, I do prefer homemade pie dough, and this version has been my go-to pie dough for years. It’s simple to make in a food processor, and the secret ingredient is vodka. (Yes, vodka!)
For the crumble topping on this Blueberry Crumble Pie, I used a simple combination of flour, sugar and butter. I did use a combination of white sugar (i.e. ‘regular sugar’) and brown sugar as I love the flavor that brown sugar brings to this pie. However, feel free to use just white sugar if you’d like! And I snuck a bit of cardamom into the crumble, too. I’ve been obsessed with cardamom in baking recipes lately, but feel free to leave this out. The pie will be delicious either way!
If you’re craving a delicious summer fruit dessert, then put this Blueberry Crumble Pie on the list of things to bake! The recipe is quite easy, and this pie didn’t last long around here. Happy baking!
Did you bake this Blueberry Crumble Pie at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog) – I’d love to see your version!
Blueberry Crumble Pie
Ingredients
For the Pie
- 1 batch of pie dough homemade or store-bought (see note)
- 4 cups blueberries fresh or frozen
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup cornstarch see note
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 3 Tbsp water
For the Crumble Topping
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ tsp ground cardamom
- ¼ cup unsalted butter cold
Instructions
For the Pie
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Working on a lightly-floured surface, roll out pie dough and then transfer it into a 9” pie pan. Using your fingers, crimp the edge of the dough.
- Pour berries over the dough. (Note: If using frozen berries, sprinkle an additional 2 Tbsp of cornstarch on top of the dough before adding the berries.)
- Using a medium mixing bowl, add sugar, cornstarch and cinnamon; stir until well combined. Add lemon juice and water; stir until well combined. Pour this mixture on top of the blueberries.
For the Crumble Topping
- Using a medium bowl, add flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar and cardamom; stir until well combined.
- Using a pastry cutter or two table knives, cut in the cold butter until it is the size of small peas. Sprinkle topping mixture evenly on top of pie.
- Place pie on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 60 minutes, or until top of pie is golden brown. (Note: Check pie after 45 minutes to ensure crust is not browning too quickly. If needed, tent pie with foil.)
- Let pie cool in pan for 2 hours. Pie can be served at room temperature or refrigerated and served cold.
Notes
If using frozen blueberries, add an additional 2 Tbsp of cornstarch to the pie pan before adding the filling.
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cant wait to make this soon for me for the topping can i use vegan butter i never had blueberry crumble pie before perfect for my after office meals love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work
Yes! This recipe should be perfectly fine with vegan butter. I do enjoy this pie when fresh local blueberry season rolls around each year – I hope you enjoy it, too, Ramya!
I absolutely adore blueberries so this pie is right up my alley!! And vanilla ice cream is a must, if you ask me!! I can only imagine how good this makes your kitchen smells as it bakes. Can’t wait to give this one a try, David! Have a lovely weekend!
The vanilla ice cream is a must for sure! Robbie loves cookies ‘n cream (like his Dad), and I had to explain to him that cookies ‘n cream just wouldn’t be the same on top of this pie. Haha! Definitely put this one on the list of pies to bake, Dawn!
Every one of your desserts on this page looks so enticing, especially this Blueberry Crumble Pie. I’m gonna click over to your pie crust recipe. Such an interesting idea to use vodka. I’ll have to try it. It seems I am always fighting with my pie crust. I’ve never been to a blueberry farm to pick blueberries. Strawberries, peaches, apples, plenty of these over the years. I need to see if there is a farm close by because I’m gonna need to make this pie soon!
Thanks so much, Kristy! I stumbled across that trick of using vodka in pie dough a number of years ago, and it’s the only one I make homemade pie dough now. It sounds odd, but the science behind it makes perfect sense! Definitely go check to see if you have a pick-your-own blueberry farm nearby. There are dozens (!) of varieties of blueberries…and they are SO much better than the blueberries you find in the store. The store-bought ones work in a pinch, but the local, hand-picked is the way to go if you ask me!
Nothing better than a berry pie with a scoop of ice cream! I am hoping for a huge blueberry crop from my plants this year! (fingers crossed) This pie is on my list to make as soon as the berries are ready!
I hear ya, Kathy! You always have the best berry recipes, and I’m hoping your berry crop is as good as the mushroom crop. Definitely put this pie on the list for when those blueberries are ripe!!
those blueberries look marvellously tempting david. such a gorgeous pie. mmm must make pie crust with vodka …
Yes! Definitely try making pie crust with vodka, Sherry – the flavor doesn’t come through at all, but it yields the most amazing, flaky crust. And I have to say this blueberry filling would be a great way to use that pie dough! 🙂
Always loved a crumble! Apple crumble, rhubarb crumble, blackberry crumble you name it I love them! I must say I don’t think I’ve made a blueberry crumble before so this has to go on the list. Topped with icecream. Yum yum! Hope you are having a nice Independence Day there David!
I’m with ya, Neil – a good crumble is hard to beat! And the best part is you can substitute in different berries and fruits depending on what’s fresh. This blueberry version is fantastic! And, yes, we did have a great holiday weekend here – our first weekend in the new house in Asheville, NC! 🙂
It looks very tempting and I would definitely have it with a scoop of ice cream 😍
The scoop of ice cream is a must for sure! Thanks so much, Taruna!