The Best Homemade Saskatoon Berry Pie
The Best Homemade Saskatoon Berry Pie
If you’ve got Saskatoon berries you’re looking to make something with, a classic Saskatoon Berry Pie is the answer! This delicious and easy recipe works great with fresh or frozen Saskatoons.
About Saskatoon Berries:
Only recently did I realize that not everyone knows what Saskatoon berries are, we had Saskatoon bushes around where we lived! They’re also known in other parts of North America as serviceberries, juneberries, prairie berries or shadbush, but here in the Canadian prairies we call them Saskatoons. If you haven’t had them before don’t be fooled by the fact that they look like blueberries, they’re definitely nothing like blueberries. Truthfully Saskatoon berries don’t have a lot of flavour and are kind of dry haha, but they’re especially delicious when turned into a luscious pie filling! This is a classic Canadian summer dessert we make with wild Saskatoons.
The Pie Filling
Because Saskatoon berries are a more dry berry, they need to be cooked into a luscious filling before being added to the pie crust. This simple filling is made with sugar, a little flour, water and a touch of lemon juice. You can also add cinnamon. All the ingredients are simmered until the berries are slightly soft and it becomes a jammy berry filling. Now it’s ready to be turned into a delicious pie!
About this flower crust:
For this Saskatoon Berry Pie that I made, I used a tiny flower cookie cutter to make a pretty crust. I love to use cookie cutters to make interesting pie crusts, it’s SO easy and looks nice. But of course, you can make a classic pie crust, crimped crust or even a lattice crust.
Saskatoon Berry Pie Recipe Tips
- Saskatoon Berries: Use fresh Saskatoons or frozen Saskatoon berries. We pick wild berries, but you can also get them from farmers’ markets.
- Place a baking sheet under your pie. I like to place a baking sheet on the oven rack directly under the pie in case the pie filling bubbles out, which it almost always does.
- Why the high heat for baking? Baking the pie at 425 degrees F for about 20 minutes ensures that the bottom of the crust doesn’t get soggy. Just make sure to TURN THE HEAT DOWN to 350 degrees F after this time and bake for 35 to 40 minutes more.
- Leftovers: I store leftovers, covered, on my counter at room temperature for up to a couple of days, but honestly this pie doesn’t last long.
- Flavour Option: Sometimes if I have blueberries around I will combine Saskatoons and blueberries for the filling. It’s delicious!
Crust Baking Tip
If while baking the edge of the crust starts to turn brown too quickly, use pieces of aluminum foil to cover the edges while the pie continues to bake. Just make sure only to cover the edge.
More Saskatoon Berry Recipes:
Serving Suggestion:
Serve your Saskatoon Berry Pie warm with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream, and you have summer on a plate. Delicious.
The Best Homemade Saskatoon Berry Pie
Ingredients
Saskatoon Berry Pie Filling:
- 4 cups Saskatoon berries
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp all purpose flour
Pie Crust:
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2/3 cup shortening (lard)
- 1/4 cup cold water
Additional Ingredients
- 2 tsp butter (for adding to the pie before baking – refer to the instructions below)
- 2 tsp milk (for brushing the top of the pie crust before baking – refer to the instructions below)
- cinnamon sugar mix (1 tsp sugar mixed with 1/4 tsp cinnamon) (for the top of the crust – refer to the instructions below)
Instructions
Making the Saskatoon Berry Filling:
- In a saucepan mix together the Saskatoon berries, water and lemon juice, and simmer for 10 minutes over low-medium heat.4 cups Saskatoon berries, 1/4 cup water, 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- In a separate bowl mix together the sugar and flour.3/4 cup granulated sugar, 3 tbsp all purpose flour
- Then add the sugar/flour mix to the berries and combine.
- Simmer until the mixture slightly thickens, about 5 minutes.
- Set aside to cool.
Making the Pie Crust:
- Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl.2 cups all purpose flour, 1/2 tsp salt
- With a pastry cutter cut in shortening until the particles are pea sized (you can also use a food processor to make the pie dough).2/3 cup shortening
- Sprinkle in water, 1 tsp or so at a time, mixing lightly with a fork. Don't over mix or the crust will be tough.1/4 cup cold water
- Press into a ball. It is okay if it is crumbly. In fact crumbly makes for a tender, flaky crust!
- Separate the ball into 2 balls: one for the bottom crust and one for the top.
Baking the pie:
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F.
- On a lightly floured surface, use a rolling pin to roll out one ball of the pie crust for the bottom of your pie, then place it into your pie plate. Gently press down.
- Add the cooled Saskatoon berry pie filling.
- Dot the filling with small pieces of the butter (about 1 – 2 tsp total).2 tsp butter
- For the top crust, roll out the other ball of dough and place it over the top of your pie. Press together the edges of the crust (if they don't stick, use a bit of water to help 'glue' them together). Then trim off the excess pastry dough.
- Using a knife make air vents by cutting slits in the crust.
- If you want to make a fancy crust like I did here, use a small cookie cutter and create shapes for the crust topping. Randomly place them on the pie filling (refer to the pictures above).
- Use a pastry brush to brush the crust lightly with milk, then generously sprinkle the crust with a cinnamon and sugar mix.2 tsp milk, cinnamon sugar mix
- In your preheated 425 degree oven F, bake your pie for 20 minutes. First, place a cookie sheet onto the oven rack below your pie.
- Then after this time TURN DOWN THE OVEN to 350 degrees F and bake for 35-40 minutes more. Bake until you have a nice golden brown crust and the filling is bubbling in the vents.
- If the edges of the pie crust start to get too dark, cover them with a little aluminum foil or a pie shield.
- Serve with vanilla ice cream!
More Pie Recipes
Sweet pies, savoury, classics like apple pie, pumpkin pie, pot pies and more!
I hope you love my Saskatoon pie recipe. Have a delicious day!
LOL I live 35 min outside of saskatoon and have no clue where we’d go to pick them…pike lake maybe?
Hi Sabina! I bet you would find them there, as they thrive anywhere in the prairies with loads of sun! Good luck!
Hi Sabina! There are a few u-pick Saskatoon Berry farms north of Saskatoon. I believe there is one near Shekenah Resort north of Waldheim and also there used to be one near Dalmeny. May have to google routes :).
Holy Cow this pie turned out good!!! I’ve never made one before! So excited!
I was wondering if you could put the pie filling in jars and process it for 10 minutes? To can it?
Hi Sarah! Absolutely, this filling cans great! I would process it a little longer though, maybe 30 minutes?