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You can make a blueberry pie with canned blueberries by using the canned fruit as your filling base, thickening it up, and baking it inside a homemade or store-bought crust.
The good news is that making a blueberry pie with canned blueberries is actually easier than starting from fresh berries because the fruit is already prepped and sweetened.
Canned blueberries come packed in either syrup or water, and both work well for a blueberry pie with canned blueberries as long as you adjust the sugar and thickener accordingly.
In this post, we’ll walk through how to make a blueberry pie with canned blueberries step by step, including how to avoid a runny filling and how to get that golden, flaky crust every time.
Let’s get baking.
Why Make a Blueberry Pie With Canned Blueberries
Making a blueberry pie with canned blueberries is a smart move for plenty of reasons.
Here’s why so many home bakers reach for a can when they want a blueberry pie with canned blueberries.
1. Canned Blueberries Are Available Year-Round
Fresh blueberries have a short season, but canned blueberries sit on the shelf all year long.
That means you can make a blueberry pie with canned blueberries in December just as easily as in July.
2. They Save You Prep Time
No washing, no sorting, no hulling.
When you make a blueberry pie with canned blueberries, the fruit is already cleaned and ready to go.
3. The Flavor Is Consistent
Canned blueberries are picked and packed at peak ripeness, so the flavor stays reliable.
That consistency is a big reason a blueberry pie with canned blueberries turns out great every single time.
4. They’re Often More Affordable
Out-of-season fresh blueberries can get pricey.
Canned blueberries usually cost less, which makes a blueberry pie with canned blueberries a budget-friendly dessert.
How to Make a Blueberry Pie With Canned Blueberries
Here’s the simple process for making a blueberry pie with canned blueberries from start to finish.
1. Gather Your Ingredients
To make a blueberry pie with canned blueberries, you’ll need two 15-ounce cans of blueberries, sugar, cornstarch or tapioca, lemon juice, salt, butter, and a double pie crust.
If your canned blueberries are packed in heavy syrup, cut the added sugar down to about a quarter cup.
2. Drain the Canned Blueberries
Drain the cans but save about half a cup of the liquid.
That reserved liquid helps you build a proper filling for your blueberry pie with canned blueberries.
3. Thicken the Filling
In a saucepan, whisk the reserved liquid with cornstarch, sugar, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt.
Cook it over medium heat until it thickens into a glossy gel, then fold in the drained berries.
This step is what keeps your blueberry pie with canned blueberries from turning out soupy.
4. Fill and Top the Crust
Pour the filling into your bottom crust, dot it with small pieces of butter, then lay the top crust over it.
Cut a few slits in the top so steam can escape while your blueberry pie with canned blueberries bakes.
5. Bake Until Golden
Bake at 400°F for about 45 to 50 minutes, covering the edges with foil if they start browning too fast.
Let the pie cool completely so the filling sets before you slice into your blueberry pie with canned blueberries.
Tips to Avoid a Runny Blueberry Pie With Canned Blueberries
A runny filling is the most common problem when you make a blueberry pie with canned blueberries.
Here’s how to prevent it.
1. Always Pre-Cook the Filling
Canned berries are already soft, so they won’t release much pectin during baking.
Cooking the filling on the stove before baking gives your blueberry pie with canned blueberries the structure it needs.
2. Use Enough Thickener
Cornstarch, tapioca starch, or instant clear jel all work well.
For a blueberry pie with canned blueberries, aim for about three to four tablespoons of cornstarch.
3. Cool Before Slicing
The filling continues to set as it cools.
If you cut into your blueberry pie with canned blueberries while it’s hot, it will run.
4. Don’t Skip the Lemon Juice
Canned berries can taste flat, and lemon juice brightens the flavor.
A tablespoon is enough to wake up the taste of your blueberry pie with canned blueberries.
5. Drain the Berries Well
Too much packing liquid means too much moisture.
Give the berries a good drain so your blueberry pie with canned blueberries stays firm.
So, How Do You Make a Blueberry Pie With Canned Blueberries?
You make a blueberry pie with canned blueberries by draining the berries, thickening their liquid with cornstarch and sugar, folding the fruit back in, and baking it all inside a double crust.
The result is a warm, sweet, homemade blueberry pie with canned blueberries that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen.
Just remember to pre-cook the filling, use enough thickener, and let the pie cool fully before slicing.
Follow those steps and your blueberry pie with canned blueberries will come out perfect every time.