Jumble Berry Pie        

You can make this pie with only one type of berry if you like, but I love to mix blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries. I don't normally like cooked strawberries, but I find that using just a few in this mixture adds a nice floral-fruity lightness to the finished pie. Since all these berries are juicy, I like to use both tapioca and cornstarch to keep the texture of the filling somewhat firm and the juices contained around the fruit. You can use these same measurements for sliced or chunked stone fruit, such as peaches, nectarines, or plums.

Yields one 9-inch double-crust pie.

1 cup sugar
2 Tbs. cornstarch
2 Tbs. quick-cooking tapioca
1/4 tsp. salt
6 cups washed and well-dried mix of blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and quartered strawberries
1 Tbs. unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 recipe Butter Pie Crust

In a large bowl, mix together the sugar, cornstarch, tapioca, and salt. Add the berries and toss with your hands until the berries are evenly coated.

Roll out the pie dough according to the directions in the Butter Pie Crust recipe. Pile the berries into the dough-lined pie pan, sprinkling any remaining dry ingredients on top. Dot the surface with the butter, cover the berry mixture with the top crust and seal the edges by fluting.

Cut 5 or 6 slits in the top crust to let steam escape during cooking. Heat the oven to 400°F while you chill the pie in the refrigerator for 15 to 20 min.

Put the pie on a baking sheet to catch any drips, bake it in the hot oven for 15 min., and then reduce the temperature to 350°F. Continue baking until the crust is golden and the filling juices that are bubbling through the vents and edges are thick, glossy, and slow, another 50 to 60 min. For the best texture for serving, cool the pie completely (which may take up to 5 hours), and then reheat slices or the whole pie just slightly before serving. (Cooling completely allows the filling juices to firm up, while a quick reheat makes the pastry nice and flaky.) You can serve the pie while it's still warm, but the filling will be slightly liquid; definitely don't serve the pie hot, as the juices will be too fluid.

Photo: Scott Phillips

From Fine Cooking #46

Double-Crust Jumble Berry Pie
From How to Bake a Double-Crust Fruit Pie by Carolyn Weil
Mixed-Berry Pie Filling