Strawberry Pie

You know spring has arrived when the weather turns warm and fresh, juicy berries are everywhere. It’s the perfect time to whip up a stunning strawberry pie! Forget the canned pie filling and strawberry gelatin—this recipe lets the natural sweetness of fresh berries take center stage with just five simple ingredients. When the season is right, this is one of the best pie recipes you can slice into. The only thing that can make it better is a big dollop of whipped cream!

Celebrate the season with more of the best strawberry recipes here.

How do you make strawberry pie from scratch?

Start with a baked pie crust and make your filling: On the stove top, cook a mixture of fresh strawberry puree, sugar, vanilla, and cornstarch to make a lightly sweetened, thickened sauce. Mix in fresh, halved strawberries and transfer this mixture to the fully baked crust. Let it cool in the refrigerator for a few hours, then serve with homemade whipped cream. You can also try a few easy twists, like adding 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder for a chocolate whipped cream or 2 teaspoons of lemon zest for a citrus kick.

How many cups of strawberries do you need for strawberry pie?

This recipe calls for 1 1/2 quarts of fresh strawberries, which means you'll need about 6 cups of whole berries. Make sure to measure out the berries before you halve each one.

Can you use a frozen pie crust for strawberry pie?

You sure can. If you'd rather grab a ready-to-bake pie crust from the freezer section of your grocery store, go right ahead. Refrigerated pie crust and homemade pie crust (like this perfect pie crust) also work well for this pie. Just be sure to blind bake whatever crust you choose completely through before filling. Blind baking (or pre-baking) is simple to do—check out our guide for how to blind bake a pie crust.

What's the best way to cut strawberries for pie?

First, clean your strawberries. Then, cut off the green stems and slice your berries in half. Take 1 1/2 cups of the halved strawberries and mash them with a fork. These mashed berries will be cooked down with the other filling ingredients and the remaining halved strawberries get folded in at the end for a chunky, fresh strawberry flavor.

Can you use frozen strawberries for strawberry pie?

This pie is filled with fresh strawberries which gives it its pretty, made-from-scratch appearance. Frozen strawberries don't hold their shape as well as fresh do, so it's best to avoid using frozen for the berries that are tossed in the filling halved. However, you can use frozen berries for the portion of the filling that gets mashed. Frozen berries have a higher water content than fresh so, if you use frozen, be sure to thaw the strawberries completely and drain off any extra liquid before mashing. Just make sure the frozen berries are unsweetened!

How do you thicken strawberry pie filling?

To thicken strawberry pie filling, you'll need to cook it on the stove and use a starch such as cornstarch (or a cornstarch substitute like tapioca starch or flour). A cooked flour mixture can leave the filling a bit cloudy in appearance, whereas cornstarch and tapioca starch will cook clear and hold their thickness for about 48 hours. And since cornstarch is a common pantry item that most cooks keep, it's the perfect thickener to use for this easy strawberry pie.

Why is my strawberry pie runny?

There are a few ways to prevent your strawberry pie from coming out runny. First, your recipe needs the right amount of cornstarch. Second, the cornstarch needs to be dissolved first in a cold liquid, then heated to its boiling point in order to fully activate its thickening power. Third, be sure to let the mixture cook for the entire time that the recipe recommends. Cooking the mixture thoroughly will help to reduce the liquid in the filling, thus making it thicker. And since the fresh strawberry pie isn't baked after it comes together, it's important to fully cook the filling on the stovetop before you pour it to the crust. Lastly, once the pie is assembled, be sure to let it cool completely in the refrigerator before slicing.

Should strawberry pie be kept in the refrigerator?

Yes! This strawberry pie is best served nice and cold, fresh from the fridge. It shouldn't sit out for more than 2 hours at a time, or 1 hour if it's above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Can you make strawberry pie ahead of time?

Absolutely. This is a great make-ahead dessert because it needs to chill at least 4 hours for the filling to properly firm up. Feel free to make this a day or two ahead of time and store it, covered, in the fridge. It will stay good for up to four days.

Can you freeze strawberry pie?

No, this pie doesn't freeze well. Once thawed, the strawberries can release too much liquid causing the pie to get soggy. Instead of freezing, store this pie in the fridge.