Anna Olson’s Blueberry Lattice Top Pie

In this recipe from her latest cookbook, Bake With Anna Olson, the acclaimed Canadian pastry chef shares the best way to make use of summer’s freshest and juiciest blueberries.

Blueberry Lattice Top PieCourtesy: JT & Company, Inc.
Servings Cook Time
4-6people 50minutes
Servings
4-6people
Cook Time
50minutes
Ingredients
Portions: people
Units:
Ingredients
Portions: people
Units:
Instructions
Cooked Blueberry Filling
  1. Bring the blueberries, apple, sugar, citrus juice, zest and cinnamon up to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, cooking until the blueberries are soft and tender, about 10 minutes. Whisk the cornstarch with a few tablespoons of cold water and add this to the blueberry filling, stirring and returning to a simmer until the filling has thickened and is glossy. Set aside to cool temperature. If making ahead, store the filling chilled, but bring it up to room temperature before baking into a pie.
  2. Preheat the oven to 400 °F (200 °C). Pull out the dough from the fridge 15-30 minutes before rolling. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the first disk of dough into a circle just less than 1/4-inch (6 mm) thick. Dust a 9-inch (23 cm) pie plate with flour and line the plate with the pastry, leaving the edges untrimmed. Spoon the blueberry filling into the crust.
  3. Roll out the second disk of pastry slightly thinner than the bottom crust, about 1/8-inch (3 mm), but into more of a square shape. Use a knife or pastry wheel to cut long strips about 1/2-inch (12 mm) wide (you should have between 12 and 18 strips). Lay half of the strips over the blueberry pie filling, leaving a 1/2-inch (12 mm) between them. Gently lift alternating strip of pastry, folding them halfway back. Place a new strip of pastry perpendicular against where the strips are folded back, then fold those very pieces over the newly laid strip. Now lift the opposite alternating strips and fold them back as far as they can go (to the edge of that newly laid strip) and place a second perpendicular strip beside it. Repeat this technique moving toward one side of the pie shell, and then repeat towards the other side, until the top has a complete lattice top. Trim away the excess pastry and pinch the edges to create a fluted design. Brush the lattice top with the egg wash and sprinkle with sugar.
  4. Bake the pie for 10 minutes at 400 °F (200 °C), then reduce the oven temperature to 375 °F (190 °C) and cook for about another 40 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown. Cool the pie to room temperature and then chill until ready to serve.
Pie Dough
  1. Combine the flour, sugar and salt together. Add the oil and blend in using a pastry cutter, electric beaters or a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, until the flour looks evenly crumbly in texture.
  2. Add the butter and cut in until rough and crumbly but small pieces of butter are still visible. Stir the water and vinegar (or lemon juice, if using) together and add all at once to the flour mixture, mixing just until the dough comes together. Shape the dough into 2 discs, wrap and chill until firm, at least an hour.
  3. The dough can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored chilled, or can be frozen up to 3 months, thawing in the fridge before rolling.