Strawberry Pie Filling

No need for canned strawberry pie filling when you make homemade Strawberry Pie Filling from scratch! It only takes a few minutes to cook your sweet, juicy strawberries with sugar and a touch lemon juice for brightness. Use it for pie, turnovers, and more!

If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile, it’s no secret I pick my own strawberries with my dad every June.

We’ve been doing it for so long, I honestly don’t remember when we started. 15 years ago maybe? 20? Possibly even more?

That’s why I have ridiculous amount of strawberry recipes such as strawberry popsicles and strawberry jam without pectin (looks like 41 and counting!)

So why is it I don’t have a recipe for Strawberry Pie Filling yet?!

I have cherry pie filling, peach pie filling, blueberry pie filling, and apple pie filling but no strawberry.

It’s a thick and glossy juicy strawberry filling made with only a few pantry ingredients including a touch lemon juice for brightness.

And it only takes about 5 minutes to cook. In fact, it’ll probably take you longer to chop strawberries than to make it!

In addition to making mini strawberry pies, you can also use it as a topping for 6 inch cheesecake, stuff it into strawberry turnovers, use as a garnish for mini angel food cake, or use it as the base for strawberry cobbler.

Ingredients For Strawberry Pie Filling

To make the best strawberry pie filling recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Sugar: To sweeten the filling as well as making the simple syrup
• Water: Needed to finish making the simple syrup
• Cornstarch: Used to thicken the filling so it’s not runny
• Strawberries: The riper the better! But you don’t want them too overripe
• Lemon: Because your pie filling will be sweet from both the berries and the sugar, lemon juice will brighten and balance it
• Vanilla extract: Brings out more flavor

How To Make Strawberry Pie Filling

Making homemade strawberry pie filling is as easy as boiling water, mostly because that’s exactly what you’re doing! Here’s how to make it:

1. Whisk together water, sugar, and cornstarch in a saucepan.
2. Boil the mixture until the sugar dissolves and filling thickens.
3. Stir in strawberries and vanilla.

Cool until room temperature. If not using right away, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

The filling will separate in the refrigerator once cold. When you’re ready to use, transfer it to a saucepan to reheat until smooth again.

Is homemade strawberry pie filling suitable for canning?

This strawberry pie filling recipe is not suitable for canning because of the cornstarch, which breaks down after awhile and affects bacteria growth.

Keep it stored in the refrigerator or freeze it for future baking.

How To Freeze Strawberry Pie Filling

Using up your fresh strawberries but not ready to bake yet? Much like pie itself, you can freeze your strawberry pie filling recipe.

There are two ways to freeze your filling:

1. Line a freezable pie plate with pie dough (not glass as it may shatter when baked at a cold temperature) then fill. Cover the top with another piece of pie dough. Fully cover with plastic wrap then place in a freezer-safe plastic bag.
2. Transfer the pie filling to a freezer-safe plastic bag. Place the bag inside an empty pie plate and spread out so it takes the shape of the plate. Freeze until firm. Because it’s the shape of the plate, it should be easy to transfer and bake when ready.

Whichever method you choose, freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, cut three slits into the top of the crust and bake at 400F for 45-60 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.

What To Make With Strawberry Pie Filling

Now you made your pie filling, what should you make with it? Here are some strawberry pie filling desserts to make:

• Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake – Layer with the whipped cream
• Blueberry Cobbler For Two – Substitute strawberries instead and now you have a fruity dessert for two
• 4 Inch Cheesecake and 7 Inch Cheesecake – Smaller cheesecakes you can top with your pie filling.
• Mini Cheesecakes and No Bake Mini Cheesecakes – Mini cheesecakes you can garnish with pie filling.
• No Bake Blueberry Cheesecake – Swap the blueberry filling for strawberry for a 9 inch cheesecake pie
• Peach Crumb Bars – Substitute the filling for cheesecake bars.