Small Batch Blueberry Filling Recipe

Learn how to make an easy homemade blueberry filling for pies and desserts. This is a small batch recipe using fresh or frozen berries! You can make enough for one dessert, or double the recipe and freeze it!

Blueberries are quite possibly my favorite snacking berries; they're full of antioxidants and they're just plain delicious. Pie happens to be a family favorite too.

blueberry filling for pie in a mason jar with a wooden spoon and fresh blueberries

So, while it's hard to do, I've got to stop eating blueberries long enough to make a small batch blueberry pie filling for blueberry cream cheese pie or Dutch oven blueberry cobbler and our favorite, blueberry yum yum.

‘Cause you know… Homemade is so much better. This stove top blueberry pie filling is so much better than store bought cans. It just is.

Making your own blueberry filling for pie really isn't difficult. It requires a little stove time with constant stirring, but really it isn't bad at all; believe me, I'd tell you if it were, because I'm not a fan of standing in front of a stove for long periods of time.

wooden spoon in mason jar of homemade small batch blueberry pie filling

You only need a few ingredients, and besides the blueberries, you should already have everything else in your kitchen cabinets. What you'll love about this recipe is it's small batch (so no canning required), and you can use it for all sorts of desserts.

Why Make Homemade Fruit Filling?

That's a very good question, and one with a few answers…

Homemade is always better, in my opinion. First of all, you have control over the type of ingredients you use, and you also have control of how much of those ingredients goes in to your filling. You have the power to make it the way you want it, and it's not going to be pumped full of preservatives to keep it fresh.
Personally, I prefer the taste of homemade versus store bought canned filling, especially when it's made with fresh berries. Nothing beats that fresh blueberry flavor. Even good frozen blueberries give amazing flavor compared to canned.
You can use it for so many things, not just pie. You can use it as a topping for vanilla ice cream, blueberry pancakes, and French toast casserole.
It's so quick and easy to make, and the best part is it only needs 5 ingredients. That's it!

Ingredient Notes for Blueberry Filling:

Blueberries – You can use fresh or frozen blueberries; just be sure to thaw and dry the berries if using frozen, so you're not adding unnecessary moisture to your filling.
Corn starch – This is used to thicken the pie filling.
Lemon juice – I prefer to either juice a lemon, or use Minute Maid lemon juice, which you can usually find in the freezer section of any grocery store.
Pure cane sugar – You can also use granulated sugar, but I prefer to use unrefined pure cane sugar.
Cinnamon – This adds a spicy hint to the filling… Don't worry, not so spicy that it's weird, just enough that it enhances the flavor of the blueberries.

blueberry pie filling from scratch in a mason jar, with fresh blueberries

How to Make Blueberry Pie Filling

First I find it's easier if you gather your ingredients together, so everything is ready to go.

Make the blueberry purée using a blender. I recommend a blender in this case because the skins on blueberries can be hard to break down with a potato masher.
Whisk together the water and corn starch first, ensuring there are little to no lumps.
Then combine the water/corn starch mixture together with the lemon juice and sugar in a medium saucepan on medium heat.
Add the puréed blueberries and whole blueberries to the mixture in the pan.
Cook the entire mixture for about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring constantly until the mixture begins to thicken.

Remove from the heat and add to an already cooked pie crust. Or if you're adding the pie filling to a chilled dessert, allow the filling to cool before doing so.

In need of a super easy pie crust? You may enjoy this shortcut no-roll pie crust.

Wooden spoon in mason jar of freshly made blueberry filling for pie

FAQ's and Expert Tips

Can I use frozen blueberries?

Yes, you can. As mentioned above, just be sure to thaw and dry the berries well before using, so you don't add unnecessary moisture to the filling.

How do you store it?

You'll definitely want to keep it in the fridge, and it should keep for 4-5 days. After that, you'll want to freeze it if not able to use it, which brings me to the next question…

Can you freeze it?

Yes, you can. If freezing it, just be sure to put it in an airtight container so it doesn't get freezer burn. It should keep for up to 3 months in the freezer. I don't recommend canning this pie filling because it used cornstarch, and cornstarch is not safe for canning; instead you'd want to use Clear-Jel as a thickener, so it's safe for canning.

How long should I cook it if I put it in a pie?

Make this filling, per the recipe instructions. Then follow the instructions for whichever pie you're using as to how long to bake it in the crust.

close up look at easy blueberry pie filling in mason jar

More Blueberry Recipes:

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