Nell Huffman’s Blueberry Pie

Name: Nell Huffman's Blueberry Pie
Prep time: PT0D0H0M
Cook time: PT0D1H30M
Total time: PT0D1H30M
Yield: makes one 9-inch pie
Ingredients: Dough for two prepared pie crusts, homemade or store-bought; 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling the dough; ½ cup sugar; ¼ tsp. ground cinnamon; ¼ tsp. nutmeg; ¼ tsp. kosher salt; 6 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen); 1 tsp. vanilla extract; 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into small pieces; 1 Tbsp. whole milk; 1 large egg yolk; Coarse sugar, for sprinkling (optional)

Use fresh or frozen berries to make this classic dessert any time of year.

Serves
makes one 9-inch pie
Time
1 hour 30 minutes

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MURRAY HALL; FOOD STYLING BY JESSIE YUCHEN

By Nell Huffman

Updated on May 30, 2023

In Alaska, wild blueberries (also called Kyani berries) are picked in the summer and frozen for use throughout the winter, especially in pies. During crunch time just before the Iditarod, locals have been known to resort to commercial crusts; when time allows, we like to make this flaky all-butter crust from scratch. (This pie recipe is a favorite of longtime Takotna, Alaska resident Nell Huffman, and is adapted from The Joy of Blueberries by Theresa Millang.)

Featured in, "Pies and Alaskan Hospitality Along the Iditarod Trail."

Ingredients

Dough for two prepared pie crusts, homemade or store-bought
2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling the dough
½ cup sugar
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. nutmeg
¼ tsp. kosher salt
6 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 Tbsp. whole milk
1 large egg yolk
Coarse sugar, for sprinkling (optional)

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Instructions

Step 1

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 400°F.

Step 2

About 15 minutes before rolling out the pie dough, remove it from the refrigerator to soften slightly. Lightly flour a clean work surface and a rolling pin. Roll out one of the pieces of dough into an even, ¼-inch-thick circle, then carefully lift the dough into a 9-inch aluminum or glass pie plate. Use a sharp knife to trim the edges, leaving 1 inch of overhang all the way around.

Step 3

In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Add the blueberries and vanilla and toss well to coat, then transfer the filling to the pie shell, mounding the berries slightly in the center. Dot the surface of the berries with the butter.

Step 4

Once again, lightly flour your work surface and rolling pin. Roll out the second piece of dough into an even, ¼-inch-thick circle, then carefully lift the dough and place it over the berry mixture. Use a sharp knife to trim the edges, leaving about 1½ inches of overhang all the way around, then tuck the edges of the top crust under the edges of the bottom crust. Pinch the edges together decoratively to seal, or use the tines of a fork to crimp all the way around. Using the tip of a paring knife, make 6–8 slits on the surface of the crust to vent. Place the pie in the freezer just until the crust is firm, about 15 minutes.

Step 5

In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and egg yolk. Brush the surface of the pie crust with the egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar, if using. Place the pie on a large, rimmed baking sheet and bake until the crust is set and just beginning to brown, 20–25 minutes. Turn the temperature to 350°F and continue baking until the crust is evenly golden brown and the juices are bubbling and thickened, 30–40 minutes more for fresh berries or 60–70 minutes more for frozen. (If the edges begin to darken before the filling has thickened, cover them with strips of aluminum foil to finish baking.) Cool to room temperature before cutting into slices and serving.