Duffys Dazzing Finds

This is the Best Blackberry Pie Recipe ever. It’s made from fresh blackberries. No canned stuff. My Grandma Nettie had alot of blackberry bushes in the back of her property where we would pick the luscious fruit for her blackberry pies. Making these pies was one of my favorite summer activities with my Grandma. If you are able to find some blackberry bushes, pick them fresh. They will make your pie taste even better. This is my favorite pie and I know it has a lot to do with the fact that it was my Grandma Nettie’s specialty.

Blackberry pie is a favorite among American desserts. It think it’s popularity comes from the delicious balance of sweetness and tanginess, not to mention it goes great with vanilla ice cream. Furthermore, it’s fun to hand-pick fresh blackberries and get excited anticipating these yummy pies. These juicy berries burst with flavor, and when you them in a flaky pastry shell, the day is complete. Blackberry pie holds a particular place in the hearts of many Americans due to its wonderful flavor and the delight of berry harvesting.

And Now Grandma’s Blackberry Pie Recipe

First, we start with the Lard Pie Crust: (not very heart healthy, but so very good, won’t hurt you to have once in a while) Below are the ingredients for a double crust.

• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 2 pinches of salt
• 1 cup lard (leaf lard is the best, if you can find it) Leaf Lard is softer and creamier than other kinds of lard.
• 6-8 Tablespoons of cold water

Making the Dough::

1. Stir together salt and flour.
2. Cut in the lard until you have a crumbly mixture.
3. Add a little water at a time and just until it comes together into dough (don’t over mix)
4. Pat into two little disks and wrap them in plastic wrap. (one is for lattice top crust) Put in frig for at least 1/2 hour.
5. Roll one disk out to thin circle and place in your pie pan

Blackberry Pie Filling:

• 6 cups fresh blackberries
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 4 Tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• additional sugar to sprinkle on top of the pie

Putting the Pie Together:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Brush the bottom crust that’s in the pan with part of the egg wash before adding the blackberry filling
3. In a large bowl, add sugar, blackberries, lemon juice and cornstarch, and stir to mix together.
4. Pour filling into the prepared crust.

Now it’s time to prepare the top crust. I always liked the lattice pie crust, but it is hard to do. My Grandma was a pro and taught me well, but it is hard to put into words. This video is much better at explaining how to do it:

You’re almost there:

1. On the top crust, brush some egg wash and sprinkle top with the remaining sugar
2. Bake for 45-60 minutes, you want the filling to bubble and the crust to be light brown (you can use a pie guard on the edges to keep them from getting too brown.
3. When done, remove from oven and cool pie for about 2-3 hours before serving. This lets the filling finish setting up.
4. DON’T FORGET THE VANILLA ICE CREAM!! LOL

In Conclusion:

Making this blackberry pie with my Grandma Nettie was one of my fondest memories with her (not to mention I LOVE PIE), so you are a berry lover, you’ve got to give this recipe a try. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how light and delicious it is and, yes, the vanilla ice cream is a must. Homemade desserts are so satisfying and even sweeter when they are a special family recipe, so I really hope you enjoy it!

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