Elderberry Pie
This Elderberry Pie is made with a flaky crust and elderberries for a timeless traditional berry pie recipe that will have you coming back for more.
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If you’re looking for something a little out of the ordinary you can’t go wrong with this Elderberry Pie recipe, especially if you have a neighbor with an elderberry bush in season! If you’re looking for a tasty elderberry recipe, using either fresh or dried elderberries, you can’t go wrong with this tasty pie.
If you love elderberry recipes, be sure to check out these elderberry muffins too!
It’s a quandary. You’ve got a beautiful elderberry bush, just brimming with elderberries, but what do you do with them? Is there some elderberry dessert you can create with those berries? Or do you leave the berries on the bush for the birds to enjoy?
I recommend doing a little bit of both — leave some for the birds and pick some for you too!
If you’re wondering specifically what to do with elderberries, I recommend making a pie. More about that in a minute. First, let’s discuss the nutritional benefits of elderberries.
I wrote recently about the benefits of this special berry in my post, What Does an Elderberry Taste Like? When elderberries are in season, it’s good to have all the information about this unique berry.
Although the elderberry is small, my neighbor’s bush yielded a lot of berries; enough even for me to make a pie. The results were heavenly.
Reader Reviews
★★★★★
Jeanne
This was my first time ever making any kind of a fruit pie other than apple, and it turned out great! This recipe is a keeper!
In this Post
Benefits of Elderberries
Before I go on though, I do want to point out that the elderberry does have a somewhat unique flavor. It’s similar to a blueberry but with an earthy twist. There’s a certain zest to it that distinguishes it from other berries.
Being distinguished can be a good thing. Especially if you’re a berry in a pie.
Elderberries are known for the following nutritional elements:
- Vitamin A
- Potassium
- Vitamin C
- Folate
- Calcium
- Iron.
And that’s just to name a few!
Next, let’s talk about how to make this recipe for elderberry pie!
How to Make Elderberry Pie
For this recipe, I used my favorite vodka-infused Vegan Pie Crust. I wonder if the healthiness of the berries counteracts the not-so-healthy attributes of the pie crust?
Elderberry Pies are relatively easy to make and fun because they’re so unique. It begins with a crucial first step, preparing the berries.
Step One: Preparing the Elderberries
Finding fresh elderberries may be the toughest task in making this pie. Assuming you have a bush or farmer with elderberry bushes nearby, then you’re in luck. Otherwise, you may want to plant your own bush and wait for a harvest. We’ll discuss making this pie from dried elderberries too.
As enticing as fresh elderberries may be, do not eat them raw. The stems, green berries, and seeds in raw elderberries are toxic. We’ll be cooking them for this pie, which makes the seeds edible.
Picking Elderberries
- Pick when Ripe — Wait until the elderberries are fully ripe before picking them. Elderberries are typically ripe between mid-August and mid-September.
- Elderberry Clusters — Elderberries grow in clusters. I find removing the cluster where it attaches to the stem to be the easiest way to pick elderberries. The cluster will snap off quite easily. Or you can take scissors to do this. Place the clusters in a basket or bag.
- Stripping the Berries — You can use a wide-tooth comb to strip the berries from the clusters, but I find it easiest to use my fingers. I hold the cluster over a bowl and gently feather my fingers beginning at the stem and moving toward the berries. It’s tricky because you need to press hard enough to remove the berries, but not so hard as to squish them.
- Cleaning the Berries — When you’re done you should be looking at a big bowl of elderberries. Next, you’ll want to pick out and discard any stem pieces (including the feathery looking pieces that attach to the berries) and any green berries. The stems and green berries are toxic.
Quick Fix Tip
You can also freeze elderberries still in their clusters. Frozen elderberries will pop off the cluster stems, making the process of berry stripping much easier!
Step Two: Make the Elderberry Filling
Elderberries are actually small berries. Much smaller than a blueberry. That’s why elderberry pie recipes require so many elderberries for the filling. The other troubling thing is that the berries are very juicy and don’t have much pectin which is a thickening agent.
Elderberries also have seeds inside them. Will those seeds distract from the texture of the pie? Because we cook the filling, the seeds soften, making them much more palatable. In addition, cooking the pie filling first is an important step to ensure that the seeds inside the berries are thoroughly cooked, eliminating toxins.
If you don’t have enough elderberries, you can add other berries, like blueberries or blackberries to the mix.
To make this filling, place berries and sugar in a saucepan. Then, you’ll mix some cornstarch with cold water and give that a stir.
Elderberries need a boost of sweetness which is why this recipe calls for a bit more sugar than other pie recipes.
Pour the cornstarch slurry in the saucepan with the berries. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until mixture thickens.
Then remove the pan from heat and stir in the chia seeds and lemon juice. Allow the filling to cool and thicken a little.
Step Three: Pour Filling into Pie Crust
After the berry filling has cooled a bit, spoon it into the prepared pie crust.
Pie Topping
Here are some options for the top of your pie:
- Cookie Cutter Crust — Use a flower cookie cutter to cut pieces of pie dough. Place them over the filling of the unbaked pie. This adds tasty crust on top while still allowing the berries to show through.
- Lattice Crust — A lattice crust on top works great too. I share more about making lattices on my vegan apple pie recipe.
- Solid Top Crust — Roll out the second pie dough and place it over the top of the pie, cutting slits to allow for steam to vent. Crimp the edges of the top dough with the bottom to seal the two together.
- No Top Crust — You don’t have to do a top crust at all. The crust on the bottom is plenty and the flavor, texture, and color of the berries will be showcased in every bite.
Step Four: Bake the Pie
Bake the pie for approximately 45 minutes, until the crust is browned. You should put a pan underneath the pie to protect your oven from any overflow.
Add a pie shield as it bakes to prevent the edges of the pie from getting too browned.
Marly’s Tips
Before baking you can brush the crust with a plant-based egg wash alternative for extra shine. I skipped it this time, and you’ll notice it still browned beautifully.
Elderberry Pie with Dried Elderberries
We don’t all have an elderberry bush in the neighborhood so if you want an elderberry pie, you may consider using dried elderberries. I was skeptical this would work, but it turned out great! Here are the steps to do this:
- Soaking — Soak 3 1/2 cups dried elderberries in 4 cups of hot water for 30 minutes or more. You should notice the berries softening and plumping.
- Drain the Liquids — Drain the soaking liquid, reserving 1/4 cup for the next step.
- Filling — Use the soaked berries in place of the fresh berries in the elderberry filling, using the reserved soaking liquid in place of the water.
If you don’t have enough dried fruit to make an entire pie, you can always make hand pies or supplement the elderberries with some blueberries too. It’s great to know you can enjoy a tasty elderberry pie even if you don’t have a bush nearby!
Frequently-Asked Questions
What does elderberry pie taste like?
An elderberry pie filling tastes similar to any berry pie, except with some earthy tones in the mix. You can add depth of flavor and texture to an elderberry pie by combining it with other berries, like blueberries.
Can you eat raw elderberries?
While fresh elderberries looks nice and juicy, you should avoid eating uncooked elderberries. About 50% of the berries are seeds, which are toxic. However, once cooked the berries are safe to eat.
Is Elderberry Pie Healthy?
It is important to note that elderberries should be cooked before being eaten. Beyond that, worrying about your health when eating a slice of pie is like talking about diets on Thanksgiving Day; it distracts from the pleasure of the moment.
I wish you all were in the neighborhood so I could share with you a slice of this elderberry pie! Of course, if you all came at once, I might have to make more…but it would be worth it!
That’s it for this elderberry pie recipe. Enjoy!
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Elderberry Pie
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Ingredients
- 1 Foolproof Pie Crust
- 4 cups elderberries , stemmed, rinsed and drained
- 1 ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup cold water
- 4 tablespoons cornstarch
- 4 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
For the Pie Crust
- Prepare the pie crust according to the directions. When the dough balls are chillded, roll one of the dough balls out. Transfer it to the pie pan and refrigerate to chill.
For the Elderberry Pie
- Place berries and sugar in a saucepan. Mix the cornstarch with cold water and add it to pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and add the chia seeds and lemon juice. Stir to combine. Set aside to allow the mixture to thicken and cool a little more.
- Preheat the oven to 375F.
- If you want a crust topping on the pie, roll out the second dough ball until it's about 1/4 inch thick. Use a cookie cutter to cut out pieces of the dough to be placed on the top of the pie. A small flower cookie cutter works great. Or you can can do a lattice crust as well. See notes for a link with instructions on easy lattice tips.
- Pour the berry mixture into the pie crust. Add crust over the top in either lattice or cookie cutter form. Crimp the edges of the pie.
- Bake the pie for 40–45 minutes, until the crust is browned.
- Use oven mits to remove the pie from the oven. Set aside for it to cool for at least 2 hours. This cooling process helps the filling to firm up. Serve slices at room temperature or warm them slightly before serving. Top with some vegan ice cream for a nice touch!
Recommended Equipment
(The products above contain sponsored links to products we use and recommend)
Notes
Nutrition
The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Update Notes: This recipe was originally published in 2012, but was re-posted to include new photos, recipe updates, and tips in 2020.
About the Author
Hi! I’m Marly McMillen. I’m the founding editor, author, recipe developer, vegan home chef, and food stylist behind Namely Marly. I’m so grateful to you and every member of my audience for your support and dedication. More about Namely Marly ›
61 Responses to Elderberry Pie
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My husband was quite delighted to score a whole grocery bag of elderberries before the birds got them! After we got them picked off the stems, I made a pie with your filling recipe and my gluten free pie crust. It turned out great!
Hi Cathy! That is definitely a big score! Love the idea of combining this filling with your GF crust. So glad it was yummy! I’ll respond to your DM on IG soon.
Does the filling freeze well? Thinking about making this and throwing it in the freezer to use at Thanksgiving!
Hi Andrea. Yes, I’ve made this pie and cut it into slices and frozen it and it worked just fine!
Hi Marly! Do you think this would go well with a graham cracker crust?
Hi Danielle. I haven’t tried it with a vegan graham cracker crust, but I definitely think it would taste good…especially with some whipped coconut cream on top!
Are elder berries found on the pig weed? What does bush look like?
Hi Vickie. Actually, pigweed is a different plant. Elderberries grow on a large bush (referred to as a tree, but it looks like a bush to me) with small purple berries. Scroll through this post and you’ll see a picture of me holding a branch with elderberries on it.
This is a lovely simple recipe that makes a great pie.
So glad you like it!
My mother always made elderberry pie…I found a bush and tried last year with a different recipe, and it was elderberry soup. Trying your recipe now, After cooking the elderberries, I added more corn starch, I guess my berries were very juicy too 🙂 and its in the oven. Luckily I had the Chia seeds on hand. Last year I made the Elderberry syrup as well, I’d like some jelly, but the whole bag hanging thing is more than I can manage 🙂
Hi Teresa. Thanks for your comment. You’re so lucky to have a bush nearby. We moved from our neighbor that had all those elderberry bushes. I had to drive back to my old neighborhood to get some, but it’s well worth the drive! Yes, elderberries are very juicy. I find the chia seeds help a lot!
I make elderberry jam. So easy. I use the recipe on the surejel box
Sounds great, Nancy! I haven’t tried making the jam yet, but it will have to be on my list for next year’s crop!
Can you use dried elderberries, if so how do you prepair?
Hi Dan. Yes, you can use dried elderberries. When using dried berries for baking, soak, covered in hot water for 5-10 minutes to let the berries rehydrate. Drain the berries thoroughly before adding to the recipe. I hope this helps!
I cAN SUPPLY ALL THE NATURAL NON SPRAYED ELDERBERRIES.
This is interesting, Raymond. How do people order elderberries?
Niether of mine set up at all…not sure what I did wrong. I’ve made it before, but this time was a total flop! 🙁
Hi Leslie. If you want to try to salvage it, you could stir in 1/4 cup ground chia seeds and then let it set for an hour. I’m not sure that will work, but it should. I wonder if these berries were juicier? It’s possible!
Would loved to have known about the fool proof crust! I just did a how-to video on
elderberry pie…with mistakes and all. lol enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyNDmalYeyc
Oooh, looking forward to checking out your video. Love those elderberries!
Thanks Marly, I’m in heaven with your elderberry pie! Last year I foraged a bucket of elderberries from trees near the trail head where I hike and made cordial, this year I’ll go back to my secret spot to fill up another bucket but this time I’ll make pie for sure, maybe jelly or syrup as well?? I think I’ll head up there now to check on the crop, lol, the trees grow on the side of a deep ravine with a creek at the bottom. It is a two person job to get the berries, one person has to grab the branches, while hanging on for dear life and the other person has to cut off the clusters of berries but it’s worth it to get the goods:) Congratulations on such a beautiful pie!
Be careful! Elderberry pie is good, but not worth a broken neck! We made some elderberry syrup too and served it over pancakes. That was by far the most delicious use of the berries I’ve found yet. I would have posted the recipe but we ate it all before I could snap a picture of it!
OMG this pie looks amazing!!! The photos are fantastic! I have been on the hunt for elderberries but unfortunately haven’t been able to get my hands on any. I would love to try this, can you send me a slice?
Congratulations on making one of the top blogs!
Rita
Gourmet Cupcake
Thanks, Rita! For any of you wanting to check it out, This Elderberry Pie post made Food Buzz’s Top 9 for the day. I’m honored!
I don’t have the link handy, but it’s on the Namely Marly Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NamelyMarly/171477629377?ref=search&sid=1319440755.1472242623..1
I confess I have never eaten an elderberry! But I love blueberries…this is beautiful! Your lattice turned out great and your pastry looks so flaky! My Mom (Mama Bear) made the pies in my post – she didn’t weave hers just laid them over each other – I loved them because she didn’t care too much about how they looked – not like us bloggers – and it makes them seem all the more rustic and charming.
That pic is deceiving. The lattice is much more abstract than that angle shows. I think that was my goal. Your mom did a great job on her lattice – I agree, it had a very rustic look. I loved it!
What an amazing pie. I love how brightly colored the filling is…an it isn’t runny at all!!
I was lucky that this pie set up very nicely. Each slice was the same way too.
I love Elderberries.
Made juice out of them in Hungary.
I didn’t know you could make pie too, dooh,.. 😀
Thanks for the idea 😀
Man that looks good! Somehow I’ve managed to go the whole summer without a pie – probably because it’s been so cold here, but now I’m kind of regretting it.
You need a pie!
I have used that same vodka pie crust…and it does wonders! You did a beautiful job on your lattice, and I love the way you used elderberries as a filling. I would be very content with a slice of pie and a mug of coffee tomorrow morning. Too bad I can’t walk on over!
Yes, vodka in a pie crust is divine. Makes it nice and flaky. One of these days, my friend, we’ll have coffee/tea. I know it!
Gosh, you’re killing me here (smile)!
Sorry, Stella!
Scrumptious!