This recipe provides instructions for making a vibrant and delicious Fresh Strawberry Pie featuring a sweet and flaky pre-baked pie crust filled with plump, juicy fresh strawberries coated in a glistening gelatin glaze. This pie is a celebration of fresh strawberry season, showcasing the natural sweetness and bright flavor of the berries in a visually appealing and easy-to-serve dessert. The crust for this pie is typically a standard flaky pie crust, either homemade or store-bought, that is baked until golden brown and fully cooled before the filling is added. This pre-baking ensures that the crust remains crisp and doesn’t become soggy from the moisture of the strawberries and glaze. The star of the filling is an abundance of fresh, ripe strawberries. They are usually hulled and can be left whole if small to medium-sized or sliced if larger, creating a beautiful and textured filling. The glaze is what binds the strawberries together and gives the pie its glossy, appealing look. It’s typically made with a combination of strawberry juice (often obtained by crushing some of the berries), water, sugar for sweetness, and a thickening agent like cornstarch or gelatin. Gelatin provides a particularly clear and firm glaze that beautifully coats the berries. The juice, water, and sugar are heated together, and the thickening agent is added to create a smooth, syrupy mixture. If using gelatin, it is usually bloomed in cold water first before being added to the warm juice mixture. Once the glaze is slightly cooled but not yet set, it is poured over the fresh strawberries arranged in the pre-baked pie crust, ensuring all the berries are coated. The pie is then refrigerated for several hours, or until the glaze is fully set and the pie is firm. The result is a stunning pie with glistening red strawberries suspended in a clear glaze, nestled in a golden crust. It’s often garnished with fresh mint leaves or a dollop of whipped cream before serving, adding a touch of freshness and elegance. This Fresh Strawberry Pie with Gelatin Glaze is a perfect dessert for summer gatherings, picnics, or any occasion where a light, fruity, and visually impressive treat is desired. The image shows two fresh strawberry pies. Both pies have a golden-brown, fluted pie crust filled to the brim with whole, ripe strawberries that are coated in a shiny, translucent red glaze. A sprig of fresh mint leaves adorns the top of each pie, adding a touch of green. The pies are sitting on a countertop with a light-colored, speckled pattern.
The texture of Fresh Strawberry Pie with Gelatin Glaze is a delightful combination of a crisp and flaky pie crust, plump and slightly yielding fresh strawberries, and a smooth, slightly firm, and gelatinous glaze that coats the berries.
The flavor profile is bright and fruity, dominated by the sweet and slightly tart taste of fresh strawberries. The glaze adds a subtle sweetness and enhances the natural strawberry flavor. The buttery and slightly sweet pie crust provides a pleasant base that complements the fresh filling.
Fresh Strawberry Pie with Gelatin Glaze is a dessert pie featuring a pre-baked crust filled with fresh strawberries coated in a clear, firm gelatin glaze made with strawberry juice, water, and sugar.
The preparation involves baking a pie crust, arranging fresh strawberries in the cooled crust, making a gelatin glaze from strawberry juice, water, and sugar, pouring the glaze over the strawberries, chilling until set, and then garnishing.
Ingredients:
For the Pre-Baked Pie Crust:
- 1 (9-inch) prepared pie crust, baked according to package directions and cooled completely (or homemade pie crust, baked until golden brown and cooled)
For the Strawberry Filling and Glaze:
- 4 cups fresh strawberries, hulled (leave small to medium whole, slice larger ones)
- 1 cup water
- ¾ cup granulated sugar (adjust to sweetness of strawberries)
- ¼ cup cornstarch (or 2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin powder)
- ¼ cup cold water (if using cornstarch)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (optional, to enhance flavor)
- Pinch of salt
For Garnish (Optional):
- Fresh mint leaves
- Whipped cream
Equipment:
- 9-inch pie plate
- Medium saucepan
- Whisk
- Small bowl (if using cornstarch)
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Rubber spatula
Instructions:
Part 1: Prepare the Pre-Baked Pie Crust
- If using a store-bought pie crust, bake it according to the instructions on the package until it is golden brown and fully cooled.
- If making a homemade pie crust, prepare your favorite recipe, roll it out, fit it into a 9-inch pie plate, crimp the edges, and bake it in a preheated oven at the temperature specified in your recipe until it is golden brown and fully cooled. You may need to blind-bake the crust to ensure it doesn’t shrink or become soggy.
Part 2: Prepare the Strawberry Filling and Gelatin Glaze
- Prepare the Strawberries: Wash and hull the fresh strawberries. If some are large, slice them in half or quarters. Set aside the most attractive whole or sliced berries for the top of the pie. Gently crush about 1 cup of the remaining strawberries in a bowl to release their juice. Strain the crushed strawberries through a fine-mesh sieve to obtain about ½ cup of strawberry juice. Discard the solids or enjoy them separately.
- Make the Glaze (using Cornstarch): In a medium saucepan, whisk together the granulated sugar and cornstarch until well combined. Gradually whisk in the 1 cup of water and the ½ cup of strained strawberry juice until the mixture is smooth. Stir in the lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Place the saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture comes to a boil and thickens and becomes clear. Once boiling, continue to cook and stir for 1 minute more. Remove from heat and let the glaze cool slightly for about 5-10 minutes.
- Make the Glaze (using Gelatin): In a small bowl, sprinkle the unflavored gelatin powder over the ¼ cup of cold water and let it bloom (sit and soften) for about 5 minutes. In a medium saucepan, combine the 1 cup of water and granulated sugar. Heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in the bloomed gelatin until it is completely dissolved and the mixture is clear. Stir in the ½ cup of strained strawberry juice, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. Let the glaze cool slightly until it is lukewarm but not yet set (about 10-15 minutes).
- Assemble the Pie: Arrange the remaining fresh strawberries (the whole or nicely sliced ones) evenly in the cooled pre-baked pie crust. Pour the slightly cooled gelatin glaze evenly over the strawberries, making sure all the berries are coated.
- Chill the Pie: Cover the pie loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 3-4 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the gelatin glaze to fully set and the pie to firm up.
- Garnish and Serve: Before serving, garnish the pie with fresh mint leaves, if desired. You can also serve each slice with a dollop of whipped cream.
Enjoy this beautiful and refreshing Fresh Strawberry Pie with its glistening gelatin glaze! The combination of the sweet crust, fresh berries, and smooth glaze is a perfect summer treat.