American Flag Pie: a fun, summery dessert to make this 4th of July

If you want to make a gorgeous dessert this 4th of July that's as beautiful as it is delicious, make this easy American flag pie. The pie gets its name from its blue and red berry filling and decorative pie crust stars and stripes that resemble the American flag.

The crust is flaky, tender, and buttery – utter perfection. The filling is made with a mouthwatering combination of summer fruits: cherries, strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries. American flag pie is super easy to make, and it's a phenomenal dessert to make for your Independence Day celebration, especially with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

How to Make American Flag Pie

Ready to make the most eye-catching Fourth of July dessert out there? Gather up your ingredients, and let's get started!

Making the Filling

Whisk the cornstarch and sugar in a bowl. Grab a second medium-sized bowl and mix the blackberries and blueberries. Add ¼ cup of cornstarch mixture into the berries, then toss the fruit with 1 teaspoon lemon juice and ¼ teaspoon almond extract.

Place the cherries and strawberries into a large bowl, then add the rest of the cornstarch, followed by the lemon juice and almond extract. Pop everything in the fridge.

Rolling the Pie Dough

Roll out the first dough disc to about 12 inches. Set it in the pie dish. Take a piece of foil and fold it into a 2-inch strip. Set it in the crust, so it divides one-third of the crust from the remaining two-thirds.

Filling the Pie

Grab a slotted spoon and scoop the red berry mixture into the large section of the pie, then put the dark fruits into the smaller area. Using a slotted spoon is key here – you don't want to add in the berry juices as this will result in a soggy pie. No one wants that! Place the pie in the fridge.

Making and Decorating the Flag

Roll out the second dough disc to 12 inches. Slice half the dough into four 2×6-inch strips. For the second half, grab your star-shaped cookie cutter and punch out stars.

Baking American Flag Pie

Toss the foil, then lay the dough stars over the dark fruits and the stripes over the red fruits. Slice away excess dough from the edges of the pie, then crimp the edges.

Brush the pie with egg wash, then bake for 20 minutes at 400F. Lower the temperature to 350F and bake for another half an hour or so, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.

Take the pie out of the oven and cool completely. Once cool, slice and serve with a dollop of homemade whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Tips for Making American Flag Pie

Use homemade or store-bought pie dough for your pie.

You'll need a small star-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the decorative stars to top the pie.

Adding cornstarch to the filling helps prevent it from being too runny. The other secret to avoiding a runny pie is not to add the berry juices to the filling. Use a slotted spoon, so you only scoop up the berries.

If your pie is browning too quickly, tent some foil over it.

For extra texture, garnish your pie with coarse sugar.

American Flag Pie Filling Variations

For extra texture, sprinkle some coarse sugar over the top of the pie.

Instead of making a mixed berry pie, you can use a single type of fruit. Blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, or cherries all work.

For a tarter pie, add red rhubarb to the red section of the pie.

You can use pure vanilla extract instead of almond extract.

How to Store American Flag Pie

Wrap your American flag pie in cling film and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 400F. Whisk cornstarch and sugar in a bowl to combine.

In a second bowl, mix the blackberries and blueberries. Mix ¼ cup of cornstarch mixture into the berries.

Gently toss the fruit with 1 teaspoon lemon juice and ¼ teaspoon almond extract.

In a third large bowl, combine cherries and strawberries. Mix the rest of the cornstarch-sugar mixture into the red berries.

Toss the berries with the remaining lemon juice and almond extract. Put both bowls of fruit into the fridge.

Lightly flour a work surface. Roll out one dough disc to about 12-inches.

Arrange the dough in your pie dish. Fold a piece of tin foil into a 2-inch strip. Put it into the crust as a divider, separating 1/3 of the crust from the remaining 2/3.

Using a slotted spoon, place the red berry mixture into the larger section of the pie.

Scoop the dark fruits into the smaller section. Put the pie in the fridge.

Roll out the second dough disc to 12 inches. Cut four 2×6-inch strips.

Use the remaining dough to cut out stars with a star-shaped cookie cutter.

Take the pie out of the fridge. Discard the foil. Arrange the stars over the dark fruits and the stripes over the red fruits.

Cut away excess dough and use a fork to crimp the edges of the pie.

Brush the pie with egg wash, then bake for 20 minutes. Lower the temperature to 350F and bake for 30 to 35 minutes more.

Remove from the oven and cool completely before serving.

Notes

Use a 9-inch pie pan to make your American flag pie.