Mixed Berry Sour Cream Pie
Hold onto your hats, folks, because I’m about to confess something:
I used to not like pie.
I used to think that fruit was best enjoyed fresh, not cooked. And then I met Esther.
I’ve told y’all a little bit about how I met Esther the first day I lived in California. I said I would tell you the rest of the story, so here goes:
I moved to California in July of 2006, just months after graduating college. Since apartment leases didn’t start until September, I had to sub-lease a room in the interim. I rented a room in a 3-bedroom apartment with two other girls.
My parents drove me to California with everything I owned in my Honda Accord. (I wish I still owned so few things!) Three days later, I pulled up to apartment #106 and knocked on the door. Esther opened the door with a big smile, an apron around her neck and flour on her hands. I said “nice to meet you” and walked inside. She was baking an apple pie and watching Paula Deen on TV. Was it written in the stars that we would be best friends or what? Any doubts my parents had about leaving me in a strange state disappeared because of Esther’s friendliness.
Esther and I were instant best friends, and we have been ever since. Actually, everyone who lived in that apartment (including the girl whose room I rented and another girl who took the 3rd roommate’s room a month later) is still good friends. Over bottles of wine, we laugh about how apartment #106 brought us all together. Here we are today, in each other’s weddings.
Esther’s pies made me love pie. Her pies are the kind that drip butter when they are pulled from the oven. They are the kind of pies that taste even better with ice cream, but you still sneak a few bites without it so you can taste the crust and juicy fruit. The pie that made me a believer was her mixed berry pie. It tastes like a triumph. I asked for her recipe and she replied “oh, I just use a bag of frozen mixed berries and make my own all-butter dough.” Like that was an easy task!
I did just like she said, though. I took part of a bag of frozen mixed berries, stirred in some flour and sugar and tucked it into the pie crust. I dolloped sour cream on top, and crimped the edges of the dough closed. I put Paula Deen on the TV just to make sure everything turned out right.
And it did.
I used a 5″ mini deep-dish pie pan that Esther gave me for Christmas last year. Isn’t it darling? You can use a regular 6 or 7″ pie pan, too.
- 1 cup flour
- ⅛ tsp salt
- 2 tsp sugar
- 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 3-4 tablespoons cold water
- ¼ tsp cornmeal
- 2 cups frozen mixed berries (do not defrost)
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 tablespoons sour cream (use full-fat)
- ¼ tsp lemon zest
- milk for brushing on dough
- extra sugar
- In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, salt and sugar. Cube the butter, then add it to the mixture. Cut it into the flour until coarse crumbs form and the butter is evenly distributed. Add the vinegar and 3 tablespoons of the water. Stir until a dough forms that sticks together when pressed in your hand. If it’s not coming together, add the extra tablespoon of water. Chill the dough for 20 minutes before proceeding.
- Preheat the oven to 425.
- Next, divide the dough in half, making one half slightly larger. Roll out the slightly larger piece of dough on a floured cutting board. Fit it into the pie plate. Sprinkle the bottom with the cornmeal.
- Roll out the other half of the dough and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine all of the filling ingredients in a bowl. Stir until well combined (some loose crumbs may remain). Pour the filling into the pie crust, top with the other pie circle and crimp the edges closed. Cut a slit in the top of the crust to allow steam to escape. Brush the pie with milk and sprinkle with extra sugar.
- Bake the pie on a baking sheet for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, lower the heat to 350 and continue to bake until the crust browns and the filling starts to bubble, about 25-28 minutes.
- Let cool pie completely before attempting to slice.
What a great way to start your post-college years! This pie looks amazing and small enough to just about be a personal pie:-)
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I’m not really a pie person either but my boyfriend keeps dropping not so subtle hints! I love the addition of sour cream in these, so tasty.
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This pie is heavenly! Love the sour cream addition
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awww what a precious story!! this pie looks and sounds so good! i love that you added sour cream in this..it’s unique and not something you see every day in pie!
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I’m definitely going to try this one. I love berry pies and I think I can bake this in one of my larger ramekins. Everything’s better with sour cream
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Dang, girl! This sounds so yummy. I love pie crusts with the vinegar added. it makes it extra flaky and tender. I need to find a smaller pie pan so that I can make this for my husband and myself. Well, unless I make it while he is traveling and then it could be my dinner.
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What a perfect way to welcome spring!
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This looks so awesome. That filling…OH wow. Interesting you say NOT to defrost. Hey, I can follow that rule
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Yes, it is darling. Pretty much the most darlingest thing I’ve ever seen! Want one
I need an Esther in my life.
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This is the cutest little pie, and so colorful! Looks like a delicious dessert for two. Thanks for sharing. Also, I’m having a great giveaway today with four potential prize winners, so you should enter!
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This story is the best! Pie especially brings people together, what awesome memories. This sounds fabulous my friend!
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That is the cutest pie plate ever!!
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I have GOT to find myself a baby pie plate. That’s all there is to it.
I use vinegar in my pot pie crust and love how flaky it makes it. Haven’t ever used it in a sweet pie crust but have often thought about it (although somehow moving away from my momma’s sweet pie crust seems like blasphemy).
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that is the cutest green pie dish.. where did you get it? it’s just so cute. you must have all these little baking dishes in your home since you bake for 2… it’s so cute.
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This sounds awesome (as usual)!!
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Christina Reply:
March 23rd, 2012 at 11:55 am
Hey Heather, I keep trying to comment on your site, but my comments never show up. They could be going to your spam folder
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I sort of STILL hate pie and think fruit is best served fresh, so maybe if I try this it will convert me??!
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Pie with sour cream sounds so perfect right now, I wish I had a slice!
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I want this pie! And to move into Apt 106! And to get to eat pie with ice cream every day and never gain a pound! I think option 1 might be the only realistic one so I might just go for that. Frozen berries are like the best resource ever, no!?
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I love the addition of the SC to this bad boy. What a fabulous tang. I can feel it as I read it. haha
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I love mini pies especially anything with berries.
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i’ve yet to make a pie…i think i could handle a mini pie, right??
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I’m obsessed with the color of this.
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This mini pie is so adorable. And such a unique idea
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I’m glad you’re converted to pies, they’re so delicious! I have to be in the right mood for one, but when I am, there’s just nothing better, served with a big cold scoop of ice cream.
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I’ve never been big on pies either, but this sounds amazing! Cute story about Esther.
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i’m glad for Esther because pie is awesome hah!
this pie looks fabulous
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How sweet. friends forever weaved with the love for pie!! No defrosting…I’m there!!
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Totally my kind of dessert. The filling sounds divine.
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I love that deep dish! How did you get such a perfect slice of pie to come out?!
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This looks delicious! Pie of any kind makes me smile.
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I made today (uh, sorry, used store-bought crust) and it’s terrific!
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Ohmygosh! I love the story of Esther! And, how you fell in love with pie. What a great pie recipe. Thank you, Christina! Pinning to our group Pies and Tarts board! xo
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