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    You Are Here Home » Sweets Recipes

    Published: Jul 28, 2019 Updated: Jan 30, 2021 by Hilda Sterner | This post may contain affiliate links 17 Comments

    "Be My Huckleberry" Pie Recipe

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    huckleberry pie

    This Huckleberry Pie Recipe is as gorgeous as it is tasty. It's the perfect summer treat and the last huckleberry pie recipe you'll need! You'll love the fact that it's not overly sweet, like so many other pies are, yet still bursting with huckleberry flavor!

    huckleberry pie with lattice top and a plate with huckleberries

    Why This Recipe Works

    Huckleberries are the perfect balance between sweet and tart. As a matter of fact, many describe the taste of huckleberries as a combination of blueberries and cranberries. Tart, sweet, and delicious!

    I kept this huckleberry pie recipe simple by using huckleberries, sugar, orange juice, and zest. Instead of cornstarch, I used tapioca as a thickening agent. Let's be honest, don't we all hate runny pies that ruin an otherwise perfectly tasty crust?

    I left the cinnamon as optional because I personally did not want anything to compete with the huckleberry flavor. However, feel free to add ½ of a teaspoon if you would like.

    Huckleberry Pie begs for a big scoop of French vanilla ice cream, so make sure you have some on hand... and don't forget a piping hot cup of coffee!

    What Goes Into This Recipe

    pie ingredients, labeled

    How to Make This Recipe

    Preheat oven to 375-degrees F

    Step 1 | Line Pan with Crust

    Line the bottom of a 9" pie plate with one of the two pie crusts.

    pie crust

    Note: If using frozen fruit, quickly rinse off any ice that may have formed around the berries and drain completely.

    Step 2 | Prepare Pie Filling

    Mix both sugars, tapioca, orange zest, orange juice, salt, and cinnamon, if using. Add huckleberries and one shredded apple (optional) and mix gently to combine.

    With Apple
    huckleberry pie mix
    Without Apple

    Step 3 | Set Aside

    Set aside to rest for 15 minutes to allow the tapioca to activate. 

    pie filling

    Step 4 | Cut Lattice Top

    Meanwhile, cut the remaining pie crust into ¼" strips using a pastry wheel.

    Step 5 | Dot with Butter

    After the fifteen minutes are up, pour pie filling into the prepared pie crust and dot with butter.

    huckleberry pie dotted with butter

    Step 6 |Top with Lattice

    Place the strips of dough in a lattice fashion over the pie and either tuck the ends of the strips under the bottom crust or fold the bottom crust over the strips and crimp.

    huckleberry pie with lattice strips over it

    Step 7 | Bake Pie

    Cover pie edges with foil or pie crust protectors. Brush with 1 tablespoon of milk and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons sugar. Bake for an hour, or until the mixture is thick and bubbly and begins to ooze out of the lattice crust. Remove the foil during the last 15 minutes.

    pie with lattice top edges covered with foil

    Step 8 | Enjoy!

    Cool the huckleberry pie before slicing. Enjoy topping with vanilla ice cream.

    huckleberry pie with a slice missing

    Crumb Topping Huckleberry Pie Recipe

    If you prefer your huckleberry pie recipe with crumb topping, you're in luck! I actually prefer it that way too! You can easily alter this recipe to make a pie with crumb topping. Just follow these simple steps.

    • Follow the recipe steps up to dotting the filling with butter, but do not dot with butter.
    • Bake at 375-degrees F for 30 minutes.
    • Meanwhile, mix ½ cup of brown sugar, ¾ cup of flour, ¼ teaspoon cardamom, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Make sure there are no clumps in the brown sugar, and that the ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
    • Using your hands or a fork, cut in 6 tablespoons of cold cubed butter until the mixture is crumbly.
    • After 30 minutes have elapsed, remove the pie from the oven and turn up the oven temperature to 400-degrees F.
    • Carefully distribute the crumb topping evenly over the berries, so that the berries are no longer visible.
    • Cover pie edges with foil or pie crust protector. Bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the pie is bubbly and begins to ooze out from under the topping.
    • The pie will firm up once refrigerated.

    Recipe FAQs and Expert Tips

    What are Huckleberries?

    I realize that not too many people know what a huckleberry is, let alone tasted these delicious berries.

    "Huckleberries" (also known as 'Hurtleberry' or 'Whortleberry") are glorious red and purple berries that resemble blueberries in taste and appearance (although smaller).

    The berries go from green to light pink, dark pink, and a deep purple when fully ripened.

    Some varieties have larger berries that are deep red when fully ripe and tart compared to the purple variety.

    Huckleberry bushes grow in acidic mountain soil, and range in size from 1' to 5' in height. They are delicious when eaten raw and just as tasty when used to make huckleberry pie, jam, syrup, cheesecake, and wine.

    The berries can be used to make huckleberry muffins, scones, ice cream, fudge, and more!

    huckleberry tree

    Where Do You Get Huckleberries?

    Huckleberries are native to the Northwestern United States. They grow in the wild in elevations from 3000' to 6,000'.

    States, where huckleberries grow, include Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska.

    Since huckleberries are not commercially grown, they're usually handpicked by individuals and sold for as much as $50 to $70 a gallon!

    Here in Montana, they are ready to harvest from late June through late August, depending on the elevation.

    However, if you're looking for an exact location, good luck! Most people have their own "secret spot" that they won't even share with their own mother.

    Luckily, I have an angel for a neighbor, who not only shared his spot with us but took us on our first huckleberry picking adventure!

    Remember, if you don't have access to huckleberries, substitute blueberries for this recipe instead!

    man picking huckleberries

    How do you Pick Huckleberries?

    So, let's say you got someone to divulge their secret huckleberry picking spot with you ... congratulations!

    What should you know before you go on your first huckleberry picking adventure?

    Well, I'm no expert, but here are some great tips that I picked up from my neighbor, Neil.

    huckleberries in a blue bucket

    Huckleberry Picking Checklist

    • Wear long pants, good shoes or boots, and a hat to keep the sun out of your eyes while you pick.
    • Take a gun (if you have one) and bear spray, we all know that bears like huckleberries too!
    • Take plenty of water, pack a lunch, and wear sunscreen (this is going to take a while). Huckleberry picking is not for the weak!
    • Take an empty one-gallon jug, and cut the top off, leaving the handle intact. Loop the jug handle through your belt so that both hands are free to pick these precious berries, and drop into the jug hanging from your waist. You'll also need a 2-5 gallon bucket to dump your berries into when you're dong picking.
    • Be aware of your surroundings, listen for rustling in the trees and bushes around you. In other words, leave the earbuds at home, kids.
    • Berry Pickers are preferred by some people while many believe they damage the plants. I find it easier picking with my hands.
    • When picking the huckleberries, be sure to lift the branches to look underneath them. Many huckleberries are hidden underneath the leaves and are only visible when the branches are lifted.
    • Above all, go with someone you love spending time with. Enjoy the conversation and the natural beauty that surrounds you!
    • Be sure to bookmark this page so that once you have your huckleberries, you can come back here for this huckleberry pie recipe!
    a lady standing in a field with an empty milk jug
    Ready to pick some huckleberries!
    a handful of huckleberries
    Purple Gold
    lady holding a jug full of huckleberries
    A successful day of picking!
    huckleberries in a jug
    Let's make some huckleberry pie!

    How to Clean and Freeze Huckleberries

    I'm sure there are many ways to clean and store huckleberries, but these steps worked well for me.

    I had originally considered washing and freezing the berries on a cookie sheet before storing them. I thought that if I froze them in a bag all together they might create a solid block.

    My huckleberry picking guide, Neil, ensured me that was not the case, and he was right. I chose two-cup portions, but feel free to freeze in any quantity you prefer.

    1. Add two cups of berries to a bowl of clean water.
    2. Agitate the berries in the water, and remove any obvious debris that floats to the surface.
    3. Scoop a handful of berries from the water and add in a sealable Ziplock sandwich bag.
    4. Continue until the two cups of berries are in the bag, then seal. Repeat the process, using fresh water each time, until all the huckleberries are processed.
    5. Freeze the berry-filled bags until ready to use.
    a measuring cup with huckleberries
    huckleberries in a Tupperware covered in water
    debris left from cleaning huckleberries in a Tupperware
    plastic sandwich bag full of huckleberries

    Now that I've told you everything I know about huckleberries, I hope you'll give this recipe a try, or make plans to go huckleberry picking as soon as possible!

    For further information on the Huckleberry plant, check out Britannica.com.

    pie with crumb topping and lattice topping

    Related Recipes

    • Berry Cheesecake​ (Huckleberry or Blueberry)
    • Huckleberry Cheesecake with a Brownie Crust
    • Huckleberry Sauce, Syrup, and Topping
    • Old Fashioned Rhubarb Pie with Crumb Topping

    Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.

    Stay in touch with me through social media @ Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook. Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

    huckleberry pie with a lattice top o na napkin with a plate on the side

    "Be My Huckleberry" Pie Recipe

    Lattice-top wild huckleberry pie recipe.
    4.93 from 13 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour
    Resting Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
    Servings: 8 slices
    Calories: 275kcal
    Author: Hilda Sterner

    Ingredients

    • 1 Pillsbury pie crust
    • 4 cups huckleberries
    • ½ cup white sugar
    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • ¼ cup tapioca
    • 1½ teaspoon orange zest (or orange powder)
    • 1 tablespoon orange juice
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 1 tablespoon milk
    • 2 teaspoon sugar (sprinkling)

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 375-degrees F
    • Line the bottom of a 9" pie plate with one of the two pie crusts. If using frozen fruit, quickly rinse off any ice that may have formed around the berries and drain completely.
    • Mix both sugars, tapioca, orange zest, orange juice, salt, and cinnamon, if using. Add huckleberries and one shredded apple (optional) and mix gently to combine.
    • Set aside to rest for 15 minutes to allow the tapioca to activate. 
    • Meanwhile, cut the remaining pie crust into ¼" strips using a pastry wheel.
    • After the fifteen minutes are up, pour pie filling into the prepared pie crust and dot with butter.
    • Place the strips of dough in a lattice fashion over the pie and either tuck the ends of the strips under the bottom crust or fold the bottom crust over the strips and crimp.
    • Cover pie edges with foil or pie crust protectors. Brush with 1 tablespoon of milk and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons sugar. Bake for an hour, or until the mixture is thick and bubbly and begins to ooze out of the lattice crust. Remove the foil during the last 15 minutes.
    • Cool the huckleberry pie before slicing. Enjoy topping with vanilla ice cream.

    Notes

    To make a huckleberry pie with crumb topping, follow these directions
    • Follow the recipe steps up to dotting with butter, except do not dot with butter.
    • Bake filled pie crust at 375-degrees F for 30 minutes.
    • Meanwhile, mix ½ cup of brown sugar, ¾ cup of flour, ¼ teaspoon cardamom, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Make sure there are no clumps in the brown sugar, and that the ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
    • Using your hands or a fork, cut in 4 tablespoons of cold cubed butter until the mixture is crumbly.
    • After 30 minutes have elapsed, remove the pie from the oven and turn up the oven temperature to 400-degrees F.
    • Carefully distribute the crumb topping evenly over the berries, so that the berries are no longer visible.
    • Cover pie edges with foil or pie crust protector. Bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the pie is bubbly and begins to ooze out from under the topping.
    • The pie will firm up when completely cool.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1slice | Calories: 275kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 182mg | Sugar: 27g
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @HildasKitchenBlog or tag #HildasKitchenBlog!
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    Comments

    1. Anna says

      April 14, 2022 at 3:35 pm

      Hi Hilda , I have a question. Does the pie come out thick and not runny? I am making a couple of pie and want to freeze them. We have a place at the ocean and there are huckleberry shrubs everywhere.

      Reply
      • Hilda Sterner says

        April 14, 2022 at 7:22 pm

        Hi Anna,
        The filling is pretty thick, thanks to the tapioca. You got me curious, where do you live?

        Reply
    2. Kathy Fisher says

      January 10, 2022 at 8:32 pm

      5 stars
      The berries in my freezer turned out to be blueberries from my garden. So, what made this pie really good was the orange rind and juice. I liked using the brown sugar and tapioca. I was disappointed my huckleberries turned out to be blueberries but it was still a great pie...maybe the best blueberry pie I've had. I'll make this again when I don't have huckleberries. It will be 6 more months before huckleberry picking time. Can't wait.

      Reply
      • Hilda Sterner says

        January 11, 2022 at 1:30 pm

        Hi Kathy, Blueberries are definitely a good substitute for Huckleberries. I'm glad the recipe was a success and that you enjoyed it. 😘

        Reply
    3. Amber says

      December 24, 2021 at 3:34 pm

      Great recipe! Instead of cinnamon in the pie, I sprinkled cinnamon sugar on the top of the crust. Amazing! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Hilda Sterner says

        December 24, 2021 at 6:14 pm

        Hi Amber, thanks for the review. What a great idea!

        Reply
    4. Elva says

      December 24, 2021 at 12:13 pm

      5 stars
      Today is the 3 rd time I am baking this pie at the request of a Jr.High age boy. I used a grated apple….thanks for the great recipe1

      Reply
      • Hilda Sterner says

        December 24, 2021 at 2:08 pm

        Hi Elva,
        Thank you so much, enjoy!

        Reply
    5. Dan Soukeroff says

      December 04, 2021 at 9:32 pm

      5 stars
      Just my personal taste, one way to mess up a Huckleberry Pie is to add cinnamon to it! It over powers the wonderful tase of the berries>

      Reply
      • Hilda Sterner says

        December 05, 2021 at 5:46 am

        Hi Dan, my daughter feels the same way, but my husband loves it. Easy enough to leave out though. Thank you for the comment and review!

        Reply
    6. Lisa says

      December 24, 2020 at 9:30 am

      5 stars
      Love huckleberries. Please don't use a huckleberry picker- those are really hard on the precious plants and because the plants can't be domesticated, all we have are the wild plants. Also when I freeze mine, after I've washed them I actually dry them on a paper towel for a bit, then put them in quart freezer bags. They turn out wonderful - individual frozen berries, no hunks of huckleberries. And you know how hard they are to pick, so you don't ever want to waste a single berry.

      Reply
      • Hilda Sterner says

        December 24, 2020 at 10:20 am

        Thanks, Lisa, great tips!

        Reply
    7. Gail says

      November 22, 2020 at 9:13 am

      5 stars
      Have you used Cornstarch instead of Tapioca? I don't have any Tapioca and I'm avoiding going to the store between now and the holiday season 🙂

      Regarding your banana bread and huckleberries . . .yum! I like this combo too. What I do though - since I hate cleaning messes - is I use parchment paper in the glass loaf pan. I pour the batter on top of it, smooch it into place, then bake. No clean up! ha ha!

      I love huckleberries as much as you do!

      Tell me about Cornstarch please xo

      Reply
      • Hilda Sterner says

        November 22, 2020 at 9:54 am

        Hi Gail,
        I've used flour before, but I haven't tried cornstarch, although I know some use it and it works justfine. I just think tapioca works so much better, I prefer the texture. I like your idea for the banana bread. Less cleaning is always a plus!

        Reply
    8. Lori Ross says

      September 09, 2019 at 9:05 pm

      5 stars
      Very easy to follow and the pie was great! Thanks Hilda!

      Reply
      • HildaSterner says

        September 09, 2019 at 9:14 pm

        Yay, glad you tried it! I'm sure you had the perfect rainy weather for baking....lucky!

        Reply
      • HildaSterner says

        September 09, 2019 at 9:15 pm

        My, you have been busy! Good job.

        Reply

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