Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare either pie crust recipe through step 5. The pie dough needs to chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before using.

2. 2

   In a large bowl, stir the rhubarb, strawberries, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cornstarch, salt, orange juice, and vanilla together until thoroughly combined. Set aside.

3. 3

   On a floured work surface, roll out 1 disc of chilled dough (keep the other one in the refrigerator). Turn the dough about a quarter turn after every few rolls until you have a circle 12 inches in diameter. Carefully place the dough into a 9-inch pie dish. Tuck it in with your fingers, making sure it is smooth. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the filling into the crust. If you have leftover juices in the bottom of the bowl, reserve them for the next step. Refrigerate the pie, uncovered, as you reduce the juice in the next step.

4. 4

   Optional—reduce the juices: If your pie filling sat for awhile or if your strawberries are particularly juicy, a lot of liquid may pool at the bottom of the bowl. Pour the leftover liquid into a small saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the juice has slightly reduced and thickened, about 3–4 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes, then pour over the filling in the pie crust. Do your best to gently toss together with the fruit. Dot the pieces of cold butter on top of the filling. Place the pie in the refrigerator while you roll out the top crust.

5. 5

   Remove the other disc of pie dough from the refrigerator. Roll the dough into a circle 12 inches in diameter. Using a pastry wheel, sharp knife, or pizza cutter, cut the dough into strips about 1-inch wide. Carefully thread the strips over and under one another, pulling back strips as necessary to weave. See this post on How to Lattice Pie Crust for help with this step. Press the edges of the strips into the bottom pie crust edges to seal. Use kitchen shears or a small paring knife to trim off excess dough. Flute or crimp the pie crust edges.

6. 6

   Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the top and edges of the pie crust with egg wash. Sprinkle the top with coarse sugar, if using. Place the pie in the refrigerator for 20–30 minutes while your oven preheats. 

7. 7

   Place the pie on the center oven rack, and place a baking sheet (lined with parchment paper for easy cleanup) on the rack beneath it, to catch any bubbling-over juices. Bake for 20 minutes. Keeping the pie in the oven, reduce the temperature to 350°F (177°C), add a pie crust shield, and bake for an additional 50 minutes or until the top crust is golden brown and the filling juices are bubbling around the edges and/or through the lattice. For a more accurate test of doneness, check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer; it should reach at least 200–212°F (around 100°C).

8. 8

   Remove pie from the oven and place on a cooling rack. Cool for at least 5-6 hours before slicing and serving. The filling will be too juicy if the pie is still warm when you slice it.

9. 9

   Cover leftovers tightly and store at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Tips

• •

  Use a slotted spoon to transfer the filling into the crust and reduce the pooled juices separately—rhubarb and strawberries release a lot of water, and adding all that raw liquid will make your bottom crust soggy and your filling runny.

• •

  Don't skip the full 5-6 hour cooling time before slicing. The cornstarch (a generous 1/4 cup here) needs time to fully set as the pie cools; cutting into a warm pie will give you a soupy filling that runs all over the plate.

• •

  If fresh rhubarb isn't available, frozen works well—but thaw and drain it thoroughly first, as the extra moisture will throw off the fruit-to-liquid balance. Keep the total fruit around 5.5 cups so the cornstarch can properly thicken it.

• •

  Bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet on the rack below to catch bubbling juices, and add a pie crust shield after the initial 20-minute high-heat blast to prevent the fluted edges from burning before the filling finishes cooking.

• •

  Look for filling that's actively bubbling through the lattice as your doneness cue—this means the cornstarch has activated. An instant-read thermometer reaching 200-212°F confirms it. Underbaked filling won't set even after cooling.