How to Make a Delicious Starberry Pie

We’ve covered nerdy drinks here on the blog but what about nerdy foods? There are some recipes inspired by books that have become phenomena, so we dreamed up one of our own you can follow.

If you’ve read the Far From Home series, you know Van Clare’s favorite food is a Starberry. The fruit can be consumed all on its own but much like our own fruits, the versatility means we can do a lot with them. If we could snatch a few servings of starberries out of the book what would we create? A starberry pie! Now, of course like many other dishes from books, we’re going to have to use a little imagination when it comes to the ingredients. Now if you’ve got yours ready, here’s how to make starberry pie:

[ingredients] 

For Crust:

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• 20 tablespoons salted butter, cubed

• ½ cup ice water

• Alternatively, you can use store-bought crust! 

For Filling:

• 5 to 6 cups of starberries (strawberries cut with a star cookie cutter) 

• 3 tablespoons butter

• ¾ cup sugar

• 2 tablespoons water

• 3 tablespoons corn starch 

• Alternatively, you can use a store-bought filling!

For all my nerdy bakers out there, here’s a recipe for homemade crust that I personally like best. For a more easy-to-make recipe please feel free to use a store-bought pre-made crust! 

• Combine flour and butter and mix with hands until the consistency is that of moist sand 

• Slowly add tablespoons of water until your dough starts to stick together (recipe says please take your time here!)

• Divide your dough into two balls and flatten both to make the shapes needed

• Wrap each disc in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 20 mins 

Here’s the filling recipe!  Of course you can feel free to tweak as you’d like, and don’t forget about store bought filling options too! 

• Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat until foam subsides

• Add your starberries and sugar and stir while it simmers, until the sugar is dissolved

• Cook until your starberries are soft, but don’t lose their integrity or shape!

• Stir together your water and cornstarch to form a thick paste, then add to the simmering starberries for 3 minutes, stirring frequently 

• Let cool slightly 

Baking instructions:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees

• Roll one dough disc into your pie pan 

• Fill with your starberry filling 

• Use your cookie cutter to create some stars in the top crust, or make it your own with any design! 

• Bake for about 1 hour, until your crust is golden and your filling is bubbling 

• Let sit and cool before serving. Top with ice cream or whipped cream, decorate with some fresh starberries too! 

Of course, if you’re using a store-bought option make sure to follow those directions instead. In no time you’ll be a pie-making expert, and you’ll be serving up starberry pie that even Van Clare would hug you for. The kids will love cutting shapes and getting their hands into that dough as well. Bake yourselves a treat and read the book together! 

Frequently Asked Questions

What other book-inspired recipes should I try? 

Turkish Delight from The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, Green Eggs and Ham from The Cat in The Hat, The chocolate cake from Matilda, all of these recipes are on our must try list!

Are starberries and strawberries the same?

With just a little magic, we humans can turn a regular old strawberry into a starberry. So basically yes, but not if your imagination is activated! Readers who bake, you know what to do here.