Wild Blueberry Pie Recipe (Bilberry) – Finnish Style

Wild blueberry pie (mustikkapiirakka) is a beloved dessert in my family, especially during the short but sweet Finnish summer. The key to this pie’s special flavor is the wild bilberries we pick ourselves from the forests near our home or cottage. Bilberries can be found in grocery stores and farmers’ markets in Finland. They are smaller, darker, and have a uniquely rich taste compared to the larger cultivated blueberries common in many other countries.

Foraging Wild Blueberry Memories and Family Traditions

Every summer when the bilberries are ripe, my family heads into the woods with baskets in hand. It’s more than just picking berries, it’s a whole experience. As a child, I remember we would pack some simple food and enjoy a picnic right there in the forest. The air was hot, and the excitement of finding the perfect berry patch made it all magical.

Thanks to jokaisen oikeudet (Everyman’s Right), we can freely roam Finland’s forests to gather wild berries and mushrooms. Sometimes, if we were lucky, we also found chanterelle mushrooms to bring home. Those moments in nature are precious memories, and the fruits of our labor go straight into making pies, jams, and desserts that last us through the year, thanks to freezing some of the harvest.

Baking with Wild Bilberries

Using wild bilberries in baking gives the pie a deep, natural flavor that’s hard to replicate with store-bought berries. The pie crust is buttery and golden, perfectly complementing the juicy, slightly tart bilberries inside. It’s traditionally served with vanilla ice cream or custard. They are simple but elegant sides that reflect Finnish nature and summer days. Try it with a drizzle of my homemade vanilla custard sauce, its smooth, creamy texture pairs beautifully with the juicy wild blueberries.

Making this pie is a wonderful way to bring a piece of that forest adventure to your kitchen, whether you picked the berries yourself or bought some from a local market. Enjoying wild blueberry pie is like tasting a bit of Finnish summer, no matter where you are.

You can easily adapt this fresh strawberry tart recipe to make a delicious tartlet using wild bilberries or blueberries for a delightful twist. Explore also more Finnish desserts and mains here.

Rustic Finnish Blueberry Pie (Mustikkapiirakka)

This traditional Finnish pie is made with wild bilberries, the small, intensely flavorful berries found in Nordic forests. Unlike the larger cultivated blueberries, bilberries give the filling a deep purple color and bold berry taste. Wrapped in a tender, buttery crust and served with vanilla ice cream or custard, this rustic pie is a beloved summer dessert in Finland.

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Prep Time 45 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Course Baking, Dessert

Cuisine Finnish

Servings 10 people

Ingredients

  

For the dough:

• 225 g 1 cup cold butter (if using unsalted, add 1/2 tsp salt)
• 250-270 g 2 to 2¼ cups all-purpose flour Flours can vary, so start with 250g and add more only if necessary.
• 110 g ½ cup plus 1 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp vanilla sugar or 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 egg yolk

For the filling:

• 4 dl about 1¾ cups wild bilberries (or wild blueberries if unavailable)
• ¾ dl ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp potato starch

Instructions

 

Make the dough:

• In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, and vanilla sugar.
• Cut in the cold butter with your fingers or a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Add the egg yolk and mix until the dough comes together. Avoid overworking.
• Wrap and refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes.

Prepare the filling:

• In a bowl, gently mix the bilberries, sugar, and potato starch. Set aside.

Pre-bake the crust:

• Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F).
• Divide the dough into two parts. Roll out one half and press it into a parchment-lined pie tin (about 24 cm / 9-inch).
• Prick the base with a fork, place a piece of parchment paper on top, and fill with pie weights (or uncooked rice or beans).
• Blind bake for 15 minutes, then remove the weights and paper.

Assemble and bake:

• Pour the bilberry filling into the pre-baked crust.
• Roll out the remaining dough and place it over the top as a full crust “lid.”
• Cut a few small slits in the top to allow steam to escape.
• Bake for 20–30 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden and the filling is bubbling slightly.

Notes

Serve:

• Let the pie cool slightly before serving.
• Enjoy warm with vanilla ice cream or custard. 
• You can substitute the berries with rhubarb, raspberries, or cowberries (lingonberries). If using cowberries, add about 2 tablespoons more sugar to balance their tartness.
• Adjust the sweetness to your taste when using rhubarb or raspberries as well.

Keyword Bilberry pie, Finnish baking, Finnish blueberry pie, Finnish dessert, Homemade blueberry pie, Mustikkapiirakka, Rustic fruit pie, Summer berry pie, Wild blueberry pie