Homemade Strawberry Pie Filling

A fast, delicious, and easy Homemade Strawberry Pie Filling that can be made in minutes. It’s perfect for cheesecakes, ice-cream toppings, pies, and even on bagels for breakfast!

With strawberry season here, it’s time to think about all of the delicious treats that can be made with fresh strawberries – Cheesecakes, cobblers, pies, and so many other desserts. 

Strawberries are a popular fruit around my house; they seem to disappear rather quickly. Fresh strawberries will not last for very long in the refrigerator. You will need to use them quickly or either freeze them for later use. My family usually has no trouble eating a basket of strawberries in a few days. So, I always try to buy extra strawberries for the freezer. Read my post on How to Freeze Strawberries. You will always have strawberries on hand for desserts.

Homemade Strawberry Pie Filling with text overlay.
Homemade Strawberry Pie Filling

I like to add strawberries to salads, desserts, and even cover them in chocolate. But, if you see you might have some leftover, don’t let them go to waste. Be sure to check out my post on How to Freeze Strawberries. They are perfect for cobblers, pie fillings, Strawberry Cheesecake, Blueberry Cheesecake Bars, and many other desserts now and during the winter months.

This weekend I wanted to make a cheesecake. I had all of the ingredients on hand except Strawberry Pie Filling. And what’s a cheesecake without a delicious topping? Not much of cheesecake if you ask me. Just my opinion. 🙂

I don’t know about you, but the pie filling in the can is just not as good as homemade pie filling. It’s fine to use in a pinch, and I will probably still use it, but once you make homemade, you will always want to make homemade. 

Homemade Strawberry Pie Filling Is Easy To Make

Homemade Strawberry Pie Filling is actually easier to make than you may think. It only takes minutes to prepare, and plus, it tastes better than the stuff in the can. There are only 6 ingredients needed to make this pie filling, and you probably already have most (if not all) of these items on hand. 

I had strawberries in my freezer, and the rest of the ingredients in my pantry. So I was ready to get to work. 

Only Takes Minutes to Prepare

Homemade Strawberry Pie Filling comes together in minutes. Seriously, it only takes minutes to prepare. The real patience is waiting on it to cool for your cheesecake or whatever you might be using it for. Yes, cool. Do you know how hard it is not to eat it with a spoon out of the pan? Willpower people! Willpower!

Homemade Strawberry Pie Filling with text overlay.
Homemade Strawberry Pie Filling

What Ingredients Do I Need?

You only need 6 ingredients for this fabulous Strawberry Pie Filling. 

Fresh Strawberries (Frozen will work)

Lemon Juice

Sugar

Corn Starch

Water

Strawberry Jello (dry powder)

How Do I Make Homemade Strawberry Pie Filling from Scratch?

This is a super simple recipe for making pie filling. You are just a few steps away from having the most delicious strawberry pie filling you have ever eaten. 

  1. Stir together strawberries and lemon juice. Set aside.
  2. In a medium saucepan, on medium heat, add water. Add sugar and cornstarch while whisking continuously.  
  3. Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute while stirring continuously.
  4. Add Strawberries.
  5. Bring to a simmer and allow to simmer 3-5 minutes. Stir well.
  6. Remove from the heat and add jello powder. Stir well.
  7. Cool for 1 hour at room temperature and then place in the refrigerator to cool completely for several hours or overnight. This will allow the pie filling to thicken. 

This will keep in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. Awesome! 

How Long Do I Need to Let It Cool and Thicken?

This is where your will power is going to come into play. The pie filling will need to sit for about an hour at room temperature to cool. Then it will need to be placed into the refrigerator to get cold and thicken. I have used it on top of cheesecakes after 2 hours in the refrigerator, and it was fine. But, the longer it chills, the better. 

Now you are ready to enjoy this homemade treat. Make a cheesecake, add some to the top of your ice-cream, or slather, yes, that’s a word–slather-it on top of your toast or bagel. You might even decide to eat it right out of the bowl. No judging here! The choice is yours! Enjoy!

Strawberry Pie Filling is excellent on top of these Strawberry Cheesecake Bars. OH, MY! Absolutely delicious!

Strawberry Cobbler is definitely another Strawberry recipe you need to try. It is full of sweet strawberries and a crunchy topping. Serve that with a little vanilla ice-cream, and you have a fabulous dessert.

Do you need something for breakfast? Strawberry Stuffed French Toast will never disappoint if seen on the breakfast menu at home. 

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Homemade Strawberry Pie Filling

Homemade Strawberry Pie Filling

Gina Abernathy
A fast, delicious, and easy Homemade Strawberry Pie Filling that can be made in minutes. It’s perfect for cheesecakes, ice-cream toppings, pies, and even on bagels for breakfast!
5 from 4 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 6 cups strawberries sliced frozen or fresh
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup corn starch
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1 (3.4 ounce box) strawberry jello

Instructions
 

  • Stir together strawberries and lemon juice. Set aside.
  • In a medium saucepan, on medium heat, add water. Add sugar and cornstarch while whisking continuously.  
  • Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute while stirring continuously.
  • Add Strawberries.
  • Bring to a simmer and allow to simmer 3-5 minutes. Stir well.
  • Remove from the heat and add jello powder. Stir well.
  • Cool for 1 hour at room temperature and then place in the refrigerator to cool completely for several hours or overnight. This will allow the pie filling to thicken. 
  • This will keep in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

15 Comments

  1. Ok so if I don’t have any strawberry jello, and the stores aren’t open (I’m a nightshifter). Do you think I could use ground freeze dried strawberries, a packet of unflavored gelatin, and maybe a little extra sugar if needed?? I’m thinking this might work and be artificial flavors or colors.

    1. Hi Vicki,
      I have never canned this pie filling. There would be extra steps involved with the canning process. I’m sorry I can not advise on this question. Have a wonderful weekend!

  2. Will this work in jello salads? You know, the one that is called “Strawberry Pretzel Salad”. Or if I wanted to add it to a brownie mixture (from homemade brownies)?
    If all I can do is add it on top of pancakes or waffles, I’d be happy. Thank you for the recipe.

    1. Hi Jeannette! I have used this recipe for my cheesecake topping, but never in a pretzel salad. I am going to try using it in a pretzel salad soon. I believe it would work, but I can’t say for sure. If you try it, let me know.

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