Mustikkapiirakka is a delicious and popular Finnish blueberry pie, known for its light texture and sweet-tart flavor. This simple recipe makes a tasty dessert that can be served on its own or with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for an extra indulgence.

Ingredients:

For the dough:

• 200 g all-purpose flour
• 100 g cold butter, cut into small cubes
• 75 g sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• A pinch of salt

For the filling:

• 500 g fresh blueberries (or thawed if using frozen blueberries)
• 100 g sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch (corn flour)

Instructions:

1. Preparing the dough:
   In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Mix the dry ingredients well.
   Add the cold butter cubes and rub it into the flour using your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse sand.
   Beat the egg and add it to the mixture, stirring until the dough begins to come together.
   Knead the dough gently until it forms a smooth ball. If it’s too sticky, add a little more flour.
   Wrap the dough ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up.

2. Preparing the filling:
   In a bowl, mix the blueberries with the sugar and cornstarch. The cornstarch will help thicken the juices released by the blueberries during baking. You can adjust the sugar depending on the sweetness of your blueberries.

3. Assembling the pie:
   Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
   On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a circle about 25 cm (10 inches) in diameter.
   Grease a tart pan (or line it with parchment paper) and transfer the dough into the pan.
   Press the dough into the bottom and up the sides of the pan. The dough may be a bit crumbly, so handle it gently to prevent it from breaking.

4. Adding the blueberries:
   Spoon the prepared blueberries evenly over the dough, ensuring that every slice has some fruit.

5. Baking:
   Bake the pie for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the blueberry filling begins to bubble. If the edges of the crust brown too quickly, cover them with aluminum foil to prevent burning.

6. Finishing and serving:
   Let the pie cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
   For an extra touch of sweetness, dust the top of the pie with powdered sugar before serving.
   This pie can be enjoyed as is or served with a dollop of whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or a spoonful of fresh cream for an even richer dessert.

Tip:

If you’d like to add an almond flavor to the dough, you can include 50 g of almond flour along with the all-purpose flour. This will give the pie a richer taste and a softer texture.

Serving Suggestions:

Mustikkapiirakka is perfect for a family tea time or as a sweet, fruity end to a meal. It keeps well for a few days, or you can freeze it if you’ve used up seasonal fruit.

Enjoy this delicious Finnish pie, easy to make and full of natural flavors!