How to Make Strawberry Galette with Fresh Pie Crust
If you love the combination of flaky, buttery crust and fresh, juicy strawberries bursting with sweetness, then you’re in for a treat with this Strawberry Galette with Fresh Pie Crust. This rustic yet elegant dessert highlights the incredible flavor of ripe strawberries wrapped in a homemade pie crust that is tender, crisp, and perfectly golden. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting, this recipe is straightforward and delivers a dessert that’s irresistible for any occasion.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Effortless Elegance: This galette looks fancy but is surprisingly simple to assemble, making impressive desserts stress-free.
- Fresh and Natural Flavors: Using fresh strawberries and homemade crust means a vibrant, authentic taste with no artificial aftertaste.
- Flaky, Buttery Crust: The fresh pie crust recipe ensures a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture that perfectly complements the fruit filling.
- Versatile and Season-Friendly: Perfect for summer or any season with fresh berries, and easily adaptable with other fruits or gluten-free crusts.
- Perfect Balance of Sweetness: The sweet strawberries blend with just the right hint of sugar and lemon, making every bite refreshing and satisfying.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe uses simple, quality ingredients that come together to create a dessert bursting with flavor and flaky texture. Each component is essential: the crust brings crispness, the strawberries provide juiciness, and a few seasoning touches enhance natural sweetness.
- All-Purpose Flour: The base of the pie crust that creates structure and tenderness.
- Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and flakiness to the crust when kept cold and mixed gently.
- Cold Water: Keeps the dough cohesive without melting the butter, crucial for flakiness.
- Granulated Sugar: Sweetens both the crust and the strawberry filling perfectly without overpowering.
- Salt: Enhances all the other flavors and balances sweetness beautifully.
- Fresh Strawberries: The star of the galette, providing natural juiciness and bright color.
- Lemon Juice and Zest: Cuts through sweetness with a fresh, citrusy brightness that elevates the strawberries.
- Cornstarch: Helps thicken the strawberry juices during baking so the filling doesn’t become soggy.
- Egg (for egg wash): Creates a beautiful golden crust with a slight sheen after baking.
Variations for Strawberry Galette with Fresh Pie Crust
One of the joys of making a galette is how easily it adapts to what you have on hand or special dietary needs. Here are some ways to customize the recipe for your favorite twist or to suit different occasions.
- Mixed Berry Galette: Combine strawberries with blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries for a colorful, tangy filling.
- Gluten-Free Option: Use a gluten-free flour blend for the crust, ensuring everyone can indulge without missing out.
- Vegan Version: Substitute butter with coconut oil or vegan butter and use maple syrup or agave for sweetening.
- Spiced Variation: Add a pinch of cinnamon or ginger to the filling for a warm, cozy flavor twist.
- Nutty Crunch: Sprinkle toasted almonds or pecans over the filling before folding the crust for added texture.
How to Make Strawberry Galette with Fresh Pie Crust
Step 1: Prepare the Fresh Pie Crust
Start by mixing cold, cubed butter into the all-purpose flour and salt until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Slowly add ice-cold water, one tablespoon at a time, until the dough just comes together. Avoid overworking to keep the crust flaky. Form the dough into a disk, wrap it, and chill in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.
Step 2: Prepare the Strawberry Filling
Wash, hull, and slice the fresh strawberries. Toss them gently with granulated sugar, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and cornstarch. This step ensures the filling is sweet, bright, and thick enough to hold together during baking.
Step 3: Roll Out the Dough
On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough into a roughly 12-inch circle. Transfer it carefully to a parchment-lined baking sheet so it’s ready for the filling.
Step 4: Assemble the Galette
Pile the strawberry mixture into the center of the dough, leaving about a 2-inch border all around. Fold the edges gently over the fruit, creating rustic pleats. Brush the crust with an egg wash to help it brown beautifully.
Step 5: Bake to Perfection
Bake your galette in a preheated 400°F (200°C) oven for about 35-40 minutes, until the crust is golden and the strawberry filling is bubbling nicely. Let it cool slightly before slicing to allow the juices to thicken fully.
Pro Tips for Making Strawberry Galette with Fresh Pie Crust
- Keep Butter Cold: Always use butter straight from the fridge and work quickly to prevent it from melting, ensuring a flaky crust.
- Don’t Overmix Dough: Mix just until it comes together to avoid tough pastry with a dense texture.
- Use Fresh, Ripe Strawberries: The flavor of the galette depends on berry quality, so pick the sweetest, juiciest ones you can find.
- Chill Dough Before Rolling: Helps relax gluten and keeps the dough from shrinking during baking.
- Egg Wash Equals Shine: Brush the crust with egg wash for that picture-perfect golden finish.
- Allow Cooling Before Serving: Let the galette rest after baking to let juices thicken and flavors meld.
How to Serve Strawberry Galette with Fresh Pie Crust
Garnishes
A simple dusting of powdered sugar brightens the presentation and adds a delicate sweetness, or serve with fresh mint leaves for a burst of herbal freshness that pairs wonderfully with strawberries.
Side Dishes
This galette shines alongside a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of lightly whipped cream, which adds cool creaminess that complements the warm, flaky crust and juicy filling beautifully.
Creative Ways to Present
Cut the galette into wedges and arrange on rustic wooden boards with extra fresh berries and edible flowers for a stunning dessert centerpiece. You can also serve it with small glasses of sparkling rosé for a touch of elegance at gatherings.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep any leftover galette wrapped loosely in plastic wrap or covered with foil in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, preserving freshness while maintaining the crust’s crispness as much as possible.
Freezing
You can freeze the assembled but unbaked galette by wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap and foil for up to 1 month. When ready, bake it directly from frozen, adding extra baking time to ensure the filling cooks through.
Reheating
Reheat leftovers gently in a preheated oven at 325°F (160°C) for 10-15 minutes to restore crispness and warm the filling without making the crust soggy or tough.
FAQs
Can I use frozen strawberries in this recipe?
While fresh strawberries are best for flavor and texture, frozen can work if thawed and drained well to reduce excess liquid that may make the crust soggy.
How do I prevent the crust from getting soggy?
Using cornstarch in the filling helps thicken the juices, and chilling the dough before baking creates a barrier that keeps the crust crisp.
Can I make this galette ahead of time?
Yes! Assemble it and refrigerate it for up to a day before baking. Just add a few extra minutes to the baking time when ready.
What’s the difference between a galette and a pie?
A galette is a freeform pastry without a pie dish, folded over the edges creating a rustic look, whereas a pie usually has a crust lining a dish with a top crust or lattice.
Is the Strawberry Galette with Fresh Pie Crust healthy?
While it’s a dessert that contains sugar and butter, using fresh strawberries provides vitamins and antioxidants, making it a fresher alternative to many processed sweets.
Final Thoughts
Making a Strawberry Galette with Fresh Pie Crust is truly rewarding and keeps you coming back for more. This dessert balances simplicity with elegance, allowing the natural sweetness of strawberries to shine in a buttery, flaky crust that’s perfect for sharing with friends and family. Give this recipe a try—you might just find your new favorite way to enjoy fresh strawberries!
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Strawberry Galette with Fresh Pie Crust
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A rustic and elegant Strawberry Galette featuring a flaky, buttery homemade pie crust filled with fresh, juicy strawberries. This versatile dessert is perfect for any occasion, combining the natural sweetness of strawberries with a tender, golden crust and a hint of lemon. Ideal for both novice and experienced bakers, this galette is simple to assemble and wonderfully adaptable.
Ingredients
Pie Crust Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 8 tbsp unsalted butter (cold, cubed)
- 3–4 tbsp ice-cold water
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar (optional, for crust sweetness)
Strawberry Filling Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh strawberries (washed, hulled, sliced)
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (fresh)
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1–2 tbsp cornstarch
Finishing Ingredients
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
Instructions
- Prepare the Fresh Pie Crust: Mix cold, cubed unsalted butter into the all-purpose flour, salt, and sugar until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Slowly add ice-cold water, one tablespoon at a time, mixing gently until the dough just comes together. Avoid overworking the dough to keep it flaky. Form the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
- Prepare the Strawberry Filling: Wash, hull, and slice fresh strawberries. In a bowl, gently toss the strawberries with granulated sugar, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and cornstarch. This mixture sweetens the filling, adds brightness, and thickens the strawberry juices during baking.
- Roll Out the Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough into a rough 12-inch circle. Carefully transfer the dough to a parchment-lined baking sheet, preparing it for the filling.
- Assemble the Galette: Pile the strawberry filling into the center of the dough, leaving about a 2-inch border around the edges. Fold the edges of the dough gently over the filling, making rustic pleats. Beat the egg and brush the dough edges with egg wash to ensure a golden, shiny crust.
- Bake to Perfection: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake the galette for 35-40 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the strawberry filling is bubbling. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool slightly before slicing to let the juices thicken.
Notes
- Keep butter cold throughout the crust preparation to ensure a flaky texture.
- Do not overmix the dough to avoid a tough crust.
- Use the ripest, freshest strawberries available for the best flavor.
- Chill the dough before rolling out to help prevent shrinking during baking.
- Brush the crust with egg wash for an attractive golden finish.
- Allow the galette to cool before serving to thicken the filling.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 of galette)
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
Keywords: strawberry galette, fresh pie crust, summer dessert, rustic tart, homemade crust, fresh strawberries, easy dessert