Mom's Berry Pirog

This super easy and delicious pirog (or pie) is a must try. My mom has been making it for years and it’s a hit every time! I’m personally in love with it because of all the yummy berries inside and I’m sure you will fall in love too. This pirog is so versatile you can switch out the raspberries with really any other berry and come up with your very own creation! So go ahead and make it, you know you want to ;) (side note: I doubled this recipe which is why in some of the pictures the amounts I’m putting in are bigger than what the recipe calls for)

For the pirog:

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

Pinch of salt

1/2 pouch of vanilla sugar (about 4 grams)

3/4 cup whole milk

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1 tbsp baking powder

1 1/4 cups sifted flour

3/4 cups raspberries (or any other berry of your choice)

For the crumble top:

3 tbsp and 1/2 tsp room temperature butter

1/2 tbsp sugar

6-7 tbsp flour

For the pirog:

1.) Preheat your oven to 325°F. Then, butter your 7x7 inch baking dish (make sure that its edges are at least 1 1/2 inches high because this pirog is going to rise) thoroughly making sure that you get the sides as well. Then cut out parchment paper so it fits perfectly on to the base of your dish. I placed my dish on top of the parchment paper and outlined it then cut it out so that I could get a really good fit.

2.) Wash your berries and place them in a sifter over a bowl so that the water on them can run off. Next, crack your eggs into the bowl of a stand mixer with a whisk attachment or into a regular bowl if you are using a hand held mixer. Then add your salt, half pouch of vanilla sugar, and your sugar into the bowl and turn on your mixer to a medium speed and let it mix until it becomes creamy. Next add your milk and vegetable oil into the bowl. Mix for about 2-3 minutes.

3.) While you’re stand mixer is mixing the milk and vegetable oil in with the rest of the ingredients, sift your flour and baking powder into a separate bowl and stir it around so the baking powder can really mix in with the flour. Once the milk and oil is mixed in, add your flour and baking powder into the bowl of your stand mixer 1 tbsp at a time making sure the dry ingredients have mixed in well before adding in the next tbsp.

4.) Once all the flour is well incorporated, pour out your batter into the baking dish and, using a spatula, spread the mixture evenly making sure you don’t have too much batter on any one side.

For the crumble top:

1.) Cut your butter into small pieces and place them into a clean dry bowl. Next, add your sugar and sifted flour into the bowl.

2.) Crumble and mix the ingredients together until they are all well mixed in with each other, then evenly distribute your crumble mixture over your batter. At this time, take your berries out of the sifter and distribute them evenly over the crumble. Bake your pirog for about 35-40 minutes or until the toothpick inserted into the center of your pie comes out clean. (Side note: let your pirog fully cool down before cutting it)