Celeb Chef Alex Guarnaschelli's Secret To Top-Tier Blueberry Pie

Celebrity chef Alex Guarnaschelli is well known for her appearances on shows like Iron Chef, and her line of cookbooks. She has oodles of tips for the average cook to take their dishes to the next level, including classic desserts such as pie. Guarnaschelli's secret to a better blueberry pie is one simple ingredient: blueberry jam. Simply mix 12 to 14 ounces of a high-quality blueberry jam into the filling, then bake as you normally would. This extra step lets the blueberry flavor really pop.

This trick is good for more than just blueberry pie, as any fruit pie can benefit from a scoop of complementary jam. Since blueberries, raspberries, and sometimes blackberries are the fruits found in a razzleberry pie, adding a high-quality version of these jams to the pie filling will easily boost the berry flavor. What's more, there are other flavor combinations to play with when it comes to pairing pie and jam.

You might already be familiar with using rich ingredients like cream cheese to upgrade cherry pie, but one additive you might not expect is red currant jam. Red currants are small berries that have a flavor similar to raspberries or cranberries, making them a great complement to other red fruit like cherries. When added to cherry pie, red currant jam adds a tart flavor that enhances the sweetness of the cherries, and gives depth to the flavor profile.

Another good example is a delicious chocolate pie paired with marmalade. Chocolate and orange are a classic combo, after all, and we can't let fruit pies have all the fun. Spread marmalade on the bottom of your pie crust before adding the chocolate filling, then add some whipped cream and more marmalade on top.

Finally, when it comes to the classic apple pie, you would be hard-pressed to find a better addition than apricot jam. Apricots have a sweet and tart taste, as do apples, making the two a great combination that's graced many a dessert. Just spread apricot jam on the bottom of your apple pie crust before adding the filling. Serve it warm with vanilla ice cream — your taste buds will thank you.