Red White and Blue Pie (Vintage Miss American Pie)

The Fourth of July is such a fun holiday, and I absolutely LOVE to make red, white, and blue food to celebrate it. Which is why I was so happy to stumble across this Miss American Pie recipe in my mom's old recipe boxes.

This pie has it all: easy ingredients, little or no baking required (depends upon which crust you want), and a dessert with beautiful red, white, and blue layers that will make everyone cheer.

I made mine in a deep-dish pie pan, using canned pie filling and a store-bought crust. Because who needs complicated in summer?

Ingredients needed for this 4^th of July Pie

• Pie crust
• Blueberry pie filling
• Cherry pie filling
• Cream cheese
• Cool Whip
• Powdered sugar

How to Make this Red White and Blue Pie

The only baking needed is for the crust, and if you use a graham cracker crust you skip any baking at all! The original recipe calls for a 10-inch pie which I didn't want. So instead, I made it in a deep dish 9-inch pie plate and it worked beautifully. The layers are a little thicker with this pan and look great!

I used a store-bought crust, in the spirit of keeping things easy, but you could certainly use a homemade pie crust if you prefer. Once the crust is baked, set it aside to cool completely.

Start with the blueberry layer. Spoon it onto the cooled crust. Then place the pie plate in the refrigerator to set for at least 30 minutes.

Beat the room temperature cream cheese with a hand mixer and start adding the powdered sugar, a little at a time, until all is incorporated and the mixture is smooth. Then, fold in about 6 ounces of the whipped topping. A standard sized Cool Whip container is 8 ounces, so add ¾ of the tub and stir to combine. (Reserve the rest of the Cool Whip for topping the pie when you serve)

Spread the cream cheese mixture on top of the blueberry layer. Be sure to spread it all the way to the crust. Again place the pie in the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes.

Gently spread the cherry pie filling over the top of the cream cheese layer.

Chill the final pie for at least 4 hours before cutting to serve.

Why You'll Love This Vintage Red White and Blue Pie

• The Nostalgia Factor: this recipe came straight from my mom's old recipe boxes and it's a great old-fashioned pie that celebrates the red, white and blue! For anyone old enough to remember the Don McLean song, I believe this pie was named after that song. If you know it, you'll find yourself humming the song all day!
• The Easy "semi-homemade" Factor: by using canned pie fillings and whipped topping, the active prep time is only about 20 minutes, with lots of down time in between layers. Anyone can fit this into their day!
• The Gorgeous Factor: The deep and distinct stripes will look absolutely spectacular on a holiday table! 4th of July, Memorial Day, or any patriotic holiday!
• The Delicious Factor: this pie gets a LOT of wows, not just from the appearance but also the taste. That cream cheese layer adds the perfect richness to help balance the sweetness of the pie fillings. It's a winner!

Recipe Variations/Ingredient Substitutions for Layered Blueberry and Cherry Pie

• For the crust, I used a store-bought crust and rolled it out a little to make it fit in a deep-dish pie plate. Even so, I experienced the dreaded "shrinkage".  A homemade pie crust would probably have behaved better. A homemade graham cracker crust would also work well, I think.
• For the fruit layers, the original recipe I have called for canned blueberry filling but a homemade cherry filling. I used canned for both but I do think homemade would work better for the top layer, because it would be easier to make it firmer and more sliceable. Mine tended to run down the sides of the slices, blurring the line between the red and white. I just need to get my hands on some fresh cherries and blue berries to give it a try!
• If you can't find pie filling in these flavors, you could substitute with blackberry, raspberry and/or strawberry pie filling if that is more available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this pie ahead of time?

Yes, once assembled it needs a minimum of 4 hours in the fridge to chill and set. I left mine to set overnight before slicing. 24 hours in advance of serving would be ideal.

Can I freeze Miss American Pie?

No, freezing is never a good idea when dairy is involved. The cream cheese layer would have an altered texture and the fruit layers would get all runny.

How do I store leftovers?

Cover the pie plate loosely with plastic wrap or a pie dome and keep it refrigerated for up to 3 to 4 days.

What to do with Leftover Whipped Topping

Use the 2 extra ounces of whipped topping to decorate the top of the pie or simply dollop some on each slice. I made a star using a cookie cutter as a mold, but the simpler route is just to add a little to each piece for the perfect finishing touch.

📖 Recipe