When many people think of preserves, they envision the classic Bonne Maman jar topped with the gingham checkered lid. Just the sight of that Bonne Maman on the grocery store shelf is enough to make many of us start craving scones, toast, and crumpets,
But as Food & Wine reports, soon enough, it’ll put us in mind of holiday desserts, too. The brand has just launched a new line of ready-to-use pie fillings for convenient holiday baking, and they sound like a great solution for anyone intimidated by pastry projects.
The new Bonne Maman Pie Fillings are debuting in three classic flavors: Apple, Blueberry, and Cherry — and the press release notes that they’re “perfect for creating homemade pies that will impress family and friends.” (Let’s be honest, that’s the secret goal of any baking project.)
Like any canned fruit filling, these are easy to use — simply pour into the desired crust and bake — but unlike many competitors, these glass-jarred fillings are free of high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, and artificial coloring. The brand also touts the “large pieces of premium fruits” that add both texture and flavor to each jar. Indeed, fans of the brand will notice that very little separates the ingredient label on the pie filling from the one on the classic jar of preserves; the pie filling is just a little thicker so as to hold up in the baking process without getting runny, as jam would.
Bonne Maman determined that 2024 was the right time to bring this time- and labor-saving innovation to market. “As consumers balance the demands of work, school, and home life, they are increasingly seeking out convenient ways to simplify food preparation,” a Bonne Maman spokesperson tells Food & Wine. “At-home cooking and baking have also grown more intentional over the last couple of years, and we are seeing shoppers gravitating towards more premium products with simple, high-quality ingredients they can trust.”
According to the company, pre-made pie filling is a “relatively untapped” grocery category, with few options on the market that really prioritize and showcase the fruit. “The new Bonne Maman Pie Fillings are poised to directly fill that need,” they said.
The fillings will be available nationally at Stop & Shop, The Fresh Market, Sprouts, and Gelson’s, among other major retailers, and they can be purchased online, too. Note that they can only be ordered via the website as a set of three fillings for $50, whereas they can be purchased individually in-store for a suggested retail price of $9.99 per 21-ounce jar. For those doing the math, the reason the online kit costs more is because it also includes a Bonne Maman Baking Set complete with a whisk, wooden spatula, ladle, wooden spoon, and branded ceramic utensil holder. That usually retails for $40, so throwing in three fillings for a total cost of $50 is both a solid discount and a nice gift idea for the holiday shopping season.
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