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The original Faux Apple Pie recipe is the stuff of legends. But sometimes even legends can be improved.
I’d heard about the famous “mock apple pie” for years, but never having made it for myself, I was more than skeptical. At a book signing in Knoxville, Tennessee a few years back a precious older lady pulled me aside and told me that she’d lost her recipe for mock apple pie and asked if I had a recipe I’d share with her. As soon as I got home, it was time to get into the kitchen and that is how my Faux Apple Pie came to be.
I found the classic recipe but it seemed to be lacking a bit so I added more crackers (to make a fuller pie), and amped up the flavor with the addition of vanilla, a little bit of butter, more lemon juice, and the spices I would normally use in an apple pie. I also changed up the assembly of the pie, letting the crackers soak in the syrup a bit before adding the filling to the pie crust to keep it from becoming soggy. After all of that, I held my breath while it baked, hoping that my home economics degree would pay off.
The result has managed to fool every single person who has tasted it. Even after making it, I can’t help but feel disbelief every time I have a bite. Go ahead and give up on convincing people the small bits inside this pie aren’t apples. This is just one of those kitchen miracles that I encourage you to try for yourself!
You’ll need: a package of rolled pie crusts, some lemon juice, Ritz crackers, sugar, all purpose flour, cinnamon, vanilla, allspice, cream of tartar, and butter.
As always, the printable version of this recipe is at the bottom of this post.
Preheat oven to 425. Roll out one crust in the bottom of a 9 inch pie plate and set aside.
Place 1.5 cups water, two cups sugar, flour, cream of tartar, cinnamon, and allspice in a medium sized saucepan over medium high heat and cook, stirring constantly, until it comes to a boil.
Once it reaches a boil, reduce heat and simmer for five minutes. Remove from heat. Add in lemon juice, 3 tablespoons butter, and vanilla. Stir. Set aside and allow to cool slightly.
Coarsely break the crackers and place them in a medium sized, heat proof bowl.
Pour syrup over the crackers and stir until well coated.
Allow to soak for five minutes.
Pour the cracker mixture into the pie crust.
Top with remaining crust and crimp the edges with your fingertips or a fork to seal. Cut a few vents in the top of the pie and place on a rimmed baking sheet.
Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a microwave safe bowl and brush over the top of the pie crust. Sprinkle with remaining sugar.
Bake until golden, 30-35 minutes.
This is delicious on it’s own or topped with your favorite vanilla ice cream.
Prepare to be amazed!
Faux Apple Pie has managed to fool every single person who has tasted it. Even after making it, I can't help but feel disbelief every time I have a bite.
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: apple
Servings: 4
Calories: 440kcal
Ingredients
- 1 package 14.1 ounces rolled pie crusts (the box had two pie crusts in it)
- 2 cups plus one tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 4 tablespoons lemon juice
- 5 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 60 Ritz Crackers about two sleeves
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425. Roll out one crust in the bottom of a 9 inch pie plate and set aside.
Place 1.5 cups water, two cups sugar, flour, cream of tartar, cinnamon, and allspice in a medium sized saucepan over medium high heat and cook, stirring constantly, until it comes to a boil.
Once it reaches a boil, reduce heat and simmer for five minutes. Remove from heat. Add in lemon juice, 3 tablespoons butter, and vanilla. Stir. Set aside and allow to cool slightly.
Coarsely break the crackers and place them in a medium sized, heat proof bowl. Pour syrup over the crackers and stir until well coated. Allow to soak for five minutes.
Pour the cracker mixture into the pie crust. Top with remaining crust and crimp the edges with your fingertips or a fork to seal. Cut a few vents in the top of the pie and place on a rimmed baking sheet.
Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a microwave safe bowl and brush over the top of the pie crust. Sprinkle with remaining sugar.
Bake until golden, 30-35 minutes. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Calories: 440kcal
“Jealousy is counting someone else’s blessings instead of you own.” ~Unknown
Check out my Faux Pecan Pie recipe here!
FAQs
The trick to this pie is all in the flavoring. When you break up buttery Ritz crackers and cover them with lemon and vanilla flavored simple syrup, then sprinkle them with cinnamon, the resulting filling is quite similar in texture to a soft and tender apple pie.
What years was the recipe for mock apple pie commonly found on the back of the cracker box? ›
Nabisco premiered Ritz crackers in 1934 during the depression. From what I've read, most people couldn't afford to buy the crackers, much less the apples, then. During World War II, Nabisco printed the recipe for Mock Apple Pie on their cracker box and it remained there most of the time until 1993.
Why did my apple pie turn to applesauce? ›
Softer apples like Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, or Macintosh break down too much in the heat of the oven, basically turning into applesauce. So avoid those, and opt for a variety that's firm and crisp like Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala, or Honeycrisp. They'll turn velvety soft while still retaining their shape.
Where were the modern version of apple pies invented? ›
According to Food52, apple pie originated in England. It arose from culinary influences from France, the Netherlands, and the Ottoman Empire as early as 1390—centuries before the Pilgrims set foot on Plymouth Rock. Eventually, apple pie was brought to the colonies by European settlers, where the dish quickly caught on.
What is Dolly Parton pie? ›
Calling all Dolly Parton fans! This dessert legendary holiday walnut pie is a delicious and easy play on a pecan pie using walnuts instead of pecans. A bit of sugar, corn syrup, and melted butter comes together as a smooth, subtle filling. Save the recipe for Thanksgiving, we are sure you'll enjoy it.
What does the word mock mean in mock apple pie? ›
The fact is that Ritz mock apple pie is derived from earlier recipes for mock apple pie, dating back to the 19th century, that used soda crackers or saltines in place of apples. Mock mince pies were made with similar ingredients: crackers, sugar, and spices.”
What is the oldest pie in the world? ›
The Ancient Egyptians were the first to invent a dish close to what we know as a pie today. They had a honey filling covered in a crusty cake made from oats, wheat, rye or barley. A recipe for chicken pie was also discovered on a tablet carved prior to 2000 BC.
What country made the first apple pie? ›
“In fact, the first recorded recipe for apple pie was written in 1381 in England, and called for figs, raisins, pears, and saffron in addition to apples,” she writes.
What pies did they eat in medieval times? ›
Fast forward to Medieval times and pies had definitely become a thing. Fillings at this point included “…beef, lamb, wild duck, magpie, pigeon – spiced with pepper, currants or dates.” The Roman habit of using pastry as a vessel to cook the filling was commonplace.
Why does applesauce have black spots? ›
The black spots are probably sooty blotch or flyspeck. Sooty blotch and flyspeck are two different fungal diseases that often occur together on apples. Sooty blotch appears as dark brown to black, ½ inch or larger smudges on the surface of the apple. Flyspeck produces clusters of shiny, round, black dots.
Sprinkle dried breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes, or other types of cereal, on the bottom crust before filling and baking in the oven.
What are the three best apples to make apple pie with? ›
Jonagold or Jonathan.
Crunchy and sweet-tart, Jonagolds are a cross between Jonathan and Golden Delicious apples. They're one of pastry chef Paola Velez's favorite apples to use in pie along with Granny Smith and Honeycrisp.
What is the national dessert of the United States? ›
The Delicacy Apple Pie - is the Official “National dessert of the United States of America” respectively. American Apple Pies are also sometimes considered the national dishes of the US.
What is the difference between Dutch apple pie and apple pie? ›
What's the Difference Between Dutch Apple Pie and Apple Pie? Unlike traditional apple pie with a double crust or lattice topping, Dutch apple pie has a crumbly streusel topping, made from sugar, flour, and butter, that covers the delicious apple pie filling.
What were medieval pies made of? ›
In medieval England, they were called pyes, and instead of being predominantly sweet, they were most often filled with meat — beef, lamb, wild duck, magpie pigeon — spiced with pepper, currants or dates.
Why was shoofly pie made? ›
One theory about the origins of shoofly pie is that it was developed by the Pennsylvania Dutch as a way to use up leftover ingredients, such as molasses and flour. Another theory is that it was created as a dessert that could be easily transported by farmers who were often on the go.
How was the first apple pie made? ›
But the apple pie isn't a uniquely American dish either, Upton writes. “In fact, the first recorded recipe for apple pie was written in 1381 in England, and called for figs, raisins, pears, and saffron in addition to apples,” she writes.
