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HomeBakingMock Apple Pie - The Nation Cook dinner

Mock Apple Pie – The Nation Cook dinner


Mock Apple Pie is a traditional quaint dessert made with Ritz crackers as an alternative of apples for a scrumptious pie everybody will (surprisingly) love!

An Simple, Enjoyable Pie Recipe

No apples? No downside! It’s onerous to consider {that a} handful of Ritz crackers can remodel into one thing that appears, smells, and tastes a lot like home made apple pie, however that’s precisely what occurs. I do know it sounds completely ridiculous at first, nevertheless it completely works! The primary time you serve this pie, don’t inform anybody the key ingredient. Let everybody take a chunk first. It’s all the time enjoyable to look at the reactions while you lastly reveal there aren’t any apples in it in any respect!

A slice of Mock Apple Pie above the rest of the pie.

Steadily Requested Questions:

What’s Mock Apple Pie?

Mock Apple Pie is a classic dessert that makes use of Ritz crackers as an alternative of apples to create a filling that surprisingly tastes and appears like conventional apple pie. Because the crackers simmer within the candy cinnamon syrup, they soften into tender items that carefully resemble cooked apples. I really feel prefer it was in all probability made throughout the melancholy period, however I’m not sure on it, it simply offers these melancholy period vibes when individuals had been making do with what they’d.

Does Mock Apple Pie actually style like apple pie?

It actually surprises most individuals. The cinnamon, lemon juice, cream of tartar, and buttery topping work collectively to create a taste that’s remarkably just like home made apple pie. Whereas it isn’t equivalent (as a result of they aren’t really apple!), it’s shut sufficient that many individuals (there’s all the time one who can inform lol) can’t inform the distinction till they’re informed the key ingredient.

Why use Ritz Crackers?

Ritz crackers have a light-weight, flaky texture that softens completely when cooked within the cinnamon syrup. As a substitute of changing into mushy, they take in the liquid and tackle an apple-like consistency.

Why can’t I stir the crackers?

As soon as the crackers go into the syrup, it’s finest to go away them alone. Stirring causes them to interrupt aside an excessive amount of, leading to a mushy filling as an alternative of tender apple-like items.

Can I make Mock Apple Pie forward of time?

Sure! This pie can simply be made a day forward. Merely cowl it as soon as it has cooled utterly and retailer it at room temperature till you’re able to serve. Many individuals discover the flavors change into even higher after the pie has had slightly time to relaxation.

What ought to I serve with this pie?

Mock Apple Pie is scrumptious by itself, nevertheless it’s even higher with just a few easy additions. Attempt serving it with:
A scoop of vanilla ice cream
Recent whipped cream
A drizzle of caramel sauce
A slice of sharp cheddar cheese for a traditional pairing
A scorching cup of espresso or tea

Additionally know that cooling time is necessary. You wish to serve this heat however not scorching. Whether it is too scorching, the filling received’t maintain collectively correctly. I do know it’s powerful however wait the 20 minutes earlier than slicing.  

retailer leftover Mock Apple Pie?

Retailer leftovers loosely lined at room temperature for as much as 2 to three days.
For those who’d wish to preserve it longer, refrigerate it for as much as 5 days. Understand that the topping will soften a bit within the fridge. To convey again a few of its crispness, heat particular person slices in a 300°F oven for a couple of minutes earlier than serving.

Can I freeze Mock Apple Pie?

This pie is finest eaten recent however you’ll be able to freeze it for as much as 3 months. Wrap the pie in two layers of plastic wrap, then wrap it in tin foil. When you’re able to eat, thaw within the fridge for a few hours. Reheat in a preheated oven at 300 levels for 10-Quarter-hour to crisp up the topping.  

A slice of Mock Apple Pie on a dessert plate.

Components Wanted: (See Recipe Card Beneath For The Full Recipe)

  • unbaked pie crust– a refrigerated pie crust works completely right here, however home made pie crust is great too when you have a favourite recipe. This recipe was photographed utilizing a retailer purchased refrigerated crust. If the crust is skinny (lots of retailer purchased ones are very skinny), chances are you’ll discover that the crust is browning an excessive amount of. If that is so, cowl simply the crust with tin foil to guard it whereas the filling continues to bake.  
  • Ritz crackers– the magic ingredient! As they simmer within the cinnamon syrup, the crackers soften into tender items that carefully resemble cooked apples. Use recent crackers for the most effective texture. You’ll want about two sleeves from a family-size field. Don’t go mixing and messing round with them an excessive amount of or they’ll flip to mush.
  • mild brown sugar – you possibly can use darkish brown sugar if that’s all you might have.
  • floor cinnamon – in case you desire apple pie spice, you possibly can use that as an alternative of the bottom cinnamon (apple pie spice already has cinnamon in it so that you don’t want each.)
  • unsalted butter– you’ll be able to completely use salted butter if wanted.
  • water
  • recent lemon juice – Brightens the filling and balances the sweetness whereas serving to recreate the flavour profile of conventional apple pie. I’m all concerning the recent lemon juice. The acidic, bottled stuff simply doesn’t do the trick, keep on with recent right here.
  • granulated sugar
  • cream of tartar– don’t skip this ingredient. It helps create the signature taste and texture that makes Mock Apple Pie so convincing.
Pie crust, Ritz crackers, brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, water, lemon juice, granulated sugar, and cream of tartar.

How To Make Mock Apple Pie

Preheat oven, put together crust

Preheat the oven to 425 levels Fahrenheit. If you’re utilizing a store-bought crust, it often comes into its personal baking dish. If you’re utilizing home made, you’ll wish to match an 8 inch pie plate for this dessert.

Make the topping, put aside

For the topping: In a medium mixing bowl, stir the crushed crackers, brown sugar, floor cinnamon and melted butter collectively till it’s crumbly like moist sand. Set the bowl apart whilst you work on the filling.

A crumb topping being mixed in a bowl.

Make the filling

In a medium saucepan, stir the water, lemon juice, sugar, cream of tartar and cinnamon collectively. Place the saucepan over medium warmth and produce the combination to a boil, stirring often.  

Boil the crackers (don’t stir!)

As soon as the combination is boiling, fastidiously drop the 30 crackers into the pot. Boil for five minutes with out stirring. For those who stir, the crackers will get mushy and break up (resist the urge to stir!) Take away from warmth.

A pan making the Mock Apple Pie filling.

Add filling to pie shell

Seize your unbaked pie crust and frivolously prick it with a fork. Rigorously pour the cracker combination into the unbaked shell.  

Pie crust with fork holes and the pie filling being added.

Add topping and bake

Spoon the topping evenly over the filling. Bake on the center rack at 425F for Quarter-hour then scale back the warmth to 375F levels and bake for a further Quarter-hour.

Crumb topping added to Mock Apple Pie and a baked Mock Apple Pie.

Take away from the oven and funky for 20 minutes earlier than serving heat. 

A slice of Mock Apple Pie above the rest of the pie.

Craving Extra Recipes? 

A slice of Mock Apple Pie being removed from the pan.

Forestall your display screen from going darkish

  • Preheat the oven to 425 levels Fahrenheit.If you’re utilizing a frozen store-bought crust, it often comes into its personal baking dish. Permit it to defrost at room temperature for no less than half-hour. Or if it’s a rolled refrigerated pie crust, you’ll want to press it into an 8-inch pie pan. If you’re utilizing home made crust, you’ll wish to put together that pie crust and press it into an 8 inch pie pan.
  • For the topping: In a medium mixing bowl, stir collectively 30 Ritz crackers, crushed, 1/2 cup mild brown sugar, packed, 1/4 teaspoon floor cinnamon and 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted till it’s crumbly like moist sand. Set the bowl apart whilst you work on the filling.

  • In a medium saucepan, stir collectively 2 cups water, 1 Tablespoon recent squeezed lemon juice, 1 cup granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons cream of tartar and 1 teaspoon floor cinnamon. Place the saucepan over medium warmth and produce the combination to a boil, stirring often.

  • As soon as the combination is boiling, fastidiously drop 30 Ritz crackers into the pot. Boil for five minutes with out stirring. For those who stir, the crackers will get mushy and break up (resist the urge to stir!) Take away from warmth.

  • Seize your unbaked pie crust and frivolously prick it with a fork. Rigorously pour the cracker combination into the unbaked shell.

  • Spoon the topping evenly over the filling.

  • Bake on the center rack at 425F for Quarter-hour then scale back the warmth to 375F and bake for a further Quarter-hour.

  • Take away from the oven and funky for 15-20 minutes earlier than serving heat. Non-compulsory: high with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream!

  • Please consult with my FAQ’s (Steadily Requested Questions) and ingredient record above for different substitutions or for the solutions to the most typical questions.
  • This makes between 8-10 servings.

Course: Dessert

Delicacies: American

Energy: 342kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 2g | Fats: 15g | Sodium: 235mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 32g

“The Nation Cook dinner” shouldn’t be a dietician or nutritionist, and any dietary info shared is an estimate. If calorie depend and different dietary values are necessary to you, we advocate operating the components by means of whichever on-line dietary calculator you like. Energy and different dietary values can range fairly a bit relying on which manufacturers had been used.

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