This recipe originally appeared on a box of Ritz crackers back in the early 1930’s. Rumor has it that the pie was created by pioneers who were on the move during the great depression. The mock apple pie is often called depression pie.
Mock apple pie is surprisingly dead-on in the apple pie flavor department. It’s incredible how much it truly does replicate the flavor of apples, without actually containing any fruit of any kind!
So, what exactly is in this depression pie? We thought you’d never ask! Mock apple pie is a fruitless pie made from a base of sugar, spices, crackers, and lemon juice that mysteriously replicates the flavor of real apple pie.
MYO Mock Apple Pie
Pastry for 9″ pie
36 Ritz Crackers
2 cups of water
1 cup of sugar
2 tsp. cream tartar
2 TBS. lemon juice
Grated rind of 1 lemon
Butter or margarine
1 tsp cinnamon or apple pie spice
Crumb Topping:
1 c. crushed ritz crackers
1/2 cup light brown sugar, tightly packed
1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice
1/2 c butter, melted
- In a small bowl, combine crumb topping ingredients together, mixing well, set aside until needed.
- Roll out the bottom crust of the pastry and fit into a 9 in. pie pan.
- Break Ritz Crackers very coarsely into pastry-lined pan.
- Combine water, sugar, and cream of tartar in a saucepan; boil gently for 15 min.
- Add lemon juice, rind, and cinnamon, cool.
- Pour syrup over crackers, dot generously with butter or margarine, and sprinkle with crumb topping
- Trim edges and flute.
- Bake in a hot oven(400 degrees F.) 30-35 min, until crust is crisp and golden. Serve warm. Cut into 6 to 8 slices.
Alternate Topping Recipe:
Crumb Topping:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon apple pie spice
5 tablespoons salted butter, melted
Combine the flour and apple pie spice and set aside. In a small bowl mix the brown sugar and butter together, then add the flour mixture and mix to form a crumb topping.
