More Thanksgiving Memories

After turkey you HAVE to have pie!

The other day I shared that I loved to cook with my Grandparents and learn new recipes, one being the Red Hot Apples I posted about, another was a pie recipe dating back to the 1930's during the Great Depression...Ritz Cracker Mock Apple Pie. I thought I would share this one with you all as well. 

Now I know what you are thinking, "How can Ritz crackers make an apple pie??" . I had said the same thing when I was a kid. But once I tried it and tasted it, it was true. And all these years later, having not made it since I was a kid, it was just as easy and yummy as I remember! I did of course tweak it a bit, so look for the * symbol where I made changes. 

Ritz Cracker Apple Pie 

Ingredients

pastry for 2-crust 9-inch pie *I used store bought pie dough.

36  RITZ Crackers

2 cups sugar * I used 1 cup white and 1 cup brown

2 tsp. cream of tartar

1 3/4 cups of water

2 Tbsp. lemon juice

2 Tbsp. butter or margarine * I used Best Life margarine

1 tsp. divided in half ground cinnamon * I used apple pie spice, and increased from 1/2 a tsp to 1 full. 

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. 

Roll out half of the pastry and place in 9-inch pie plate. Layer 

crackers flat in crust; set aside.

Mix sugar and cream of tartar in medium saucepan* I added 1/2tsp of the apple pie spice in as well to blend it more fully flavor wise.

 Gradually stir in 1 3/4 cups water until well 

blended. 

Bring to boil on high heat. Reduce heat to low; simmer 15 minutes. Add lemon juice; 

cool. 

Pour syrup over crackers. Dot with butter; sprinkle with (remaining) cinnamon or apple pie spice.

 Roll out remaining pastry and place over pie. Trim, seal, and flute edges. Slit top crust to allow steam to escape.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until crust is crisp and golden. Cool completely

 

Got all my makings together and set out.

Here is my sugar, cream of tarter and 1/2 of apple pie spice...I added a bit more than called for as I like a more intense spice to my pie....but original is just fine if you do not.

Here is the above ingredients with the water added. 

I brought it to a boil, then lowered the heat and simmered the 15 minutes, then added the lemon juice, that gives it the tart apple flavor later on. I took it off the stove and let it cool. 

I had layered the 36 crackers, put the margarine on...did not even make it into small pieces, but you can...I also added just a tad more as I had a end of a stick left. I sprinkled on the remaining apple pie spice ... 

...then I put the top crust om crimped it, and made my slices in the top for steam to escape. 

Almost there...getting browner..I put on the crust ring, if you do not have one, foil works to protect the outer rim from getting too brown.

Wala! Pie! Isn't it pretty??

Doesn't it look like apples?? I already had the missing slice and it tasted just as I remembered and had both the texture as well as the taste of an apple pie and with very little work involved!

Let me know if you try it!