Grandma's Old-fashioned Mock Apple Pie Recipe (You Won't Believe the Secret Ingredient) Pies Desserts

My grandma used to make an "apple pie" that had no apples in yet. Yes, she made a fantastic all-American apple pie, but sometimes she's whip up this mock apple pie made with crackers. It wasn't until I was an adult that I realized how incredibly cool it was that it tasted so much like an apple pie. 

She told us that back in the day (she was born in 1922), you couldn't always get fresh produce, so people would do whatever needed to be done to get delicious food on the table. And that is why we love grandma recipes so much. 

Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 to 50 minutes
Total Time: 55 to 60 minutes
Servings: Makes 1 pie

Ingredients

• pastry for a 2-crust pie (refrigerated pie crusts or homemade pie crusts)
• 36 butter crackers, coarsely broken up, about 1 3/4 cups (my grandma used Ritz crackers)
• 2 cups water
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• zest from 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Here's how to make it:

1. Put the first pie crust into a 9-inch pie plate. Flute the edges. Put the broken crackers into the pie crust.
2. In a saucepan over high heat, add the water, sugar and cream of tartar. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the lemon juice and zest. Cool the mixture.
3. Pour the cooled syrup over the crackers. Dot with the butter and sprinkle with the cinnamon. 
4. Cover the pie with the other pie crust. Trim, seal and flute the edges. Cut a slit in the top. 
5. Bake in a preheated 425-degree F oven for about 30 to 35 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Cool before serving.

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