Mr NQN and I were sitting down and having dinner with my parents when he casually mentioned that he was thinking of doing the half marathon.
We all stared at him and put our cutlery down.
Swallowing hard we all asked in unison “Why?”
If there was any doubt I was their child it was all too apparent in the matters of all things sporty and expending energy. Mr NQN tried to explain to us how it was a physical challenge and that it would be an achievement to run a half marathon.
“But you might get hurt” my mother said.
“You might get run over” my father said.
“You might have to actually run” I said.
Fast forward to a few weeks later when I decided to make a Ritz cracker apple pie. I thought it was Queen Viv that had told me about it but turns out it wasn’t (edited to add it was @TudorGrrrl on twitter). Well, whoever it was said that they had tried one and apparently it’s quite a famous recipe. It is when the filling, an entirely apple-less concoction somehow goes from looking like crushed Ritz crackers to soft apple pie filling.
“Why are you making a mock apple pie out of Ritz crackers when we have apples in the fridge?” Mr NQN asked me
“Because I like making weird stuff and because I can” I answered (for evidence see Exhibit 1: Bacon Jam).
I was of course intrigued by this recipe. By the mere fact that somehow, slightly savoury Ritz crackers somehow morphed into an apple filling with the addition of a sugar syrup. Surely this was as close to culinary sea monkeys as you could get. And my thoughts immediately turned to who on earth discovered this in the first place and how. The many comments from people that had tried the recipe attested to the fact that somehow under that pie carapace, something happens and the crackers turn into an apple filling. Many loved the fact that it meant that they didn’t have to peel and core apples anymore.
It goes from this filling…
The recipe was very straightforward. There was the pie pastry and in the spirit of utter convenience I used the pre rolled frozen stuff. I just needed to crumble the crackers and then cover it with a cream of tartar and sugar syrup and then top it with the round of puff pastry. I baked it hoping for nothing. I was even more skeptical after seeing it in its “raw” state. Once baked I took it out and sliced a piece off and dug my fork in.
I know many of you will say that you’d rather make it with apple. And of course I would too, after all there is nutrition value in apples that doesn’t exist in crackers. But aren’t you the slightest bit curious? I was so I dug my fork in and took it to my mouth and lo and behold it tasted just like apple! Certainly it was very sweet and very soft but give it to anyone and they wouldn’t stop their fork reaching to their mouth and back to the plate. I’ve reduced the sugar in the recipe to 1.5 cups instead of the original 2 cups as I felt that it was overly sweet but apart from that I wouldn’t change a thing. It is calorific though and that is one downfall but it is perfect for someone running a half marathon. I told Mr NQN that I would be cheering from the sidelines with a slice of Ritz cracker …ahem apple pie in one hand.
So tell me Dear Reader, do you like making odd recipes or do you stay safe with recipes? And if you do try unusual things, how does your family feel about them?
To this!
Mock Apple Pie
Recipe adapted from the Kraft site
- 1 sheet of shortcrust pastry
- 1 sheet of puff pastry
- 36 RITZ Crackers, coarsely broken (about 1-3/4 cups crumbs)
- 1.5 cups sugar
- 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- Finely grated peel of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons butter cut into small cubes
- 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 egg yolk mixed with 1 teaspoon of water
1. Preheat oven to 220°C/425°F. Place a sheet of the shortcrust pastry in a greased 9-inch pie plate. Place a sheet of foil on top of the base and fill with dried beans or ceramic weights and bake blind for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Take our foil and beans and weights and place cracker crumbs in the crust and set aside.
2. Mix the sugar and cream of tartar in a medium saucepan. Gradually stir in 1 3/4 cups water and stir until well blended. Bring to boil on high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes. Add lemon peel and juice and allow to cool. Pour the syrup over cracker crumbs. Dot with butter; sprinkle with cinnamon. Cut out a circle of puff pastry to fit on top of the pie and place over pie. Trim; seal and flute edges. Slit top crust to allow steam to escape or use a ceramic pie bird as I did. Brush with the egg yolk mixed with water.
3. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until crust is crisp and golden. Cool completely.
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97 Comments | Add your own
It does look like the filling is made of apples. A very original pie. Yummy! Quite calorific, though… ;-P
Cheers,
Rosa
Interesting…but strange. I’m glad you’re here to experiment for us!
(1) Wow, there aren’t any apples in this at all!? It still looks delicious.
(2) Good on Mr. NQN! I’m planning to run my first half this summer, and am really nervous/excited. Probably about as nervous/excited as I would be making a mock-apple pie for the first time! Ha.
(3) Hooray for trying something new just because you can. Now *that*’s the spirit.
hahaha, it is quite funny really that someone decided to use crackers instead of apples!
I’ve heard of this recipe for mock apple pie, but never made it or tasted it. I’ve always been curious, though, if it actually tasted like apple pie. But I guess if you have all the requisite spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, you can fool anyone.
Your conversation with Mr.NQN reminds me of my husband asking me a month ago, “Honey, if I did a 24-hour bike ride, would you stay up for it and cheer me on?” Me: “Are you crazy?! No!” Hah. You’re obviously a better wife than I.
If I hadn’t seen it here I wouldn’t have believed it … I like making unusual things too, and this did pique my curiosity.
move over heston..
jane
I admit that I find this really strange, usually I put crushed savioardi or amaretti biscuits with fruit as a filler, but I am Italian after all
!
Ciao
A.
I am intrigued but it’s in a ‘my-face-is-involuntarily-wincing-in-distaste’ kinda way. Good on you for experimenting, but for the love of food, don’t eat it!
Oh my….
I am very pleased your tried and blogged this but I don’t thing I would eat biscuits wrapped in pastry with a bunch of sugar added.
I would feel my waistline expanding as I breathed in the aroma of the pastry.
LOL about the half marathon, that was my reaction when Mr GG announced he wanted to do the local one!! WHY!!
“We can just drive down the beach if you want a swim sweetie”
I have to admit I’ve been skeptical about the Ritz cracker pie for some time now. So fun to read that it actually tastes good (from someone I trust)! xoxo Mum
RITZ crackers? Who would have thought.. But it sure does look good and tasty.. mmm
I am planning to bake a vegan chocolate torte on the weekend – I wonder if my family will even realise!!!
Utterly and completely intrigued…. I always wonder how recipes like this come to fruition and what makes people decide to try them out in the first place… love it!
Oooooh exciting!! I love out-of-the-ordinary recipes!!! I’m soooooo tempted to try this recipe. How can it be? Apple pie from Ritz crackers?!!
Wow. Never heard of a pie that uses shortcrust pastry and puff pastry. Never heard of a pie that uses RITZ Crackers. And finally never seen that ceramic pie bird before. I learnt so many new things today.
That is weird! It seriously looks like an apple pie! No, I can’t say I have ever made anythink this odd but curiousity is a funny thing!
Love your parents reaction to Mr NQN re half marathon. My Mum is SO like that too lol.
I love the look and sound of this pie. It really does look like apple. How freaky.
Great post x
When I first saw the title of your blog this morning Lorraine, my mind jumped to Apple Turnovers with Mock cream. As a youngster, I was fascinated by Mock cream, loving it in apple turnovers but perplexed by it’s composition knowing it wasn’t real cream.My dad used to work shiftwork and would often bring home an apple turnover for me from his allocated kip. Such fond memories.
Not faring well with failure I have to say that I like to make ‘tried & true’ recipes, even though at times things can go horribly wrong.
When I attempt an unusual recipe, I wait with baited breath for their responses and breathe a sigh of relief if all goes well. I just don’t like waste you see and there’s nothing worse than having to bin something that has failed.No need to woryy though as we have you to do all the legwork!
PS Yes, I’d be one to say I’d prefer to use real apples.
I’ve heard about this pie for as long as I can remember (and I’m no spring chicken) but I’ve never actually made it. It used to be on the Ritz cracker box and I used to beg my mom to make it, but she always opted for the real thing. She did always tell me the story though, of how a neighbor-who had the reputation of being the best baker in the county- once entered it into the county fair and won a blue ribbon for it.
Well, that is the weirdest thing I ever saw! Interesting ,but definitely weird. Like Celia, I’m glad you are out there investigating this stuff for us!
P. Allen Smith’s recipe for an antique Jam cake is available and YES the stranger the better; love this one, though!Thanx for the rambling post leading up to it!
This is way too unbelievable not to try. Off to buy crackers…
I always try strange recipes. My curiosity will always get the better of me.
I was intrigued by the title and even more so after reading. i will be making this!
I usually stick to the recipe the first time and then modify after that. This pie looks interesting – in a good way.
As an American as well as an Australian, I have eaten mock apple pie in my youth but it’s not my favorite. I much prefer apple pies with apples in them.
When I was a kid this was touted as the pie to make when you had no ingredients for a real pie.
my boyfriend can BOMB a whole box ful or ritz crackers in 12.7 seconds flat. He is going to LOVE this pie! Thanks for sharing.. the crazier the better!!
“Because I like making weird stuff and because I can”
You are so funny, L.
Now this might be something I can acually make…and I still can’t believe the taste morphes into Apple. Why? So Odd.
but It looks sooooooo good.
You can give Mr. NQN a slice as he finishes the race…or better yet, run it with him!!!! xx
Wow – magic! This looks so yummy! Now if we could only get chocolate to turn into broccoli, my diet would be complete.
That’s a little bit of crazy – I wonder what the cream of tartar does to the cracker? Or indeed, I wonder what on earth is in the cracker to turn it to something like this…?
Whilst saying ‘Interesting for sure!’ may I take the Fifth Amendment on this occasion?
! I’m all for people fulfilling their personal challenges – if Mr NQN wants to run the half-marathon, am certain he’ll get a lot of satisfaction out of it! 
! My husband dear #1 began running ‘City-to-Surf’ (annual event in Sydney) in his mid-forties & enjoyed it for two decades! No, as you can see, ‘weird’ recipes hold no attraction for me, but during any given week I probably ‘travel’ to about 5-6 countries with my recipes! lol 
!
thats very cool!
That is truly bizarre! Fascinating, but I have to say I’m in the camp of “rather make it with apples”!
Have you ever stopped to think about some weird and wonderful things in this world, it’s usually followed by a comment “How and who thought of this !!” Was someone up at 2 in the morning saying,now what can I make with a packet of Ritz crackers? I know, I’ll bake a pie and tell everyone it’s all apples
It was ME! I told you about it – it’s in my PIE cookbook and the kids and I have always thought “Eww. Weird. Yum”… So cool you made it!
I can’t believe it’s not apple! I love your little ceramic bird, so cute!! so what do u think of the latest season of true blood?
Hi Christine-Thanks! I’m loving the new season of True Blood! I read that a lot of people didn’t like the first episode but I loved the twist and am just adoring it all over again. I thought last night’s episode was hilarious and how Eric lost his shirt-oops! That sort of thing happens in HBO land
How about you?
Wow, whoever thought of that recipe is crackers! I would never think that you could make mock apple from biscuits. Very intriguing…
Since no one has answered the question, I feel really old. My Mum always told me that this pie came into being during the war because rations were tight and you had to bake with what was available and apples weren’t always easy to come by. I don’t know if this is the true origin but she said people (herself included) did make it during the war.
Thanks Colleen! That is great to know
Mock apple pie with ritz crackers….now I’ve heard it all! As you say, who the hell comes up with these things? How amazing that it actually worked and tasted like apple pie and looks like apple pie in your photos.
I love the phrase “culinary sea monkeys” *laughs*.
A little off the pie topic, but just wanted to join in on the true blood conversation! I too, am loving the latest season!! Hopefully this season focuses a lot on Eric
Hi Leanne-I think you’re in luck! From what I hear there’s going to be plenty of (half naked) Eric!
Oh lorraine!! you’ve just made my day!
and reading about faux apple pie had already made my day interesting…
I tried doing the american thing the other day, being a newcomer in the US and all, and run around the block. 500 meters later, I stopped being silly, and I went back home panting to make myself some food.
Amazing, I am intrigued by how it works. The filling looks just like any average apple pie would. Thanks for posting and sharing this.
Crazy! I’ve seen this recipe before but am still amazed it works — but yea I think I’ll stick with the healthier apples ;p
So weird! The first person to try this must have been desperate for apple pie!
Mad, mad, wonderfully mad! I’d read about mock apple pie before on the “Serious Eats” site, but never really considered making one! Yours looks perfectly gorgeous, though – and those pie-birds in the middle are so cute.
As for mad things in the kitchen, well, half of what I post were all results of nutty experiments. ;P I will, however, give James McAvoy’s 20-minute apricot-honey cookie recipe a bash – even if he didn’t give the measurements or the oven temp. Fangirl madness? Definitely. Foodie fangirl madness. Even more so.
That’s quite impressive! And bizarre! I would say I like less ordinary recipes but generally don’t go to this extreme. My hubby has boring tastes though so I don’t get to experiment as much as i’d like.
As for the marathon, i’m with you. A friend of mine does ironman (woman) comps & triathlons all the time & thinks nothing of getting up at 5am on a weekend & paying good money to go & run, swim etc. I suspect she’s a little mad
Ah, I’ve heard of this recipe before! I wonder whether throwing ritz into my oatmeal would make for apple pie oatmeal…. doubt it
Gosh, people who run half-marathons… I whinge when I have to walk twenty minutes to work and back!
Brilliant! Now, you wouldn’t have the recipe for the pavlova/meringue that uses Jatz crackers? (I think it had hazelnuts in it)
that is truly bizarre!
Because I can- makes absolutely perfect sense to me! People have asked me that smae question about becoming a chef when I’m gluten free and lactose free. What’s life without a challenge or two? I can only imagine how this completly gluten filled pie would taste, but the texture sure looks about right. Good for you, and good for Mr NQN too!
Culinary sea monkeys! LOL!!!!
Coincidently on Playschool this morning they made apple pie, to which Miss O announced that she would like to make an apple pie too! She was very excited about picking the apples and [shame] pre-rolled pastry from the freezer section.
I always wondered about the mock chicken sandwiches in my CWA cookbook…..
My grandmother told me about this recipe years ago. She said people made it when they were short on fresh ingredients. I believe she told me she first had it during the Depression. (Made by her Mom of course.)Thanks for sharing, it brought back memories of that conversation with my grandmother.
That is so weird. My thoughts were exactly the same HOW on earth did someone come up with this recipe. I’m imagining it was a chef with a kind of ‘Mocolate’ job like Monica in Friends did once.
I did my first half marathon this year and absolutely loved it. Go Mr NQN!
Culinary Sea Monkeys? *snort* too funny! But yeah I so remember this Mock Apple Pie from way back when when cooking like this was so suburban chic. It actually looks delicious though not sure anyone in my house would eat it if they knew what was in it. And it is my husband who makes weird things.
The only mock apple pie I’ve had before was made with chokos. Ritz crackers were an ingredient in an amazing meringue torte that was all the rage on the local dinner party circuit in the early 70′s.
I LOVE trying new things! & my family is always up for it
this looks awesome!
Heidi xo
Incredible! I agree, I also want to know how on earth someone came up with this…?
I do love trying different things but they don’t always meet with approval. I have horrific memories of Mum making mock chicken when we were young, as a sandwich spread. I have no idea what was in it, but it was foul/not fowl.
I’m still not sure I believe it! But then again there was that rumour that McDonalds apple pies were actually made from chokoes, maybe they were really Ritz crackers??…
I ‘love’ weird and unusual recipes that taste great! Think u should start a section just for such unusual recipes eg your bacon jam n this mock apple pie! Am sure there are many more ‘followers’ like me who intend to try them out.Thanks.Keep them coming!
Thank you for making this because I was so curious and I would have had to rush home and try it myself just to prove to the world it was impossible. And boy would I have been wrong.
Culinary sea monkies..ha!
I love how ya’ll were all like…why to the marathon announcement!
I’m curious about this pie.
I’ve always wanted to try this! I needn’t bother expressing my unholy love of carbs-upon-carbs
I definitely do not play safe…made a lot of mistakes and shall continue to make them. When they work, they are great.
Very intriguing! I love the before and after shots. Have an urge to try it!
I love the idea of changing recipes and adding odd things. I rarely do it, I’m just too safe! Must change!
Great that you used RITZ in this apple pie. Bet that salty is sooo good with the sweet
I remember happily from childhood when my mother got excited about this recipe. Thanks for reminding us about it!
Lorraine you have gone bananas! (or apples!) at first I thought you were making the crust out of crackers..but then you go and do something so awesome and fun like this, well done!
Very ‘out of the box’ thinking…A bit on the indulgent side but then hey ho! I do believe that if we eat well 80% of the times, then we are allowed to be naughty 20% of tht times..nice space…
Love this! Weird and wonderful. I know someone that makes meatless meatballs with Ritz crackers. Ritz, the all-purpose cracker.
my goodness what an interesting recipe, I will definately have to try it.
Yes I do try different recipes, and I do experiment when cooking, it can get so boring otherwise
My husband loves carrot cake, but I’ve never tried to bake it because I am just plain lazy about shredding so many carrots. I came across a recipe that uses carrot baby food instead! I’m inspired by you to give that shortcut a shot.
I have heard of mock apple pie for years, and though intrigued, I have never tried it. After your post and photos, I’d like to!
It actually looks like apple. What an amazing pie.
Haha I love it! I’m always up for a weird recipe. I made mock whitefish out of mashed potato and a rice flour mix the other day… crumbed and fried with lemon. Loved it.
another pie! sounds intriguing – weird and wonderful is definitely my thang! I think being vegetarian makes me love trying kooky faux meat recipes – but I also love colours and fun recipes! So I will side with you on weird food over physical exertion! Easy choice!
That sounds amaZing. I will have to try as I love the idea of apple pie, just not a fan of the texture of cooked apples.
For the most part I tend to stick with safe, but I am getting more adventurous. I like to experiment during holidays.
As for the half, did mr NQN run it? It is great fun. And you could eat two of these pies, ice cream included, guilt-free after running one
Just wondering if you blind baked the base? The pastry looks quite dark in the photos?
H Kahli-Yes I did and I updated the recipe to show that. The original recipe didn’t bake the pastry blind so you could probably make it without blind baking the pastry first
That was fast! Thanks Lorraine. I’m making it for the girls at work because who can resist fake apple pie?
Haha indeed!
I’ve wanted to try that Mock Apple Pie for ages! And yes, I’ve made some interesting things…Tiramisu made from Twinkies…a wonderful fudge type stuff from Paula Dean with Velveeta in it (yes cheese! but it was really good).
Wow this is kinda completely crazy, and even thou I think up stuff all the time to bake I have to wonder who would think Ritz crackers/Apple Pie….Yes I must create a recipe. Always love your little stories and your answer to Mr NQN Because I like making weird stuff and I can made me laugh. hehe although I don’t really think the bacon jam was totally weird.
But you might have to actually run!!! LOL. Love it. Im with you sister. Stuff the running!
Great recipe, Im crazy about the weird and wacky stuff and the family usually love it.
Haha, I love your comment about the marathon (you might have to actually run!).
And like you, I love trying weird flavour combinations (currently obsessed with pears and stinky blue cheese together on pizza) and always love your experimental stuff on here. But even by my adventurous standards, this is incredible (I mean, it starts of looking so disgusting and artery-clogging, but looks JUST like apple pie at the beginning). I am so curious, but don’t think I should try this (in case I love it and get addicted and, as a result, obese…) – after all, the only reason I justify eating so much cake/pie is that it at least has fruit in it
Briony xx
I’ve made this TWICE now…It is so yummy, I reduced the sugar even more today though- Thanks again for the recipe xox
That’s brilliant Sandie! I’m so glad that you like it!
How much sugar did you put in out of curiosity? I just want to know how low one can go with the sugar without losing the apple flavour 
Of course I would rather make regular apple pie and I do quite often, but I’m very curious to try this.
if i hadn’t tried it myself, i’d never believe it. whoever decided to try this first is a)nuts and b)a hero.
How interesting. I would have never thought that Ritz crackers would turn into ‘apples’… I must say it certainly looks like apples post-baking.
I’m excited that you actually made this! The person who said it was a Depression-era recipe is correct. My grandmother gave me a recipe like this, saying it really did taste like apple, and I’ve always wondered whether she was fooling me. I’m sort of thrilled to find it magically morphs into real apple tasting goodness!
HeHe ‘ Culinary Sea Monkey – is now my phrase of the day!
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