Mock apple pie: A recipe for the tastiest April Fools’ Day joke ever
What’s more American than apple pie? How about using apple pie to play April Fool’s Day pranks on your unsuspecting friends!
OK, so April Fool’s Day isn’t strictly an American thing, and this prank doesn’t involve actual apple pie. But why let facts get in the way of a good joke?
This mock apple pie, based on Heloise’s classic recipe, is made of crackers — that’s right, crackers — and tastes just like the real thing, even though there is absolutely no fruit involved whatsoever.
Don’t believe us? Bake one up on April 1. Offer your family and friends a slice of non-specific “pie” and wait patiently as they enjoy a few bites. Then ask, “Can you tell what kind of pie it is?” They’ll invariably respond, “Apple.” You say, “Guess again!” They’ll probably say, “Pear?” You say, “Nope!” with a big grin.
This should be the point at which they remember that it’s April Fool’s Day, and mild panic begins to set in as they try to figure out what exactly they’ve just ingested.
Luckily for them, the pie is both delicious as well as made of totally nonoffensive foods (unless Nabisco products offend you). And, as your friends will see, it tastes just like apple pie — especially if you’re an April fool. (Scroll down for the recipe.)
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If you’d rather bake an apple pie that’s actually made with apples, try this award-winning recipe from a local baker: Joyce Purdin’s winning apple pie recipe from the 2015 Idler’s Home Mom and Apple Pie contest.
Recipe: Mock apple pie
Adapted from recipes by Heloise and Ina Garten via foodnetwork.com
For the pie
2 cups water
1¼ cups sugar
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
Butter (for dotting)
Ground cinnamon (for sprinkling)
Unbaked double pie crust (I used two premade frozen pie shells)
For the streusel
¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
½ cup all-purpose flour
1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
Caramel sauce, optional (I used ice cream topping, but you could also make your own)
Preheat the oven to 375˚F.
In a medium saucepan, stir together the water, sugar and cream of tartar, and bring to a boil. Add the saltines, and boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat.
Carefully spoon the soggy cracker filling into the pie shell. Dot the top of the filling with butter (I used two tablespoons cut into small pieces). Sprinkle on the cinnamon to taste. Lay the top crust over the pie filling and crimp the edges. Use a knife to cut several slits in the top crust.
Now make the streusel. Whisk together the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl, then add the bits of butter. Using a pastry blender or your fingers, blend the ingredients until coarse lumps form. Sprinkle the streusel on top of the crust.
Bake the pie for 35 minutes, or until the crust is golden. Let the pie cool completely before cutting it so the filling can firm up. Before serving, drizzle the pie with caramel, if desired.
This story was originally published March 30, 2016 at 5:25 PM with the headline "Mock apple pie: A recipe for the tastiest April Fools’ Day joke ever."