what is apple pie with cheese called

what is apple pie with cheese called

Why put cheese on apple pie?

Cheddar cheese on apple pie is one of those things you hear about in Vermont a lot. A friend told me she thinks it’s an “old- school Vermont thing.” Her dad used to tell her about mom-and-pop diners that served apple pie with a wedge of cheddar on the side. Though I’ve never seen it on a menu myself, I’ve known by word of mouth that it’s a long-held tradition . Another friend told me she’d never heard of it until she moved to Vermont eight years ago. Since trying it, she said, she’ll never have apple pie any other way.Advertisement

As it turns out, cheddar on apple pie isn’t really a Vermont thing — it’s bigger than that. “Though fans of apple pie with cheese exist everywhere, they seem to be concentrated in the American Midwest, New England, and parts of Canada and Britain,” says a 2017 Gastro Obscura deep dive on the topic. Meanwhile, Southern Living argues you will never find this in the S outh: “If you serve a Southerner a slice of warm apple pie topped with a wedge of sharp cheddar cheese, prepare for confusion, or at the very least: ‘Where’s the ice cream?’”

The tradition of cheese with apple pie— and its accompanying motto, “a n apple pie without the cheese is like a kiss without the squeeze”— purportedly have English roots. Though I’d always seen apple pie with a slab of cheddar on top, this Paul Hollywood recipe for Apple and Wensleydale pie puts the cheese inside the pie itself and then sternly tells us not to put anything on top of the pie at the end: “The pie is delicious hot or cold and needs no accompaniment.” Advertisement

Paul Hollywood may not offer a handshake to Vermonters in this regard. A Vermont law relating to the state pie (apple, obviously) demands that purveyors make a “good faith effort” to serve pie alongside either a cold glass of milk, a slice of cheddar cheese weighing a minimum of 0.5 oz. , or a large scoop of vanilla ice cream. It doesn’t say what to do if there’s already cheese in the pie.

Though I found American recipes that put cheddar right in the pie (and in the crust), this recipe from Cabot says you should serve the cheese on the side, and that’s what I’d always heard about, so that’s what I decided to do for my own venture into this debate. Advertisement

Some would argue that apple pie goes better with cheddar. Others are horrified.

S eeking an excuse to eat some apple pie this fall , I decided to write about one of the things that’s been a mystery to me since moving to Vermont about a decade ago: cheddar cheese on apple pie. I had no idea that investigating this custom would be a headfirst dive into a pool of stark division .MTN DEW Baja Blast Hot Sauce Is a Gorgeous Oddity Share Subtitles

People have strong feelings about cheddar cheese on apple pie. In a recent, very unscientific poll I conducted among my own social media followers, 45% of responders said they’ve never had cheddar cheese on their apple pie —and they never will. Meanwhile, 21% said they love it, and 30% said they’ve never had it, but they’re curious.Advertisement

Apple & Cheese Pie from 1553

FAQ

What is it called when you put cheese on your apple pie?

Apple pie served with a slice of cheese on top is often referred to as “apple pie with cheddar.” The combination of the sweet, warm apple pie with the savory and slightly tangy flavor of cheddar cheese is a popular and traditional pairing in some regions.

What nationality puts cheese on apple pie?

The cheese-apple pie connection is often traced back to England, which is the birthplace of Cheddar and the apple pie. Back in the 17th and 18th century, English pies were often topped with a dairy-based sauce, such as custard. Somehow along the way, Cheddar stepped in for the sauce and the rest was history.

Is apple pie with cheddar cheese a thing?

While New Englanders like myself are most familiar with the thick slice of extra-sharp cheddar draped over a steaming slice of apple pie, Midwestern traditions often call for baking cheddar right into the pastry to form a savory base for the sweet filling.

Why do some people put cheese on apple pie?

The cheese-apple pie connection traces back to England, where both cheddar and apple pie are said to have originated. In the 17th and 18th centuries, a dairy-based sauce often topped English pies, such as custard. Somehow, some folks decided to try out cheddar along the way, and the rest was history.

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