Hey there pie lovers! Ever wondered who whipped up the very first apple pie? I mean, this dessert is pretty much the poster child for comfort food sittin’ on holiday tables and in diner windows like it’s been there forever. Well, buckle up, ‘cause we’re about to dig into a history that’s way older—and way less American—than ya might think. Spoiler alert the first apple pie wasn’t born in the good ol’ USA, but across the pond, way back in medieval times. Let’s slice into this story and find out who gets the credit for this iconic treat.
The First Apple Pie: A Medieval Masterpiece
So who made the first apple pie? Truth is we don’t got a name or a face to pin it on. No single baker standin’ in a dusty old kitchen claimin’ glory. Instead, the honor goes to the cooks of England, way back in the 14th century. One of the earliest known recipes for apple pie pops up in a cookbook called The Forme of Cury, written around 1390. This wasn’t just some random scribble—it was a collection of recipes for the royal court of King Richard II. Fancy, right?
This early pie wasn’t quite like the double-crust beauty we know today. It had apples, sure, mixed with goodies like figs, raisins, pears, and even a splash of saffron for color. They stuffed it into a “cofyn”—a old-school term for a pastry casing—and baked it up. Imagine the smell of that waftin’ through a medieval castle. Dang, I’m hungry just thinkin’ about it.
But here’s the kicker England didn’t invent this outta thin air. Their apple pie game was influenced by culinary vibes from all over Europe—France, the Netherlands even hints from the Ottoman Empire. And get this, apples themselves ain’t native to England or America. They hailed from Asia spreadin’ to Europe long before anyone thought to bake ‘em into a pie. So, the first apple pie was really a global mash-up, even back then.
How Apple Pie Crossed the Ocean
Now, let’s fast-forward a bit. While England holds the crown for the first apple pie, the story don’t stop there. When European settlers—think British, Dutch, and Swedish folks—sailed over to the New World in the 17th and 18th centuries, they brought their recipes with ‘em. Apples weren’t growin’ wild in North America, except for some tiny, sour crab apples that nobody wanted to eat straight up. So, these settlers planted apple trees from European seeds and cuttings, especially in places like Jamestown.
At first, apples were more about makin’ cider than pies. Cider was safer than water back then and easier to whip up than beer. But once those orchards took root, pies started showin’ up on colonial tables. By 1796, America’s first cookbook, American Cookery by Amelia Simmons, had not one, but two apple pie recipes. That’s when you know it’s gettin’ real—apple pie was officially part of the American grub scene.
I gotta say, thinkin’ about those early settlers bakin’ pies with whatever they had on hand kinda warms my heart. They didn’t have fancy mixers or pre-made crusts like we do now. It was all elbow grease and a whole lotta hope that the apples wouldn’t turn to mush.
Why Apple Pie Became “As American As…”
Alright, so apple pie started in England, came to America with the colonists, but how’d it turn into this big symbol of American pride? That’s where the plot thickens, my friends. Up until the 19th century, apple pie was just a tasty dessert, nothin’ more. It was cheap, easy to make, and used ingredients folks could grow or store. But around the early 1900s, somethin’ shifted.
Newspapers and ads started pushin’ this idea that apple pie was the ultimate American food. In 1902, an editorial called pie the “American synonym for prosperity,” sayin’ no pie-eatin’ nation could ever be beaten. By the 1920s, the phrase “as American as apple pie” started poppin’ up everywhere—in ads, articles, you name it. Then, durin’ World War II, soldiers were out there sayin’ they were fightin’ for “mom and apple pie.” Talk about a powerful image! It painted this picture of home, family, and good ol’ values.
But let’s be real for a sec. This whole “American” label was kinda forced. Apple pie ain’t indigenous to the U.S. Heck, even the apples came from elsewhere. What makes it American, though, is how it got woven into our story. It’s like us at our best—a mix of influences from all over, blended together into somethin’ unique. Kinda like how I mix a lil’ extra cinnamon in my pie ‘cause that’s how my granny did it. It’s personal, it’s ours.
A Quick Timeline of Apple Pie’s Journey
To keep things straight, I threw together this lil’ timeline. Check out how apple pie went from medieval kitchens to Fourth of July picnics:
| Era | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 14th Century (1390) | First known apple pie recipe in The Forme of Cury. | England |
| 15th Century | Dutch develop lattice-style pie crusts, spreadin’ across Europe. | Netherlands/Europe |
| 17th-18th Century | European settlers bring apple trees and pie recipes to North America. | Colonial America |
| 1796 | First American cookbook publishes two apple pie recipes. | United States |
| Early 1900s | Apple pie becomes a symbol of American prosperity and identity. | United States |
| 1920s | Phrase “as American as apple pie” gains traction in media and ads. | United States |
| World War II (1940s) | Soldiers link apple pie to home and patriotism (“mom and apple pie”). | United States/Global |
See how it evolved? It’s like watchin’ a kid grow up, takin’ on new traits with every stage.
Apple Pie Around the World: Not Just an American Thing
Now, don’t go thinkin’ apple pie is only an American obsession. Nah, it’s got cousins all over the globe, and each place puts their own spin on it. Lemme break down a few styles I’ve come across (or, ya know, dreamed of tryin’ one day):
- English Style: They keep it classic with a thick layer of sweetened apples, often usin’ a tart variety like Bramley. It’s baked with a shortcrust pastry, and sometimes they skip the top crust altogether. Pair it with custard or cream, and you’re golden.
- Dutch Style: These folks love their lattice tops or crumbly streusel. They mix in cinnamon and sometimes raisins or almond paste for extra oomph. I hear it’s often eaten cold with whipped cream—might gotta try that myself.
- French Style: Ever heard of Tarte Tatin? It’s an upside-down apple pie where the fruit gets caramelized before the crust goes on. It’s fancy as heck and tastes like a dream. They got more traditional tarts too, but this one steals the show.
- Swedish Style: This ain’t your typical pie—it’s more like a crumble with breadcrumbs or oats instead of a full pastry. They flavor it with cinnamon and serve it with vanilla custard. Sounds cozy for a winter night, don’t it?
I love how every culture tweaks it to fit their vibe. Makes me wanna host a global pie party at my place. Who’s in?
Why Apple Pie Hits Us in the Feels
Let’s get a lil’ sappy for a minute. Why does apple pie mean so much to so many of us? I think it’s ‘cause it’s more than just food—it’s memory. For me, it’s sittin’ at my grandma’s kitchen table, watchin’ her roll out dough while the smell of apples and spice filled the air. She’d let me sneak a bite of the raw filling, even though she knew I’d get a tummy ache. Every bite now takes me right back to that creaky old chair.
And I reckon I ain’t alone. Apple pie shows up at holidays like Thanksgiving and Independence Day, markin’ moments we share with family. It’s tied to simpler times, or at least the idea of ‘em—a time before fast food and instant everything, when folks took hours to bake somethin’ from scratch. Even if that’s more myth than reality, it sticks with us.
Plus, there’s somethin’ about the act of makin’ it. Peelin’ apples, mixin’ sugar and cinnamon, latticin’ the crust just right—it’s a labor of love. I mess up half the time (don’t judge my lumpy crusts), but even the flops taste like home. It’s a recipe for connection, not just dessert.
The Ingredients: A Global Gathering
Speakin’ of recipes, let’s chat about what goes into an apple pie. If you think about it, the stuff we use comes from all over the dang world. Check this out:
- Apples: Originated in Asia, probably Kazakhstan, before makin’ their way to Europe and beyond.
- Wheat (for flour): First grown in the Middle East, way back when agriculture was just gettin’ started.
- Spices like Cinnamon and Nutmeg: These come from places like Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Talk about a long trip for a pinch of flavor!
- Butter or Lard: Brought to the New World with livestock by explorers like Columbus. Before that, Europe had its own fats, but not America.
- Sugar: Often from cane in the tropics, though early recipes sometimes used honey ‘cause sugar was pricey.
When I toss all that into a bowl, it’s like I’m mixin’ up history, not just a pie. Kinda cool when you think about it, huh?
My Own Apple Pie Mishaps and Wins
I gotta confess, I ain’t no pro baker. First time I tried makin’ apple pie, I forgot to pre-bake the bottom crust and ended up with a soggy mess. Looked like apple soup in a sad, doughy bowl. But hey, we ate it anyway, and my brother still teases me about it every Thanksgiving. “Hey, you bringin’ soup pie again?” Real funny, bro.
But over time, I got the hang of it. My go-to trick now is usin’ a mix of apple types—some tart, some sweet—so the flavor’s got depth. I also throw in a lil’ extra cinnamon ‘cause I’m a spice nut. And don’t skimp on the butter, folks. It makes that crust flaky enough to make ya cry happy tears.
What about you? Got a pie story or a secret ingredient? I’m all ears. Nothin’ beats swappin’ kitchen tales with fellow foodies.
How to Make Your Own Slice of History
If you’re itchin’ to bake your own apple pie, I gotcha covered with some basic tips. This ain’t a full recipe (I’d ramble too long), but here’s the gist to get you started:
- Pick the Right Apples: Go for a mix like Granny Smith for tartness and Honeycrisp for sweet. They hold up nice when baked.
- Season It Up: Cinnamon’s a must, but a dash of nutmeg or ginger can kick it up a notch.
- Crust is Key: Make your own if you got time—flour, butter, a pinch of salt, and ice water. Keep it cold ‘til it hits the oven.
- Don’t Rush It: Let the pie cool a bit after bakin’. Cuts cleaner and the flavors settle.
- Serve with Flair: Vanilla ice cream on top is classic, but I’ve seen folks pair it with sharp cheddar cheese. Weird, but it works for some!
Start simple, then tweak it to match your taste. Maybe add a lil’ brown sugar instead of white, or toss in some cranberries for a twist. Make it yours, just like every culture did over the centuries.
Apple Pie as a Symbol of Us
Zoomin’ out a bit, I think apple pie’s real magic is what it stands for. Sure, it started in England, not America, and yeah, it’s a mishmash of global stuff. But that’s the point. It mirrors who we are—a blend of backgrounds, histories, and ideas, all baked into somethin’ new. When we call somethin’ “as American as apple pie,” we’re talkin’ about that mix, that ability to take influences and turn ‘em into a shared story.
I mean, think about it. A fruit from Asia, a recipe from Europe, spices from islands far away—all comin’ together on a table in Smalltown, USA, or anywhere else. It’s the immigrant experience in dessert form, and if that ain’t a beautiful thing, I don’t know what is.
Keepin’ the Pie Tradition Alive
As I wrap this up, I wanna throw out a lil’ challenge. Next time you’re in the kitchen, why not bake an apple pie? Don’t matter if it’s perfect or a total flop— it’s about the process, the memories you make. Maybe dig up an old family recipe, or call up a relative to get their tips. Heck, even if you just buy a frozen one and heat it up, share it with someone you love.
And hey, drop me a line in the comments. Who taught you to make pie? What’s your fave way to eat it—straight up, with ice cream, or somethin’ wild? Let’s keep this convo rollin’. At the end of the day, apple pie ain’t just food—it’s a piece of history, a slice of home, and a whole lotta heart. Let’s keep that alive, one bite at a time.
The First Apple Pie Recipes
Eventually, European settlers brought the dish to the colonies, where they used the domesticated apples they had introduced to the continent to make pies. The dish quickly caught on. Not one but two recipes for apple pie appeared in America’s first cookbook, American Cookery by Amelia Simmons, published in 1796. From the colonial period, the dish endured during the 19th century and through the Civil War. John T. Edge shares in Apple Pie: An American Story that even in wartime “both Union and Confederate troops scavenged for apples and commandeered the hearths—and flour bins—of white farmers and black tenants to bake pies.”
An easy, affordable, and adaptable dish, apple pie went on to become a staple in American cuisine throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. However, it didn’t become part of the cultural lexicon until around the 20th century, when such influential factors as advertising, news, and war created a new, misleading narrative that transformed the dish into a nationalist symbol.
One of the earliest examples of this shift can be traced back to 1902, when a New York Times editorial argued for the dish’s national importance by asserting that pie had become “the American synonym for prosperity.” “Pie is the food of the heroic,” it declared. “No pie-eating people can be permanently vanquished.” The dish was also positioned as unique to the United States when The New York Times published a 1926 article with the headline “The Tourist Apple Pie Hunt Is Ended: American Army Abroad Has Failed Again to Find in Europe ‘the Kind They Make at Home.’”
The surprisingly un-American history of our country’s most iconic dish.
Published OnOctober 8, 2021
Photo by Mark Weinberg
As we gather with loved ones to celebrate Thanksgiving this November, apple pie—perhaps our country’s most iconic dish—will make its annual appearance on many celebratory tables.
But despite being a symbol of patriotism eaten to celebrate everything from the Fourth of July to Turkey Day, apple pie’s origins actually aren’t all that American. A quick look at its history tells us that only through revisionism has this dish come to represent the United States; even more, in the process we may have ignored the historical and cultural influences that have shaped its place in our countrys narrative. Which begs the question: Should we even consider apple pie a national symbol after all?
Baking the Original Apple Pie from Medieval England
FAQ
Who really invented apple pie?
No single person invented apple pie, but the first recorded recipe dates to 1381 in England, featuring apples, figs, raisins, and pears in a tough “coffin” crust. The lattice crust we know today was developed and popularized by the Dutch in the 15th century, with the modern, buttery crust evolving in America from various European traditions.
Who made apple pie first?
Rather than the good old US-of-A, apple pie as we know it first originated in England, where it developed from culinary influences from France, the Netherlands, and even the Ottoman Empire. In fact, apple trees weren’t even native to North America until the Europeans arrived.
Who created the first pie?
The concept of pie originated with the Ancient Egyptians around 9500 BC, who created “galettes” made from ground grains like oats, wheat, and barley with fillings of honey and nuts. Egyptians later developed these into more elaborate pastries, and their practices were later adopted and expanded by the Ancient Greeks and Romans, who created early forms of savory pies with meat fillings encased in a thick pastry crust.
What state is famous for apple pie?
Where did Apple Pie come from?
Like apples, apple pie isn’t nearly as American as you might think. In fact, apple pie originated in Europe and it was developed with the help of multiple culinary influences, including cuisine from Britain, France, the Netherlands, and the Ottoman Empire. The dish is also a lot older than you may think.
How old is apple pie?
The dish is also a lot older than you may think. A recipe for apple pie appears in a British cookbook, The Forme of Cury by Samuel Pegge, that dates all the way back to 1390! Early British pies were often on the savory side, but sweeter pies with apples and other fruits were often made as well.
When was mock apple pie invented?
The earliest known published recipes for mock apple pie date from the antebellum period of the 1850s. In the 1930s, and for many years afterwards, Ritz Crackers promoted a recipe for mock apple pie using its product, along with sugar and various spices.
Who brought apple pie to America?
Apple pie is thought to have been brought to America by European colonists – particularly the British, the Dutch, and the Swedish. The first mention of apple pie in America occurred in 1697, when Allen Metcalf’s America in So Many Words: Words that have Shaped America referenced it.
When did apple pie become popular?
Since it was an easy and affordable dish to make, apple pie quickly became part of the American culinary repertoire. While apple pie was popular in America since its inception, it didn’t become associated with our cultural identity until the early 20 th century.
What is an apple pie?
An apple pie is a pie in which the principal filling is apples. It is often served with whipped cream, ice cream (“apple pie à la mode “), custard or cheddar cheese. It is generally double-crusted, with pastry both above and below the filling; the upper crust may be solid or latticed (woven of crosswise strips).