# Ugh...I have to make an apple pie for Thanksgiving **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 24, 2010, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-i-have-to-make-an-apple-pie-for-thanksgiving/561747 "2010-11-24T04:34:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-i-have-to-make-an-apple-pie-for-thanksgiving/561747/1 "2010-11-24T04:34:29Z")
It’s my least favorite pie. I’m an expert at pie making. Not through any practice or research–I just have a gift. The first crust I made 20 years ago was as good as the one I’ll make on Thursday. People will do unsavory things for just a bite of my pies. Could I have been blessed with something that would make me a million dollars or at least get me laid every day? No. But this is the gift I was given and I’m appreciative for this much. Is there anything I can do to make an apple pie not be so…bland? It is my least favorite pie. It’s just so…blah. I’ve heard of mixing in a half cup of cheddar cheese into the crust dough. But I don’t want to chance that going wrong. I was thinking of making a Dutch apple pie…you pour in a 1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream at the last five minutes of baking. I do like a crumb crust, but I’m going to make a traditional top crust, but in a lattice pattern. I’m open to(nay…BEGGING for) suggestions, but it should stay as close as possible to traditional apple pie. My orders are apple pie, not a pie with apples. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-i-have-to-make-an-apple-pie-for-thanksgiving/561747/2 "2010-11-24T04:45:56Z")
My mother made a great apple pie. She always claimed it was because she used Northern Spy Apples. Gosh I miss those pies. I think Northern Spy is a Northeast Native, not a Northwest native. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-i-have-to-make-an-apple-pie-for-thanksgiving/561747/3 "2010-11-24T04:51:33Z")
If you’re such a legendary pie-maker, why are other people telling you which pie to make? Were I inviting you, I’d just say “Make something tasty”, and let you work out the details. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-i-have-to-make-an-apple-pie-for-thanksgiving/561747/4 "2010-11-24T04:57:16Z")
What apples do you use? My mom’s recipe specifically calls for Stayman Winesap, though other varieties will also work. ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-i-have-to-make-an-apple-pie-for-thanksgiving/561747/5 "2010-11-24T04:57:24Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > If you’re such a legendary pie-maker, why are other people telling you which pie to make? Were I inviting you, I’d just say “Make something tasty”, and let you work out the details. Hey, I’m great, but I still work for “the man” 🙂 🙂 Actually, the hosts called me tonight and requested a second pie. But, again, they didn’t let me choose. They picked pecan. I make a GREAT pecan pie. To answer your question, the host chooses the menu, not the guest, even if the guest is bringing food. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-i-have-to-make-an-apple-pie-for-thanksgiving/561747/6 "2010-11-24T05:06:15Z")
Add some brandy to the filling. Make apple sour cream pie. Make Ritz cracker mock apple pie but don’t tell anyone. Make it with a woven lattice top. ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-i-have-to-make-an-apple-pie-for-thanksgiving/561747/7 "2010-11-24T05:08:30Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Add some brandy to the filling. > Make apple sour cream pie. > Make Ritz cracker mock apple pie but don’t tell anyone. > Make it with a woven lattice top. I love the lattice and had planned on it…what does the brandy do? I have applejack, which would be PERFECT! ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-i-have-to-make-an-apple-pie-for-thanksgiving/561747/8 "2010-11-24T05:14:14Z")
The brandy smooths out the flavor a little and adds a little flavor that is hard to place if you don’t know to look for it, similar to vanilla. Does this mean the mock apple pie is out? ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-i-have-to-make-an-apple-pie-for-thanksgiving/561747/9 "2010-11-24T05:19:20Z")
Cook’s had an apple pie recipe a few years back that was excellent if you about doubled the spices. they had you cook the apples a bit to remove moisture so the pie did not end up soupy. I found that if you saved that apple soup and made a reduction sauce with some port, it was nothing short of wonderful when drizzled over a scoop of ice cream that when with the pie. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-i-have-to-make-an-apple-pie-for-thanksgiving/561747/10 "2010-11-24T09:17:39Z")
Here’s a link to the [incredible](http://www.tastebook.com/recipes/1680173-Apple-Slab-Pie) Cook’s Country Apple Slab Pie that I make, and it is amazing. I’m sure if you didn’t want to make the big, huge, feeds-a-crowd version you could adapt it for your own piecrust…it’s really the method of making the filling and the glaze that makes it so wonderful. And the animal cracker crumbs. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-i-have-to-make-an-apple-pie-for-thanksgiving/561747/11 "2010-11-24T09:35:43Z")
I pour a quarter cup of honey over the filling before putting on the top crust. And I never use just one variety of apple. Three if at all possible. Like Fuji, Granny Smith and Braeburn. ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-i-have-to-make-an-apple-pie-for-thanksgiving/561747/12 "2010-11-24T10:01:18Z")
My grandma used to toss some cinnamon red hots into her apple pies. It sounds unsavory, but it’s really pretty darned tasty! Geez, I haven’t had one of those pies for decades. It’s a good memory! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-i-have-to-make-an-apple-pie-for-thanksgiving/561747/13 "2010-11-24T10:30:08Z")
May I ask how you normally make an apple pie? Because the only secret I know is to start with rather tart apples, and don’t be skimpy with the cinnamon. You can always sweeten, but it’s hard to add the tangy taste. But, for all I know, that idea is bland or worse for you. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-i-have-to-make-an-apple-pie-for-thanksgiving/561747/14 "2010-11-24T10:33:03Z")
4 cups of Granny smith… 1 cup of sour cream, one sleeve of apple newtons roughly Chopped, 3/4 cup of Brown sugar caramelized with 1/2 stick of butter and raw halved almonds, 1 tablespoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon clove, i 1/2 teaspoons nutmeg and a 1/2 teaspoon mace. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-i-have-to-make-an-apple-pie-for-thanksgiving/561747/15 "2010-11-24T10:42:00Z")
Might need, in additoon to the sour cream… some real cream, half and half, evaporated, or condensed milk. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-i-have-to-make-an-apple-pie-for-thanksgiving/561747/16 "2010-11-24T10:47:06Z")
cut back on the clove… maybe a 1/4 teaspoon. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-i-have-to-make-an-apple-pie-for-thanksgiving/561747/17 "2010-11-24T11:19:41Z")
You could, of course, make a [bisquick Impossible apple pie](http://www.google.com/search?q=bisquick+apple+pie&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#hl=en&expIds=17259,23756,24692,24878,24879,25907,27400,27586,27642,27690,27698,27744&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&q=bisquick+Impossible+apple+pie&cp=10&qe=YmlzcXVpY2sgSWFwcGxlIHBpZQ&qesig=i7oIjHTwL9R1AORY0vE_Cw&pkc=AFgZ2tmAR9DXWhaNBgVrPut1sFE5R8qG9Y1ZE_dAHZySmc8NWCafoV_1ZPhv6epuLaIH06ao3UJo-d0grVuOVb4i_-iXmFWLdw&pf=p&sclient=psy&client=firefox-a&hs=XpY&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&source=hp&aq=0c&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&pbx=1&fp=573da4ec7e15bdf2), as well. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-i-have-to-make-an-apple-pie-for-thanksgiving/561747/18 "2010-11-24T14:55:19Z")
Add mincemeat? I mean, not _real_ mincemeat, but the spiced fruit from a jar. Apple-mincemeat pie is still “apple pie” but it’s got a little kick and it’s visually more interesting. BTW I envy you – I _love_ apple pie. I have to fulfill an order for pumpkin pie – which while delicious, is very boring. I’m going to kick it up with a gingersnap crust and a layer of praline. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-i-have-to-make-an-apple-pie-for-thanksgiving/561747/19 "2010-11-24T15:23:53Z")
I started adding apple jelly to my apple pies upon seeing it in a Southern Living recipe. Also, I second the idea of using several types of apple. Some for tartness, some for gooeyness. Also add more cinnamon. You can’t go wrong with more cinnamon. I’m making apple pies this very afternoon. Using my peeler-corer thingie, which several here at SD have. We lurves 'em. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-i-have-to-make-an-apple-pie-for-thanksgiving/561747/20 "2010-11-24T18:56:15Z")
I like to mix some cranberry relish (whole berry style) with the apple sliced, but I guess that makes it a cran-apple pie. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-i-have-to-make-an-apple-pie-for-thanksgiving/561747.md?page=2)