THE CONVERSATION

By Amos Staff

1.) Mock Apple Pie is considered to have been made popular during the Depression in America, usually made or advertised by Ritz crackers, but also made with zucchini and/or saltine crackers.

2.) The idea and execution of a Mock Apple Pie dates to the mid-19th century.

“There is no actual date or information on when mock apple pie was created but many would believe that it is a mid-century creation. This belief is not surprising as the recipe is so connected with Ritz crackers that many are surprised to find out that mock apple pies have been around for much longer. Mock apple pie actually dates to the mid-1800s. During the wintertime when apples were scarce and dried apple stores were used up, inventive home cooks would instead use soda crackers or stale bread. John T. Edge in his book Apple Pie (2004) also says that though the recipe does appear in southern cookbooks of the era such as What Mrs. Fisher Knows About Old Southern Cooking (1881) or the Confederate Receipt Book (1863) it is not a “Southern dish born of Civil War deprivation” as many would believe. He cited an 1852 California pioneer talking about making mock apple pie for their family.” (Quaint Cooking, History of…)

3.) Ritz crackers were introduced in 1934, a product of the National Biscuit Company (NABISCO). The recipe was thought to be a competitor to the Sunshine Bakery’s “Hi-Ho” cracker. The Ritz brand is now owned by Mondelēz International (MDLZ stock). The Nabisco plant in Chicago is the largest bakery in the world: 1,800,000 square feet. (31.25 football fields)

4.)The Ritz cracker Mock Apple Pie recipe was printed on the Ritz cracker box into the late 1980s. Interestingly, its recipe specified a 2-crust pie (pastry crust). Many of the post 1980s photos online feature a bottom pastry crust but a crumble top.

5.) The recipe calls for 36 Ritz crackers. None of the box sizes of Ritz offer sleeves of 36 (so you’ll always be using more than one sleeve and bringing out the chip clips, ziplocs, or clothespins to keep the remainder fresh).

6.) In 2024, how much does it cost to make a Ritz Mock Apple Pie?

Notes:

*The common image of men selling apples on street corners during the Depression most likely dates to 1930, when there was an oversupply of apples in the market. The International Apple Shippers Association sold the overstock (on credit!) to the unemployed for them to sell.