This retro dessert will fool everyone at Thanksgiving.

Published on November 14, 2025

Credit:

Grant Webster

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This retro dessert looks like apple pie, tastes like apple pie, but there's not a single apple in sight. Instead the filling is made with crackers, sugar, water, and cinnamon. The result is a truly delicious slice of pie that will absolutely fool your tastebuds. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups water

  • 1 cup granulated sugar

  • 2 tsp. cream of tartar

  • 33 whole rich round crackers (such as Ritz)

  • 1 tsp. lemon zest

  • 2 Tbsp. lemon juice

  • 3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

  • 1 9-inch unbaked pie shell

Topping

  • 1 cup crushed rich round crackers (such as Ritz) (24)

  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar

  • 1/4 cup butter, melted

  • 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. In a large saucepan, combine water, granulated sugar, and cream of tartar. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add whole crackers and return to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, and 3/4 tsp. cinnamon. Add filling to the pie shell.

  2. For topping, in a medium bowl combine 1 cup crushed crackers, brown sugar, melted butter, and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon. Spread evenly over the filling.

  3. Bake 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until golden and filling is set. Cool completely on a wire rack before serving.

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