"Got me up so high, tryin' get a piece of that apple pie."
- J. Cole
Welcome to our kitchen. Grab some sweet and tart apples from the grocer or go pick your own to make this delicious apple pie with cheddar cheese crust! You'll never want store-bought pie again.
Learn more about cooking with kids.
If you like this apple molasses pie, try the brownie trifle, putizza, mooncake, red velvet cake cookies, pound cake, and bread pudding.
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The Prairie Homestead Cookbook
This apple molasses pie with cheddar crust comes from The Prairie Homestead Cookbook: Simple Recipes for Heritage Cooking in Any Kitchen by Jill Winger.
Molasses is an old-fashioned sweetener that plays beautifully with crisp apples. A childhood spent watching my dad melt generous slabs of cheddar over hot apple pie inspired the shreds of sharp cheddar mixed into the crust.
- Jill Winger
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Jill Winger recommends using a combination of sweet and tart varieties. She suggests Pink Lady, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, Gala, McIntosh, Rome, and Jonathan while advising you to skip the Red Delicious to avoid mushy and bland cooked apples. Pair them with your favorite apple printables for a day of fun-filled learning.
Top Tip
Save yourself time and energy. Don't peel the apples! You really don't notice them in this apple pie anyway.
How to Make Apple Pie
Ingredients
- flour - any all-purpose flour will work. We like Jovial's einkorn flour for making the best apple pie
- cheese - grab your favorite cheddar cheese. Tillamook cheddar cheese is our favorite.
- salt - sea salt is recommended but use what you have on hand
- butter - unsalted butter is needed for this apple pie recipe
- water
- sugar - brown sugar is needed to make the delicious apple pie filling
- molasses
- cinnamon
- apples - 8-10 medium-sized apples is plenty
- vinegar - this recipe calls for apple cider vinegar for the filling
- egg - grab an egg for the egg wash and you'll have the perfect crust on your apple pie
Equipment
- Apron
- Prep Bowls
- Large Spoon
- Child-Friendly Knife
- Cutting Board
- Box Grater
- Plastic Wrap
- Rolling Pin
- Whisk
- Measuring Cup
- Kitchen Scale
- Measuring Spoons
- Stand Mixer
- Silicone Baking Mat
- Dough Scraper
- Pie Dish
- Basting Brush
- Learning Tower as needed
Slice the Apples & Shred the Cheese
Wash your hands with soap and water. Use a knife and cutting board to slice the apples. Jill recommends making ½-inch thick slices. Use a box grater to shred the cheese.
Use a kitchen scale and clean bowl to weigh out the flour.
Combine the flour, cheese, and salt.
Make the Dough
Cut in the butter with a pastry blender, knife, or mixer. You should have pea-sized crumbs in the dough when finished.
Add in the water 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough is sticky and forms a ball.
Chill the Dough
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
Make the Filling
Use a kitchen scale and measuring spoons to measure out the filling ingredients. Add the apples, vinegar, sugar, flour, molasses, cinnamon, and salt to a clean bowl. Toss until the apple slices are coated.
Roll Out ½ of the Dough
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a dough scraper to divide the dough in half.
Roll out half of the dough on a clean, floured workspace into a round several inches larger than the diameter of the pie dish. Use flour as needed to keep the dough from sticking to the rolling pin.
Fold the dough in half and then in half again. Transfer the dough round to the pie dish and unfold.
Spoon the Filling onto the Crust
Use a spoon to transfer the filling to the pie dish, on top of the crust.
Roll Out the Other ½ of the Dough
Roll out the other half of dough just like the first half but into a slightly smaller round.
Place It Over the Filling
Transfer the dough to the pie dish and on top of the filling. Use a fork to seal the around the edge of the crust.
Cut slits in center of the pie crust for it to vent.
Apply the Egg Wash & Bake
In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and water for the egg wash. Use a pastry brush to apply the egg wash to the pie.
Transfer the pie to the oven. Bake for 20 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for 40-60 minutes. The apples should be tender and the filling bubbly. Turn off the oven when finished. Allow the pie to cool on a rack.
Enjoy this delicious apple pie as is or topped with ice cream or whipped cream.
free recipe!
Apple Molasses Pie
Homemade apple pie with a cheddar cheese crust.
Free Apple Pie Recipe for Pre-Readers & Up
Grab your free printable recipe cards above. Kids can gather ingredients using the ingredient list, gather their equipment with the tools list, and prepare the meal using the step-by-step recipe cards, with assistance as needed.
The cards are easy to use, include pictures, and encourage confidence and independence in the kitchen. They also make an excellent addition to your Montessori continent box for North America.
Montessori Continent Boxes
Explore every continent with these solid maple hardwood boxes.
Apple Pie with Cheddar Cheese Crust
Equipment
- Large Spoon
- Box Grater
- Plastic Wrap
- Whisk
- Learning Tower as needed
Ingredients
Crust
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese shredded
- ½ teaspoon sea salt fine
- ½ cup unsalted butter cold
- 10 tablespoon water ice cold
Filling
- ⅓ cup brown sugar packed
- 8 apples medium, cored and sliced
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup flour
- ¼ cup molasses
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt fine
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Egg Wash
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon water
Instructions
- Slice the Apples & Shred the Cheese: Wash your hands with soap and water. Use a knife and cutting board to slice the apples. Jill recommends making ½-inch thick slices. Use a box grater to shred the cheese.
- Make the Dough: Use a kitchen scale and clean bowl to weigh out the flour. Combine the flour, cheese, and salt. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender, knife, or mixer. You should have pea-sized crumbs in the dough when finished. Add in the water 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough is sticky and forms a ball.
- Chill the Dough: Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
- Make the Filling: Use a kitchen scale and measuring spoons to measure out the filling ingredients. Add the apples, vinegar, sugar, flour, molasses, cinnamon, and salt to a clean bowl. Toss until the apple slices are coated.
- Roll Out ½ of the Dough: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a dough scraper to divide the dough in half. Roll out half of the dough on a clean, floured workspace into a round several inches larger than the diameter of the pie dish. Use flour as needed to keep the dough from sticking to the rolling pin. Fold the dough in half and then in half again. Transfer the dough round to the pie dish and unfold.
- Spoon the Filling onto the Crust: Use a spoon to transfer the filling to the pie dish, on top of the crust.
- Roll Out the Other ½ of the Dough: Roll out the other half of dough just like the first half but into a slightly smaller round.
- Place It Over the Filling: Transfer the dough to the pie dish and on top of the filling. Use a fork to seal the around the edge of the crust. Cut slits in center of the pie crust for it to vent.
- Apply the Egg Wash & Bake: In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and water for the egg wash. Use a pastry brush to apply the egg wash to the pie. Transfer the pie to the oven. Bake for 20 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for 40-60 minutes. The apples should be tender and the filling bubbly. Turn off the oven when finished. Allow the pie to cool on a rack. Enjoy this delicious apple pie as is or topped with ice cream or whipped cream.
Notes
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
- Full Recipe Info and Pictures at: https://happyhomeschooladventures.com/apple-pie
Nutrition
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
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