Why You Need To Try Apple Pie With Cheddar Cheese
Berries and stone fruit may be the reason for the season in the summer months, but come early fall, apples take their place as the produce special du jour. Of all the ways to enjoy the multi-species fruit, many would argue that pies, tarts, and galettes reign supreme. There's something extremely comforting about biting into a warm, spiced apple nestled between layers of flaky, golden-brown pie dough. Really, apple pie is an iconic standout in the seasonal sweets category.
There are countless ways to execute the dessert, but one iteration begs for attention apple pie with cheddar cheese. There are certainly more surprising dishes out there, but we reckon that anything that pairs something sweet with an ingredient that's typically used in savory applications is worth writing home about. What's more, apple pie with cheddar cheese has a fascinating history — one that involves coffins, 14th century England, and some clashing opinions.
Sharp meets sweet
According to Priceonomics, apple pie isn't as American as it gets credit for. It came to be in the 14th century when English farmers took to "wrapping apples into inedible containers known as coffins." What on earth for? Apparently, they were using them for "pie prototypes." It wasn't until the late 17th century, the outlet explains, that apple pie came to the States by way of European immigrants. The dessert may have even earlier origins in France, the Netherlands, and the Ottoman Empire (per Food52), which adds that the pie's patriotic reputation could be due to the fact that it was featured in two different recipes in Amelia Simmons' 1796 "American Cookery," also known as "America's first cookbook."
But when did cheddar enter the picture? Atlas Obscura harkens it back to Britain, explaining that the "17th-century trend of adding dairy-based sauces to pies morphed into a tradition of topping them with cheese." Bakers in Yorkshire had already taken to serving apple pie with Wensleydale cheese, so cheddar was a natural next move.
Apple pie and cheese is a popular pairing
A quick search online will reveal a number of recipes for apple pie with cheddar, and The Kitchn notes that other cheeses like Roquefort, Cheshire, and Gruyère are commonly used. Whether melted on top, baked into the filling, or just served on the side, the cheese adds a zing to the apple pie. However you choose to pair it, there is no right way to enjoy this combo.
There is even an apple and Wensleydale pie recipe from Paul Hollywood's "Pies and Puds" (via the BBC) that calls for the cheese being spread on the top of the apple filling just prior to baking. The "Great British Bake Off" judge mentions that the "tangy, salty cheese and sweet apple go beautifully together."
If you're still skeptical of the combination, consider this; if it works on a cheese plate, why wouldn't it work in a pie? You could also just trust the old saying that goes, "an apple pie without the cheese is like a kiss without the squeeze" (via The Big Apple).