Delicious Discoveries: Top 9 Fun Facts About Apple Pie You Never Knew!

1. Johnny Appleseed's Legacy

Before the iPhone became America's apple of the eye, a humble frontiersman laid the groundwork for your favorite dessert: Johnny Appleseed, legendary nurseryman of the late 18th century, wandered the land planting apple tree seedlings, and by 1800, the country could boast of 14,000 delicious apple varieties.
Source => manyeats.com

2. British Roots of Apple Pie

"An apple a day keeps the (British) doctor away!": Apple pie, a beloved American symbol, can actually trace its scrumptious origins to 14th-century England, with European settlers bringing it to the colonies, where they incorporated domesticated apples and a pinch of patriotism to create a delicious slice of American identity.
Source => food52.com

Did you know that the world's largest pumpkin pie weighed 3,699 pounds and measured 20 feet in diameter? It used a whopping 1,212 pounds of canned pumpkin and over 500 pounds of sugar! Discover more about this record-breaking dessert and its origins.

=> Fun Facts about Pumpkin-Pie

3. George Washington's Sweet Tooth

Did George Washington secretly scream for ice cream while enjoying a slice of apple pie? Feast your eyes on this delicious truth: Apple pie was a favored dessert in Washington's time, and he even indulged in fancy ice cream-making equipment at Mount Vernon, although no specific records show his spending on the frosty treat itself; clearly, a presidential sweet tooth kept things cool in the 18th century!
Source => tastingtable.com

4. Captain America's British Cousin

If apple pie were a superhero, it would be Captain America's British cousin: a tried and true classic, winning hearts and stomachs with its flaky crust – despite being a direct descendant of old Britannia! Behold the serious reveal: apple pie, as American as it may seem, actually has British origins, with the earliest known example of "apple pie order" showing up in a British sailor's journal in 1780, predating its American fame and mystifying origin enthusiasts to this day.
Source => culinarylore.com

5. Apple Pie's Cheesy Sidekick

Where's the cheddar, partner? This pie ain't complete without its cheesy sidekick! Just like your favorite buddy cop movies, apple pie and cheese are a dynamic duo with a storied history: since the 1800s, us Americans have been savoring the scrumptious combination of heartwarming apple pie and a slice of sharp cheddar - a tasty tribute that likely hails from traditional English dairy-based pie sauces. With regional variations like Gouda, Parmesan, or even Roquefort, dare to be adventurous and try this cheesy twist on dessert that's as divisive as pineapple on pizza - initially unexpected, but ultimately unforgettable!
Source => purewow.com

6. Pie-Throwing Activism

In the land of pie-eatin' politics and whipped-cream warfare, one must embrace the crust of dissent and wield the flaky weapons of democracy, ever vigilant for flying pastry peril: Starting in the United States circa the 1970s, pie-throwing has been a form of nonviolent activism, with protestors hurling custard creations and tofu cream confections at government and business leaders, sometimes resulting in serious charges, such as the case of Sean Thompson who faced felony assault and misdemeanor battery for his mayoral dessert debacle.
Source => fastcompany.com

7. McDonald's Fried Pie Nostalgia

In a scrumptious tale of crusty betrayal, loyalists of McDonald's original apple pies hold crispy vigils in secret, dreaming of days gone by when their beloved pastry held a deep-fried secret instead of a baked facade: The iconic McDonald's apple pie switched from being deep-fried to baked in 1992, leaving a devoted fanbase craving the original fried crust, with some even scoring entire cases of the now-elusive delicacy to savor.
Source => eater.com

8. Mixing up Apple Varieties

Feeling fruity and indecisive between à la mode madness and pies before guys? Feel free to mix it up: apple pie can be made with numerous apple varieties, like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady, each offering a unique flavor and texture to this scrumptious dessert.
Source => kingarthurbaking.com

9. Competitive Apple Pie Baking

When it comes to pies, there's no apple too far from the tree to bake it into a humble dessert that's the apple of everyone's eye: At the annual Apple Harvest Festival by Vintage Virginia Apples and the Cove Garden Ruritan Club, bakers go head-to-head in an intense Apple Pie Contest, sponsored by Charlottesville Cooking School, where the Blue Ribbon Apple Pie winner boasts a crust made of flour, shortening, butter, vinegar, egg, and water, coupled with a medley of local Virginia apples.
Source => piedmontmastergardeners.org