What Makes A Dutch Apple Pie Different From A Regular One?

You've heard the phrase, "as American as apple pie," but apples aren't even native to North America! That doesn't stop us from making this spiced, fruity dessert the main event among holiday sweets, especially served with a thick, creamy scoop of vanilla ice cream or gelato. The question is, will regular apple pie or Dutch apple pie merit a place of pride on your table? While it's true that these two pies are more similar than different, there are some key features that distinguish them.

While traditional apple pie has a pastry crust topping, sometimes scored with festive and pretty designs or occasionally latticed, a Dutch apple pie has a crumbly, loose topping made of streusel concocted from a mixture of oats, flour, brown sugar, and butter. Additionally, while regular apple pie is most usually baked in a regular pie pan, a lot of Dutch apple pies are deep-dish. Otherwise, the fillings and flavors are effectively the same. Significantly, Dutch apple pies and regular apple pies also originated in different places ... and the truth about that is downright shocking.

Regular apple pie dates back — way back! — to England in the 1300s, when medieval bakers sometimes called it a "tartys in applis." The pie actually didn't make its way across the Atlantic Ocean until the beginning of the 20th century, when Americans developed a mania for the dessert. During World War II, apple pie became associated with patriotism for the first time.

On the other hand, so-called "Dutch" apple pie isn't from the Netherlands at all. In fact, it's actually an American invention ... and a much more recent development! German colonists settling in 19th-century Pennsylvania brought with them a culinary tradition of streusel crusts on pies. Many desserts that originated in this area, like shoofly, vanilla custard, and sour cherry pies, all tend to have crumbly toppings.

Whether you choose to bake a regular or Dutch apple pie really comes down to which topping you prefer. Either way, you are going to want to include a healthy mix of tart and sweet apple varieties, warming spices, sugar, and a pinch of salt, which prevents sogginess while baking. No matter what type of apple pie you go with, just don't neglect to include one in your holiday spread. Not having the expected traditional fixings (of which apple pie is definitely one!) is an unforgivable Thanksgiving dinner hosting mistake.