Giada de Laurentiis gives traditional apple pie a savory, delicious twist by adding cheddar cheese. Give it a chance—it’s not as strange as it first seems!
In this episode of Giada at Home, our favorite Italian culinary expert gives apple pie a European twist. Giada draws from her French culinary training to update this American classic.
Winter is the perfect time to tuck into a slice of warm apple pie and a nice steaming cup of hot coffee. Talk about the perfect afternoon snack!
But if you’ve ever craved something a little more savory than your typically sweet, cinnamon flavored apple pie, try out Giada’s Apple and Cheddar Cheese Pie.
Yes, you heard right—apple and cheddar cheese. Trust me, it’s not as strange of a concept as you think. As Giada mentions, in many parts of Europe, the combination of fruits and cheese are quite popular. Even in some parts of the U.S., apple pie is served with a nice chunk of cheddar cheese.
Why cheddar cheese? Well, the sharp flavor is the perfect compliment to the sweet and firm apples. Giada adds brown sugar to balance out the cheddar cheese’s poignant flavor with notes of molasses.
So why not give it a try? Remember – a slice of apple pie without cheese is like a hug without a squeeze!
Apple and Cheddar Cheese Pie Ingredients:
- Two 9-inch diameter pie crusts
- 5 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and quartered
- 1 cup coarsely grated sharp white Cheddar
- 2/3 cup dark brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into ½ inch pieces at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 egg white
