Good morning, welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: December 1st, 2021. Did you know today is National Fried Pie Day? I remember as a little girl my parents going into Downtown Fort Worth with my grandparents to a business that sold Fried Pies for a living.
They would purchase all kinds of Pies and come home and cook them. I wish they were still open because the Fried Pies we purchase in the grocery store aren’t as good and most of them don’t come with that much Fruit in them. This morning for our Homeschool Cooking Class I think I will have Charlie back Fried Apple Pies for me and Peach for his dad. Is there a certain Fried Pie you would like and I can ask Charlie to make it for you.
- Fried Pies are small fried dessert pastries, with Fruit Fillings wrapped in the Dough.
2. Fried Apple Pies were first introduced by McDonald’s in 1968. Fried Pies were originally fried in Lard.
3. New Hampshire Fried Pies were the favorite dessert of U.S. President Franklin Pierce.
4. The two most popular flavors of Fried Pies in the deep South are Apple and Peach. Apple is my favorite. What about you?
5. Did you know Roadside stands in the South often refer to Fried Pies as “Crab Lanterns.”
For the Pastry:
- 2 cups all-purpose Flour
- ½ cup Shortening, chilled
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ cup cold Water
For the Apple Filling:
- 2 Apples
- ¼ cup White Sugar, or to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon Ground Cinnamon, or to taste
- Oil for frying
- Step 1 Sift the Flour and Salt together. Cut in the Shortening with a Pastry Blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add cold Water 1 tablespoon at a time and mix with fork. When the Flour mixture is moistened, gather it into a ball, wrap it in plastic, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Step 2 Peel and dice the Apples and place them in a saucepan. Combine the Sugar and Cinnamon; pour over the Apples and toss to coat. Cook, covered, in a saucepan on low heat. Cook until soft, then mash with a fork to form a thick Applesauce. Allow to cool.
- Step 3 Transfer the dough to a lightly Floured work surface. Roll the dough out to 1/8 inch thick and cut rounds with a large cookie cutter (4 inches in diameter).
- Step 4 In each round, place 1 heaping tablespoon Fruit. Moisten edges with cold Water, fold in half, and press edge with a fork to seal. Repeat with the remaining pastry and filling.
- Step 5 Heat Oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Step 6 Fry the Pies, a few at a time, 2 to 3 minutes on each side; cook until the crust is golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Allow to cool then serve.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
