How to Top an Apple Pie by Mrs. Smith

Apple pie can host a rich variety of toppings.

Mrs. Smith makes serving apple pie easy. Among its frozen prebaked and bake-at-home selections is traditional apple pie, as well as crumb and cinnamon-crumb top choices. Deep-dish versions of both traditional and cinnamon crumb top selections are available. The company also sells apple-raisin-spice and mince (apples, raisins and currants) pies. Adding topping to any one of these selections might seem superfluous to some. Nevertheless, a topping can provide color and textural contrast, as well as balance and enhance flavors, to take a frozen boxed pie from "just okay" to delightful.

Things You'll Need

• Cooling rack
• Cheddar cheese
• Dessert plates
• Aluminum foil (optional)
• Cookie sheet or baking pan (optional)
• Ground cinnamon
• Creme fraiche
• Spoon
• Whipping cream
• 1 to 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• Hand or electric beaters
• Metal mixing bowl, 2 quart or larger

Instructions

Cheddar Cheese

1. Remove pie from the oven and place on a rack to cool for at least 15 minutes.

2. Slice off the desired amount of cheddar -- typically one to two pieces per pie slice -- and allow it to come to room temperature.

3. Cut the desired number of slices from the pie.

4. Lay one to two cheddar slices on top each slice of apple pie while the pie is still warm. The pie should be warm enough for the cheese to adhere to the top. To achieve a softer cheese texture, place the slice on an aluminum foil covered cookie sheet or baking pan and return to a 250 to 300 degree F oven for five to 10 minutes. Serve while still warm.

Creme Fraiche

1. Remove the pie from the oven and allow it to cool for 30 minutes to an hour.

2. Remove the creme fraiche from the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature.

3. Spoon 1 to 2 tbsp. of creme fraiche over each slice of pie. The tangy taste and creamy texture of creme fraiche is especially effective to provide contrast to the rich sweetness of Mrs. Smith's mince or apple-raisin pies. If you are using creme fraiche to top a deep-dish Mrs. Smith's pie, use an additional tbsp. of creme fraiche, so there will be enough topping to accommodate each bite of pie.

Unsweetened Whipped Cream

1. Remove pie from the oven and allow it to cool for at least one hour.

2. Place the mixing bowl, beaters and whipping cream in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove all.

3. Pour the cream into the mixing bowl, add vanilla extract, and beat at high speed until peaks form when the beaters are lifted from the cream.

4. Spoon 1 to 3 tbsp. of whipped cream onto each slice of thoroughly cooled pie. Top with a sprinkling of ground cinnamon and serve.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use ground nutmeg, allspice or cloves to garnish whipped cream or creme fraiche toppings. Fresh currants can be arranged on the plate next to a slice of apple-raisin or mince pie, for a twist.

• You can add 1 to 2 tbsp. of sugar to the whipped cream, but don't overdo it, as Mrs. Smith's pies are quite sweet.

• Mrs. Smith's pies run with juices when first removed from the oven. Allowing the pies to rest at room temperature before topping and serving is recommended.

References

• All Recipes: Dessert Garnishes Article
• Mrs. Smith's: Apple Pies