Why Is Apple Pie American? The Reason for the Connection

For many of us, there's nothing more American than eating a slice of homemade apple pie while watching the fireworks on the Fourth of July. But why is apple pie American? It turns out apple pie was one of the first desserts to be made in America, and there's a pretty interesting story about why the colonists began baking it. The patriotic origins of the classic dessert date back to the 1600s, when the colonists first arrived in America, long before the first Independence Day.

Why Is Apple Pie American?

The pilgrims came to America to gain independence from Britain, so they began distancing themselves from British culture in every aspect of their lives. Rather than keep making traditional English desserts (like scones and bread pudding), they started making a new kind of treat introduced to them by Dutch immigrants in the 1700s. Dutch and German immigrants taught them how to make a flaky, buttery crust, which the colonists then filled with sliced apples and spices, creating the iconic American dessert we enjoy today.

While this certainly wasn't the first time an apple pie was baked, it was likely the first time any colonists had tried the dessert. And a recipe for apple pie was included in the first American cookbook, American Cookery, published in 1796, a few years after America had won its independence.

So, apple pie is associated with the Fourth of July because the holiday celebrates independence from Britain, and baking apple pie carried a similar meaning for early colonists.

Why We Say “As American as Apple Pie”

You've likely heard the phrase "as American as apple pie," which comes from the folktale about Johnny Appleseed (who was a real person!). The phrase was first used in the early 1800s but didn't become widely known until World War II, when it became common for soldiers to say "for mom and apple pie" when speaking to journalists about why they had enlisted. From then on, the phrase "as American as apple pie" has been used for anything deemed patriotic.

This year, celebrate Independence Day by chopping up some Granny Smiths and folding them into a perfectly flaky old-fashioned apple pie.

This patriotic blue pie dish will dress up any classic apple pie. The 10-inch dish ships in 2 days with Prime shipping, and has a smooth glaze that makes for easy cleaning.

Buy It: 10 Inch Ceramic Pie Pan ($18, Amazon)

This red and white ceramic pie dish is perfect for Fourth of July, but it's classic enough to use for meals and desserts the rest of the year too. It's oven, broiler, dishwasher, and microwave safe, and is designed to keep contents warm for long periods of time, which means you can serve up slices of hot apple pie long after it comes out of the oven.

Buy It: Emile Henry Modern Classics Pie Dish ($45, Amazon)