Cheddar Apple Pie

If you live in certain regions of the United States, particularly New England, you might know exactly what I’m talking about—in fact, this pairing might be your favorite way to eat apple pie. Or, more likely, you’re not only shocked to learn this combo exists, but horrified.

While not exactly common, this dynamic duo of pie and cheese is widespread enough to have multiple iterations—sometimes the cheese is shredded and baked into the crust; other times, a slice of cheddar is laid atop a warm apple pie so that it slightly melts. Its roots, like apple pie itself, reportedly trace back to merry old England, where dairy-based sauces were added to pies as early as the seventeenth century. Cheese, too, was served at the end of meals just before or alongside the dessert course, a natural combination of savory and sweet (and a tradition that endures today on the dessert menus of many modern restaurants).