Ritz Celebrates 75th Anniversary with Fun, New Twists on a Classic RecipeRecipes below
April, 2009 – Ritz crackers, the iconic, crispy, buttery cracker that families have enjoyed for generations, is celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year. Ritz crackers have long been an integral part of entertaining at home; in fact, a box of Ritz can be found in one out of every three homes in America. As part of this auspicious occasion, Ritz crackers is introducing new twists on one of its most well-known and best-loved Ritz cracker recipes, the “Mock Apple Pie.” Ritz ‘Mock Apple Pie’ Gets an Infusion of Fun with the Introduction of Upside Down Mock Apple Pie and Chocolate Walnut Mock Apple Pie The recipe for Ritz Mock Apple Pie began appearing on Ritz packaging not long after the product hit store shelves in 1934. Now, the sweet, simple dessert, with the taste, texture and look of apple pie (without the apples!) is being brought front and center once again, through two fun variations to this classic recipe – Ritz Upside Down Mock Apple Pie and Ritz Chocolate Walnut Mock Apple Pie. These recipes will no doubt continue the tradition of surprising friends and family alike with the joys of Ritz. 
RECIPES
RITZ MOCK APPLE PIE RECIPE Prep Time: 35 min
Total Time: 1 hour 40 min. (incl. cooling)
Makes: 10 servings.
What You Need!
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 tsp. cream of tartar
• 1-3/4 cups water
• Pastry for 2-crust 9-inch pie
• 36 RITZ Crackers, coarsely broken (about 1-3/4 cups)
• Zest and 2 Tbsp. juice from 1 lemon
• 2 Tbsp. butter or margarine, cut into small pieces
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
Make It!
Mix sugar and cream of tartar in medium saucepan. Gradually stir in water. Bring to boil on high heat; simmer on low 15 min. Stir in zest and juice; cool 30 min.
Heat oven to 425°F. Roll out half of pastry on lightly floured surface to 11-inch circle; place in 9-inch pie plate. Place cracker crumbs in crust. Pour sugar syrup over crumbs; top with butter and cinnamon.
Roll out remaining pastry to 10-inch circle; place over pie. Seal and flute edge. Cut several slits in top crust to permit steam to escape. Place on parchment-covered baking sheet.
Bake 30 to 35 min. or until golden brown. Cool.
Note: To prevent crust from overbrowning, cover edge with foil near end of baking time, if necessary.
CHOCOLATE-WALNUT MOCK APPLE PIE RECIPE:
Prepare as above, sprinkling 1/2 cup each chopped Planters Walnuts and Bakers Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chunks over cracker crumbs before covering with sugar syrup. 
UPSIDE-DOWN MOCK APPLE PIE
Prep Time: 40 min
Total Time: 1 hour 45 min. (incl. cooling)
Makes: 10 servings.
What You Need!
• 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 tsp. cream of tartar
• 1-1/3 cups water
• 1 tsp. lemon zest
• 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, divided
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup PLANTERS Pecan Halves
• 1 pkg. (15-oz.) ready-to-use refrigerated pie crusts (2 crusts)
• 36 RITZ Crackers, coarsely broken (about 1-3/4 cups)
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
Make It!
Mix granulated sugar and cream of tartar in medium saucepan. Gradually stir in water. Bring to boil on high heat; simmer on low 15 min. Stir in zest and juice; cool 30 min.
Heat oven to 425°F. Melt 2 Tbsp. butter; pour into 9-inch pie plate. Tilt to coat bottom and side of pie plate. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Starting in center of pie plate, arrange nuts, tops side down in circular pattern on bottom. Line pie plate with 1 crust as directed on package; place cracker crumbs in crust. Pour sugar syrup over crumbs. Cut remaining butter into small pieces; place over filling. Sprinkle with cinnamon; cover with remaining crust. Seal and flute edge. Cut several slits in top crust to permit steam to escape. Place on parchment-covered baking sheet.
Bake 30 to 35 min. or until golden brown. Let stand 5 min. Place serving plate over pie; carefully invert pie onto plate. Remove pie plate. Serve pie warm or cool completely before serving.
Note: To prevent crust from overbrowning, cover edge with foil near end of baking time, if necessary.
Special Extra: To reheat pie before serving, bake in 200ºF-oven 20 min. or just until warmed.
About Ritz/Kraft Foods
Ritz ( www.ritzcrackers.com ) is a leading brand within the Nabisco cracker portfolio, which is part of Kraft Foods. Our 100,000 Kraft Foodies work tirelessly to make delicious foods in 150 countries around the globe consumers can feel good about. From American brand icons like Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings, Maxwell House coffees and Oscar Mayer meats, to global powerhouse brands like Oreo and LU biscuits, Philadelphia cream cheeses, Jacobs and Carte Noire coffees, Tang powdered beverages and Milka, Cote d'Or, Lacta and Toblerone chocolates, our brands deliver millions of smiles every day. Kraft Foods Inc. is the world’s second largest food company.
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