In December I was asked by Ritz to try their new Brown Sugar & Cinnamon Cracker. I readily agreed as I knew the perfect recipe I wanted to try them in - my Angel Bars which I usually make with a butter cracker but I thought perhaps the cinnamon and sugar would be a fun creative 'improvisation' to try.For whatever reason the marketing department was slow to get the product to me and I had finished all my holiday baking by the time it arrived.
Over the next few weeks we had negative 50 below zero windchills, 3 blizzards, car problems, 4 family birthdays, double holiday celebrations and a heavy work schedule.... I didn't have time to play with any new recipes but tonight I pulled them out of the cupboard and immediately thought about the old 1970's "mock" apple pie that was all the rage with my Mother and Grandmother. Using Ritz Crackers instead of apples, it was a food fad that never completely left and many families consider it a staple recipe in their homes.
I realized the new Brown Sugar & Cinnamon Crackers would make the perfect topping to this family favorite and by reducing the cinnamon and sugar called for in the pie filling by just a smidgen, you could use them for the pie as well!
RITZ Mock-Apple Pie
Prep Time: 10 min
Total Time: 45 min
Makes: Makes 10 servings, 1 piece (110 g) each.
Filling
2 cups water
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp. cream of tartar
30 RITZ Crackers
1 refrigerated ready-to-use pie crust (1/2 of 425-g pkg.)
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
Topping
25 RITZ Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Crackers, crushed (about 1 cup)
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/3 cup non-hydrogenated margarine, melted
FILLING: Mix water, granulated sugar and cream of tartar in large saucepan. Bring to boil on medium-high heat. Add crackers; simmer on medium-low heat 5 min., stirring occasionally.
LINE 9-inch pie plate with pie crust as directed on package; fill with cracker mixture. Sprrinkle with lemon juice and cinnamon.
TOPPING: Combine remaining ingredients; sprinkle over Filling.
BAKE 15 min. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F; bake 20 min. or until golden brown. Cool.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories 340 Total fat 16g Saturated fat 4.5g Cholesterol 5mg Sodium 380mg Carbohydrate 47g Dietary fibre 1g Sugars 27g Protein 2g Vitamin A 8%DV Vitamin C 0%DV Calcium 4%DV Iron 8%DV
And now for a brand new way to use your Ritz Brown Sugar & Cinnamon Crackers! The perfect sweet, but not-too-sweet appetizer.
Raspberry-Apple Danish Spread
Prep Time: 10 min
Total Time: 30 min
Makes: 1-1/2 cups or 12 servings, 2 Tbsp. spread and 5 crackers each
1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese, softened
1 apple, chopped
2 Tbsp. seedless raspberry jam
1/3 cup granola
RITZ Brown Sugar Cinnamon Crackers
SPREAD Neufchatel onto bottom of 9-inch pie plate or 1-qt. casserole.
COMBINE apples and jam; spread over Neufchatel cheese. Top with granola.
BAKE 20 min. or until heated through. Serve with crackers.
