How to Serve Apple Pie: Hot Or Cold? [ + Reheating Tips]
There are a lot of desserts that are served around the autumn and winter holidays, but apple pie is the traditional one, which never goes out of fashion. People never seem to get tired of this sweet treat, but to make it a bit different, many choose to serve it in interesting ways to intensify the flavors of this pie. So, how do you serve apple pie, and should you eat apple pie hot or cold?
You can eat apple pie warm or serve it cold, but never while it is still hot. If the apple pie is freshly baked and still hot, it is essential to leave it to cool off and its filling to set up. If you don’t allow it to set, it can fall apart. Also, adding flavors such as whipped cream, cream cheese frosting or ice cream helps intensify the taste.
Learning the right ways of serving apple pie is essential if you want to really enjoy the flavors of this sweet dessert. In this article, I have included the recommended ways of serving apple pie regarding temperatures and the additional flavors that might accompany this dessert when served. Also, I have discussed some tips and methods which you can use for storing and reheating apple pie.
Should Apple Pie Be Eaten Hot Or Cold?
Adding toppings when serving apple pie is important, but you also need to know the appropriate temperatures at which you can eat this dessert. If you frequently bake desserts and other goods, you know that eating things right from the oven is not a good idea. This is especially not recommended when the recipes include sugar in the content of the baked goods.
Namely, eating hot stuff right from the oven would be extremely dangerous, so you must leave your apple pie to set up and cool off for at least one hour after you take it out. This is enough time to make your apple pie ready for eating, and it is still warm when served.
In addition, you need to give your pie enough time to set. If you try to cut and serve it too early, the filling can fall apart and it won’t look nice on the plate. The hot crust may still be crumbly and dry because the flavors and moisture from different ingredients didn’t blend yet.
If you choose to eat the apple pie warm, the flavors will be intense and rich. You will easily feel all the spices and apples melt in your mouth.
However, some people tend to eat this type of pie cold because it is still delicious even this way. There are better chances that the filling is set and firm. If you like to eat a cold apple pie, the flavors may not be that strong, and it will taste lighter.
To make cooling quicker, try placing your pie on the windowsill or on the terrace if it’s cold outside. However, avoid putting the hot food into the fridge, because it can start unwanted processes.
Also, when eating apple pie after some time, you can choose to reheat it or eat it from the fridge. Since we are talking about pie, many people opt to reheat it a little bit, but it is up to your own preferences. I have included the tips on how to reheat the apple pie latter down in the article, so read on.
The bottom line is that you can eat apple pie either warm or cold, but never hot.
- RELATED: Check How to Serve The Pumpkin Pie!
How To Serve Apple Pie? 5 Topping Ideas
There are different ways to serve apple pie and make it taste more delicious. Since apple pie is usually served in the wintertime and around the holidays, people find ways to make this treat a little bit different and more interesting in flavors. Finding the right combinations of flavors is not always easy because you do not want to ruin the original taste of apple pie.
What is more, the temperatures in which apple pie is served are crucial, meaning that you have to be careful. You can serve it hot or cold. Once you learn everything that needs to be considered when serving this dessert, you can truly taste and enjoy its delicious flavors of it.
Below you have the best toppings that go perfectly with both hot and cold apple pie.
Whipped Cream
Whipped cream is one of the most common and favorite toppings with which apple pie is served. Therefore, if you do not want to experiment, then whipped cream would be a suitable option. This will add new flavors to your pie, and it will give you a touch of creamy texture.
A fresh dollop of whipped cream will contribute to the balance between the sweetness and the lightness of your dessert. This is considered a traditional solution for almost every type of pie, meaning that you cannot go wrong if you opt for it. What is more, you can add an extra twist by adding a little bit of maple syrup or honey on top of the whipped cream and achieve a heavenly taste.
What is more, it goes perfectly with both hot and cold apple pie.
Ice Cream
A frozen topping like ice cream will definitely intensify the taste of your apple pie, and it is something that will balance the flavors of your dessert. A scoop of vanilla ice cream would match exceptionally well with a warm piece of apple pie. The deliciousness comes once the ice cream starts melting into the warm apple pie filling.
Even though the vanilla-flavored ice cream is the traditional choice, you can also opt for some adventurous flavors, such as lemon, maple walnut, or yogurt. It usually depends on a person’s taste whether they would go for the traditional or alternative choice. One thing is for sure, these flavors work with apple pie, and they will add some deliciousness to your dessert.
Caramel And Pecans
If the sweetness of apple pie is enough for you, you can just abandon adding ice cream on top of it.
However, if you do not want just to serve it plain, you can go for some lighter choices, such as drizzling caramel ice cream topping with chopped pecans. This is a delicious solution for serving the hot slice of apple pie that will definitely contribute to the richness of flavors.
Cream Cheese Frosting
If you love cinnamon rolls, you will love this topping, too. Cream cheese frosting will bring both sweetness and sourness to apple pie. But, at the same time, it is so creamy and soft that it is one of the favorite spreads for various desserts. However, people like to add cream cheese frosting on cold apple pie, rather than warm. You can try both versions and see what suits you better.
Powdered Sugar
Opt for powdered sugar if you are simply looking for a decoration idea, rather than adding the new flavors. Powdered sugar will make the slice of apple pie look more elegant, but won’t bring a lot of sweetness or any other new flavor.
The apples and cinnamon will stay in focus like in the real traditional way of serving apple pie. Just make sure that the pie is not hot anymore. Just place the cold apple pie on the plate and sprinkle it with powdered sugar.
How To Reheat Apple Pie?
Reheating is usually a very simple process, especially when it comes to warming up the whole pie.
First, you will have to preheat your oven for about 15 minutes and then place your pie in it for about 15 to 20 minutes. You will also have to cover your pie with foil because the high heat might easily burn the top of your dessert.
On the other hand, if you want to reheat only one or two slices of apple pie then you can opt for some other methods. You can use the same oven method, but you will have to waste more time this way. It would be more convenient to use a toaster oven since it is a smaller type of oven, and the process will be done more quickly.
However, make sure that you check your slice of pie every 3-5 minutes because you will not want your pie to burn. A toaster oven is a small kitchen appliance, so heat is spread more quickly, meaning that if not monitored, your pie might easily burn up.
Another way to reheat apple pie is by using the microwave. Using the microwave is especially convenient way if you want to warm the slice or two. First, you need to place the apple pie on the microwave-safe plate and put it in the microwave on medium heat for 30 seconds.
After 30 seconds, try with a finger if the bottom of the plate and the top of the pie are warm. If they are not, place the pie in the microwave for 20 seconds. Then repeat the previous step.
Can You Reheat Apple Pie Twice?
Although you might think that reheating apple pie twice might ruin the texture of your dessert completely, reheating apple pie multiple times is perfectly possible. This is because apple pie does not contain any meat in its content, meaning nothing will get ruined or spoiled by multiple times of reheating.
However, if you already know that you need only one or two slices of pie at that particular moment, there is no need to go through all the trouble by reheating the whole pie.
In other words, if you know that you are going to eat only one slice, then it is more convenient to reheat only that slice of apple pie in a smaller oven, such as a toaster oven or a microwave. Even though it is possible to reheat your apple pie multiple times, it is not necessary to do that if you already know the amount of pie you need for a serving.
How To Reheat Frozen Apple Pie?
If you have stored your apple pie in the freezer, it is essential to know how to reheat it to keep its original taste and flavors.
Therefore, the first thing you will need to do is to leave your pie set up at room temperature. This is an essential part of reheating frozen apple pie, no matter the kitchen appliance you will use for reheating.
Putting a frozen apple pie directly in an oven or a microwave would not be appropriate since this will completely mess up the texture and taste of your dessert.
So, make sure that you leave your apple pie at least for one or two hours at room temperature, and then proceed to the reheating methods. You can use your oven or microwave for the reheating, but if only one or two slices are in question, you can simply use a toaster oven for the process.
Do You Need To Refrigerate Apple Pie?
Refrigerating your apple pie is not always necessary, but that depends on the ingredients you have included in your dessert. For instance, baked goods that contain sugar are not usually required to be stored in the fridge. This is because sugar keeps the ingredients together and does not allow spoiling of the pie.
However, if you have used cream, custard, or eggs in the filling, storing your apple pie in the fridge would be crucial. In other words, whether or not you need to store apple pie in the fridge would depend on the ingredients and how you have made your pie.
If you didn’t use any of the mentioned ingredients, then you can leave apple pie at room temperature just covered to limit any external influences.
How Long Does Apple Pie Last?
When it comes to apple pies, they are good for eating for up to 4 days. This only refers if the pie is properly stored in a container with a lid and refrigerated.
However, since we are talking about fruit as the main ingredient, it is advised that you always check the smell and the texture of your apple pie before you decide to eat it.
You never know how long fruit can last even when refrigerated, so it is better that you check twice, and not entirely rely on the estimated lifespan of a baked apple pie.
In conclusion, you have read that apple pie can be eaten both warm and cold. However, you must never opt for eating pie freshly baked from the oven. Following the recommended steps for serving apple pie is crucial if you want to enjoy this dessert in the right way.
