11 Apple Pie Recipes Better Than Mom's

Classic apple pie is comprised of the following elements: buttery flaky crust, tart apples stewed in sugar and spice, and nostalgia. There is no better flavoring in the world than nostalgia — especially when it concerns mom's version of this American classic. During World War II, young soldiers who were asked why they were marching off to war would sometimes respond, "For mom and apple pie."

In this following recipe collection, we share traditional as well as not-so-traditional preparations of apple pie; some are simple, some complex. Some aren't even really pies, though they reproduce the flavor of the dish. Pick your favorite, try it out, but above all remember that even if your pie is better than mom's, maybe it's best not to tell her... because mother always knows best, no matter what.

This recipe provides straightforward technique and flavor; it uses tart fresh apples and is topped with a sweet streusel crumble. Serve it with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream to achieve the ultimate slice. For this recipe for Amazing Apple Pie, click here.

All the flavor of apple pie without the fuss! Check out the recipe here.

This version is a great way to feed a crowd. Fill a large casserole dish with your apple pie filling and then top with store-bought or homemade pie crust or biscuits. Check out the recipe here.

Here star anise infuses the brown butter, and that fragrant nuttiness complements the licorice-like flavor of the spice. In combination with cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla bean, the butter gives the pie has complexity and depth yet still doesn't detract from the essential apple pie motif. For this recipe, click here.

Apple pie and bacon, what could be better (or more American)?  Bacon is not only added to the pie filling, it is also in the crust! Best of all, this pie comes complete with a woven sheet of bacon on top. Click here for the recipe.

These pie cookies have a cut lattice crust and a sweet cinnamon, apple, and caramel filling. Sprinkle with fleur de sel sea salt before baking for a sweet and salty touch. For the Caramel- Apple Pie Cookie recipe, click here.

A classic preparation of apple pie serves a slice with a thickly cut chick of Cheddar cheese, but here the Cheddar flavor (in the form of the Cheez-It crackers) is infused it to the crust. Find the recipe here.

With this recipe, you can drink your dessert. Apple cider is quickly infused with cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg, making this drink every bit as delectable as a real slice of apple pie. Freshly whipped cream is a must, and a touch of Laird's AppleJack brandy may just make this drink your winter-time staple. For this recipe, click here.

With the help of a little apple bourbon, mom's humble apple pie recipe gets a dangerous edge— let's call it a patriotic protest of the original. For this recipe, click here.

These pies are technically called "turnovers," but nobody cares about the specifics when hand-held deep-fried apple pies are this good. Get this copy-cat recipe here.

This pie is made with seasonal, local apples and salted caramel. Both are delicious in their own right, but when they're combined with a thick all-butter pie crust, this is the one that will blow all other apple pies out of the water. Click here for the recipe.