Apple Pie, Old Songs, and the Sweet Memories Baked Into Every Slice

I am a avid dessert eater and would live on desserts if I could but with my diet I’ve tried to quit eating as many desserts as I used to But that is hard because there are hundreds of desserts in the world, but for me there are really only two that can tempt me every single time—an old-fashioned apple pie and a chocolate cream pie with graham cracker crust topped with plenty of Cool Whip.

Apple pie has always felt like home to me because as a child my dad would allow us to have a slice for breakfast. Did my mom agree no, but she would just look the other way. Ive always wondered if its the smell of cinnamon drifting through the kitchen, or the way the whole house seems to slow down while it’s baking in the oven.

Even before it’s finished, someone is already asking when it will be ready, and someone else is reminding them not to cut into it too soon. I used to make apple pies, cherry pies, and chocolate pies over the years, especially around the holidays. But it has been a while since I’ve baked one from scratch, but writing this has me thinking that maybe it’s time.

I can already see David’s face when I pull a warm apple pie out of the oven and sitting it on the counter for dessert once dinner is done. Of course, I’d have to stop by the store for a tub of Cool Whip because, in my house, pie just isn’t complete without it. Although Ice Cream is good to

Now, I know there are people who enjoy a slice of cheddar cheese with their apple pie. My dad was one of them. He always thought the combination was delicious. I never could understand it. I’ll gladly take another spoonful of Cool Whip instead. How about you?

As I was thinking about baking, another person came to mind—my father-in-law. His appetite hasn’t been what it used to be, but he still enjoys something sweet every now and then. Maybe making two pies instead of one would be the perfect surprise. Sometimes food isn’t just about feeding someone. It’s a simple way of saying, “I was thinking about you.”

Growing up, it seemed like our grandmothers always had a pie cooling somewhere around the holidays. Thanksgiving, Christmas, family reunions, Sunday dinners—it didn’t matter. There was almost always a homemade pie waiting for everyone to gather around the table.

Those weren’t fancy moments. They were ordinary days that somehow became unforgettable. Because of this Apple Pie also has a way of bringing back memories beyond the kitchen. Hearing the song American Pie by Don McLean instantly transports many people back to another time in their lives. The song isn’t really about dessert, yet somehow it carries the same feeling that a homemade pie does—nostalgia, family, laughter, and remembering people we love.

Even my imagination wanders a little further. I can almost picture the Queen of Hearts discovering that someone has stolen the fresh apple pie right off the windowsill. Maybe the White Rabbit hurried past with it, or perhaps Dorothy followed the scent of cinnamon somewhere between Oz and Wonderland. It’s a fun reminder that food has always found its way into the stories we tell.

Maybe that’s why apple pie has lasted through generations. It isn’t simply flour, apples, butter, and cinnamon. It’s family traditions. It’s grandparents standing in warm kitchens. It’s recipes stained with flour after decades of use. It’s holiday conversations that lasted long after dessert was served.

This year, I think I’ll pull out my pie plate again. I’ll make one for David and me. I’ll make another for my father-in-law. We’ll add plenty of Cool Whip, share a few stories around the table, and create another memory worth remembering. Because sometimes the sweetest part of apple pie isn’t the filling at all. It’s the people you’re lucky enough to share it with.

Do you prefer your apple pie homemade or store-bought? Are you on Team Cool Whip like me, or do you enjoy a slice of cheese with your pie like my dad did? I’d love to hear your family traditions in the comments.

Grateful. Thankful. Blessed.